Behind the Name

Gavin Job Metevier

Picking out the first name for Gavin was not extremely difficult. He is named after his grandpa, Gavin Archer. Grandpa Gav was an amazingly decent man who went out of his way to make me feel welcomed into his family. I pray that my Gavin will inherit his gifts of hospitality and friendliness. Grandpa Gav was also a remarkably charismatic man who had loads of friends. I was often surprised by how many people he knew and how many people loved him. Joy and I would often joke that he would steal our friends. Once we would introduce our friends to Grandpa Gav we would find out that they would be going to the movies or just hanging out. I also hope that my Gavin has the same likable personality. Unfortunately, Grandpa Gav passed away of a brain tumor almost three years ago. By naming our son after Gavin we honor his life.

The name Gavin is of Scottish and Welsh origin and means white falcon. The word "falcon" appears in the bible three times. The first two occurrences it is used in the context of birds that are not safe to eat. The last is used in Job 28:7 which states, “The path no bird of prey knows, Nor has the falcon’s eye caught sight of it." The passage is talking about man's insatiable appetite for gold, silver and other precious metals found in the earth. The author mentions that even the falcon's superior sight cannot finds such metals as the Lord has hidden them in the earth. As Mathew Henry points out, the Lord placed such precious metals out of sight so that we would not fix our eyes upon them. In any event, the passage builds upon what man's seeks to what man should seek. Man's heart is set upon riches but it should be set upon Godly wisdom. May Gavin be wise and seek the Lord rather than the riches that the world has to offer.

As Christianity spread throughout Europe many pagan symbols began to be incorporated into Christian art. Wild falcons represented the unconverted Gentile and sinful thoughts deeds and actions. The tamed falcon symbolized the Christian and their hopes, dreams, and aspirations. Raising Gavin will be interesting as his sin nature will rear its ugly head from time to time. However, I pray that he will come to know the Lord and be set free by the Holy Spirit to overcome and rely on the Lord on a daily basis. Interestingly, during the Middle Ages, paintings of falcons attacking hares depicted the victory of the Christian over lusty temptations. Further, the falcon represents the Holy Spirit which gives power to the Christian to live the Christian life, commune with God and overcome trials.

For Gavin's middle name Joy and I wanted a one syllable name as we thought it sounded good sandwiched between multi-syllable words. I went through long lists of names. Then we heard a sermon on the meaning of names and I decided that I wanted something uniquely biblical. The name "Job" means persecuted. In the Bible Job was called blameless and upright and is proverbial for patience under suffering. I wish no suffering upon my son, especially the overwhelming events that happened to Job, but the idea is that we will all be persecuted and suffer in this world and it is my prayer that Gavin will do so with patience and character. Now Metevier is French for "Harvester" and blending the meaning behind my son's names we get the idea of a tamed falcon soaring over persecution by the means of the Holy Spirit to harvest. Biblically harvesting is used as a symbol for "harvesting souls for the Lord." Perhaps then Gavin will be an evangelist. Of course is does not really matter what he becomes we will love him all the same.

And so our prayer for Gavin is that, "the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" (Romans 15:13).