I’ve always been proud of my maiden name Hightower, a combination of the words ‘high’ and ‘tower’ so that the combined meaning refers to a high or tall tower.
When I first became aware of the meanings of words, my unusual last name stood out from the names of my classmates, who had simple names like Smith or Jones. Of course, as I learned more about the meanings of words, I found that even those names that seemed to be ordinary because there were many people with those last names might not be so common in other communities. One reason certain names were common in my hometown was that there were large families by that name living here.
I’ll never forget the first time I read my name in the Bible.
“The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.” Psalm 18:22 KJV.
I was startled because it was as if God had called me by my own name. He knew my name. He knew who I was—little Lavon Hightower, middle child born to hard-working parents in Vinita, Oklahoma, population 6000, in the 1960s. God Almighty Creator of the Universe, Maker of heaven and earth knew my name Hightower.
Of course, I realize He wasn’t talking about me personally there, but to a young child, probably ten years old, it seemed as though He was. That is just exactly how personal God is.
Names were important in Bible days. The name you were given when you were born was prophetic of your future. Joshua the leader after Moses died led the Israelites into the Promised Land and his name means savior. Jesus’ name in Hebrew is also Joshua, meaning Savior, meaning He would lead His children into the Promised Land of Eternal Life.
The Lord has been my high tower, my fortress, my deliverer. He gave me to the Hightower family and gave me that name as a reminder to run to Him always for shelter from the storms of life.