Jehoshaphat slept with his fathers and was buried with his fathers in the city of David, and Jehoram his son reigned in his place. (II Chronicles 21:1 ESV)
Nicknames
I can’t hear the name “Jehosophat” without inserting the expression, “JUMPING Jehosophat.” I do not really know what the phrase means. I suppose it is simply alliteration added to an unusual Biblical name.
But Jehosophat is always Jumping Jehosophat to me. It is his nickname. I wonder if people call him that in heaven.
Nicknames are like that. They get assigned. And they sometimes stick.
And they are often not pleasant.
I have had a few nicknames in my life. In middle school, because of a play I was in, my nickname was Preacher. While that might not sound to bad, for me it was awful. It was the last thing I wanted to be.
But I do have another nickname.
Jesus has given me a nickname that connects me to Him. He calls me Christian. And unlike most nicknames that are temporary, insulting, mocking, or silly, THIS nickname is grand.
And it is necessary.
Without Him giving me that name, I would be doomed.
He is the only One who can assign that kind of name.
He necessarily has given me that necessary name.