my name, his story.

So I've never had a problem with my name. Ok, actually I did once. It was third grade, and there was another Sam in my class. His last name started with a G so for a while he got to go by Sam and I had to go by Samuel. That really messes with a kid's sense of identity. I had been Sam my whole life and not all the sudden I was Samuel. That was a rough year, I began to get chunky, and my teacher was super mean to me. HOWEVER other than then, I've never had a problem with being named Samuel David Hatch. I used to tell people that all of my names are in very popular books (hatch being in the dictionary). I was named after my grandfathers, both pretty cool dudes. So i was proud of it. I knew they were both biblical names, but I have always focused on the grandfather side of things as far as where my name comes from. until now.

Samuel \s(a)-muel\ as a boy's name is pronounced SAM-yoo-el. It is of Hebrew origin, and the meaning of Samuel is "God heard". Also possibly as "requested of God", "God's heart" or "God's name". Biblical: the prophet and judge who anointed Saul and David as kings of Israel.
(http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/1/Samuel)

David \d(a)-vid\ as a boy's name is pronounced DAY-vid. It is of Hebrew origin, and the meaning of David is "beloved of God". Biblical: one of the most remarkable personalities in the Scriptures. David was a shepherd, musician, poet, soldier, statesman, prophet, and king. He wrote about half of the Psalms and very likely composed music for them as well. He is the only David mentioned in the Bible; his name occurs there more than a thousand times. (http://www.thinkbabynames.com/meaning/1/David)

How amazing is that?? "God's heart" and "beloved of God" no matter where I run or how hard I try to hide from God he lives in my very name. This all came to mind because I just happened to read the David and Goliath story on Sunday after work, which is in 1 Samuel. David was just a scrawny good looking shepherd kid. He bowed up to Goliath, this humongous philistine warrior that has killed tons of jews and laughed in God's face. He stood before Goliath knowing that he'd win because the God of the universe was going to get his glory one way or another. David didn't even use the weapons and protection that the world would have him wear because he KNEW God was going to protect and prevail over evil.

Samuel and David play pivotal roles in the line to Jesus. They point to him, and i think it's totally amazing that my name is Samuel David and that more than 3000 years later I get to point to him as well.