So with this little unexpected bundle of baby boy, we had our work cut out for us. Naming Nathan came easy for us, but this time around we were challenged. We had a few names we were considering, for the same reasons: meaning of name and who they were Biblically. We considered Elisha ("God is my salvation"), Joel ("The Lord is God"), and Noah ("Rest; Comfort"). However, those names did not feel concrete, like it did with Nathan. So, we took more time to look and discuss what our prayer was for this little boy, and who we wanted him to be, especially in the Lord. We decided Nathan's baby brother would be named:
Samuel Judah Rodriguez
For those of you who do not know, Samuel was born of Hannah, who was barren. Hannah dedicated him to the Lord and brought him to Eli the priest. When Samuel was a child, he heard the voice of the Lord speak to him at the shrine in Shiloh. As an adult, Samuel anointed Saul as kind of Israel, and later went to Bethlehem to anoint David as Saul's successor. He was, also, the last judge of Israel. His name is Hebrew for "His name (is) of God."
"And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision. And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see; And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep; That the LORD called Samuel; and he answered, Here am I. And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not lie down again. And he went and lay down. And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again. Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him. And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child. Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place. And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth. And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle."
I Samuel 3:1-18
Judah was born of Leah, his name is Hebrew for "He (God) shall be praised", and in Revelation 7:1-8, Judah is at the top of the list of the tribes receiving the Seal of God for 12,000 of its members. In Genesis 49, Jacob described Judah as a lion cub, saying that he would have his hand on the necks of his enemies and that he would be praised by his brothers.
