What's in a Name? (2)

“May my lord pay no attention to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name--his name is Fool, and folly goes with him” (1 Samuel 25:25a).

Do people live up to their names? If true, a Denzel would become a “wild one” and a George would become a “farmer.” This sounds implausible. However, researchers have found a statistical correlation between names and behavior. For example, one research showed that boys with names commonly given to girls (e.g., “a boy named Sue”) were more likely suspended from school for disruptive behavior. One explanation is that children with unusual names tend to grow up with a negative impression of themselves along with the constant teasing from other children. In a paper David E. Kalist and I coauthored ( “First Names and Crime: Does Unpopularity Spell Trouble?”), we state, “… juveniles with unpopular names may be more prone to crime because they are treated differently by their peers, making it more difficult for them to form relationships. Juveniles with unpopular names may also act out because they have a conscious or unconscious dislike for their name.”

A case in point is found in the Bible. Consider the story of David, Nabal and Abigail in 1 Samuel 25. David had many wives including his first wife named Michal (a daughter of King Saul), but Abigail was his most intelligent and beautiful wife. Abigail was first married to a man named Nabal, a Calebite, who lived in the Desert of Mahon. Nabal was a wealthy man with thousands of sheep and goats. But he was a surly and mean man. He was shearing his sheep in Carmel when David sent to him a messenger asking for food and drink in return for the protection of his shepherds and sheep against pillage. At this time, David was fleeing from Saul who tried to kill him out of his jealousy towards David (his jealousy had started after some women praised David more than him). David needed Nabal’s help for his 600 hungry and thirsty men. But Nabal spurned his offer, saying, “Who is this David? Who is this son of Jesse? Many servants are breaking away from their masters these days. Why should I take my bread and water, and the meat I have slaughtered for my shearers, and give it to men coming from who knows where?” (1Sa 25:10-11). Nabal insulted David and did not appreciate the protective service that David’s men were providing for his flocks. David was about to punish Nabal for paying him back evil for good.

Enter Abigail. When one of the servants reported the situation to Nabal’s wife, Abigail, she lost no time. She immediately sent enough food and drinks to feed the 600 men to David. Then she made a trip to see David. Bowing down before the political fugitive with her face to the ground, Abigail personally apologized for her husband’s selfish, ungrateful and foolish behavior. She said to David, "My lord, let the blame be on me alone. Please let your servant speak to you; hear what your servant has to say. May my lord pay no attention to that wicked man Nabal. He is just like his name--his name is Fool, and folly goes with him. But as for me, your servant, I did not see the men my master sent” (1Sa 25:24-25). She also acknowledged God’s purpose for David. She pleaded with David not to “have on his conscience the staggering burden of needless bloodshed or of having avenged himself” (1Sa 25:31). David accepted her wise counsel and sent her home in peace.

Meanwhile, Nabal was holding a banquet like that of a king at his house. Abigail decided not to say anything to him that night because he was too drunk. In the morning when he was sober, she told him what had happened. Upon hearing about it, Nabal had a heart attack and died ten days later. Afterwards, David asked Abigail to be his wife, and she became the mother of Daniel, one of David's many sons.

Moral of the story? We should respect God’s servants and provide help to those who are in need. Also, do not give your child a bad name such as Nabal lest he lives up to his name. I don’t know what the New Jersey couple was thinking when they named their son “Adolph Hitler.” Not a wise decision, if you ask me. By the way, Abigail means “source of joy.”