“The name of Yahweh is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected.” ~ Proverbs 18:10
“The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; and you will be called by a new name which the mouth of the LORD will designate…It will no longer be said to you, ‘Forsaken,’ nor to your land will it any longer be said, ‘Desolate’; but you will be called, ‘My delight is in her’…” ~ Isaiah 62:2, 4
“But round the castle a hedge of briar roses began to grow up. Every year it grew higher, till at last it surrounded the whole castle so that nothing could be seen of it, not even the flags on the roof. But there was a legend in the land about the lovely sleeping Briar Rose, as the King’s daughter was called…”[1]
Before the hedge, our Sleeping Beloved is simply called “the Princess.” She has no name – no separate identity. She has a mask of deeds to hide her heart behind, and takes drastic actions in trying to awaken her sleeping heart.
But then a briar hedge begins to grow. It protects “the Princess” from harm – in this case, from men who would come upon her in her sleeping state (like in the first two versions). [2] She is given a new name based on that which protects her: Briar Rose.
Likewise, we are given a new name based on Him who protects us.
The holy name of the Lord – Yahweh – is a protection. In ancient times, using the name of a great warrior or king (such as Achilles) could protect those in danger. A friend of Achilles would simply mention the great warrior’s name – and then no one would harm them. No one wanted to mess with Achilles, and so no one messed with Achilles’ friends. If harm did come, Achilles would avenge them, you could count on it.
This is what the Name of the LORD does for us. The Lord’s Name protects our hearts from danger. By clinging to His Name, we can have the victory over that which assaults our hearts. And the Lord will avenge our sufferings, you can count on it (Rom. 12:19).
When our hearts are protected by the Name of the Lord, we receive a new name: Hephzibah, “My delight is in her”. We are no longer named for what we were, even if that title is as lofty as “Princess.” Rather, we are named for Him who protects us.
Have you ever been delighted in? It makes your heart sing. It is awakened by the love it feels. Remember the time you were most delighted in by someone? The Lord delights in you more – unfathomably more.
The Princess takes off her mask – and takes on the name of her protector. Because of this, Briar Rose’s heart is able to heed the call of love. After one hundred years, our prince comes for her and awakes her with a holy kiss (the first awakening kiss in our Sleeping Beloved saga!). And naturally, the two live “happily till they died.”[3]
So, dear one, will you take off your mask? Will you take on the Name of your Protector, and thus have a new name yourself?
Will you allow your heart to be awakened by Love?
Sources
[1] Brothers Grimm, translated by E.V. Lucas, Lucy Crane, & Marian Edwardes, Grimms’ Fairy Tales, p. 103-104
[2] The rose has a history of symbolizing the protection of the innocent, as pointed out by Elizabeth Wayland Barber in Women’s Work: The First 20,000 Years, p. 246
[3] Brothers Grimm, translated by E.V. Lucas, Lucy Crane, & Marian Edwardes, Grimms’ Fairy Tales, p. 106
