Ethan the Ezrahite-A Psalm Man
Did you know that there's a Psalm written by a man named Ethan which was a top boy's name in the USA in 2009-2010? However, the Biblical Ethan was a long-ago Hebrew singer-musician named in the Old Testament. Not only was he a Psalm author, but had singer-musician friends named Heman, and Asaph who also wrote Psalms. Never heard of him? Well, get to know more about him, his comrades, and his beautiful Psalm 89 below!
Psalm 89 Stats: I have to confess I never really noticed the superscription or title above Psalm 89 which says that the psalm is a Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite. So, what's a Maschil? One definition is that it is a psalm song that enforces wisdom or piety. The Psalm also has the distinction of being the final Psalm in Book III with its closing doxology verse with its double "Amens!" at the end. It's also a "two Selah" Psalm.
What's In a Name? How much do you know about your name? Is it in the Bible? If so, where? What is its meaning? Now Ethan is found in I Kings 5:31that indicates Ethan and Heman too were wise men but not nearly as wise as Solomon.
It Hebrew Ethan's name that means "strong, firm." Even today Ethan is still one of the top twenty boys' names. In 2009-2010 it surged to number two only to be edged out by the Biblical name Jacob!
Other Things to Note About Ethan's name: How many letters is in it? What smaller words are in it? What follows it? What two letters does it end with? How does it compare to Heman? What shorter words are in Heman? Listen how to pronounce it here: What other words do you know that end in "an?' Are you a fan of Ethan? Heman? Can you find out more about other Ethans named after Ethan the Ezrahite? about Heman?
Recently, I was at a bookstore where I found a series of books using popular names, all with the same script, to be used by parents/grandparents to give their children with that particular popular name. Upon seeing Ethan: I Love You Always a Marianne Richmond book I photographed it. So, Ethan was still a name in 2024 as well as in the Bible!
Ethan Allen's Puritan Family: Did you know an early patriot of our county was named after the Biblical Ethan. (Nameberry) Who is that? Yes, Ethan Allen of Revolutionary War fame. According to Wikipedia Ethan's Allen was born to Puritan parents and lived in the Litchfield Connecticut Colony. after his birth his family moved to Cornwall.
Wikipedia records that as a boy Ethan Allen excelled at quoting the Bible and was also known for disputing the meaning of passages. He had five brothers with one of them being "Heman." Looks like Ethan Allen's parents knew Scripture well!! His other brothers were Heber, Levi, Zimri, and Ira. His two sisters were Lydia and Lucy. All but one of the Allen children had Biblical names. Who did not?
Currently online there's a much-photographed family whose names are Sammy, Sarah, Abby, Adam, Ada, and Sunny. Do you know which names are Bible names? ("Cooking with Sammy")
Its first verse is an actual Psalm song sung today! And in this verse is the theme of this fifty-two verse Psalm --the word "faithfulness" of God. Check out these Psalm 89 references to find more "faithfulness" verses: 89:1, 5, 8, 24, and 33.
If you'd like to hear the Psalm song, click here to listen! Youtube/Cedarmont/Kids-Topic/January 26, 2017 Click here: Bing Videos
Youtube/Emmanuel Church, Rio Rico/4-1-2023. "I Will Sing of the Mercies of the Lord Forever" Click here: Bing Videos
Ethan Allen Furniture: Perhaps you've heard of Ethan Allen fine furniture or passed by a store on the highway. Incidentally, on our chat mat I will add a picture of my husband's dad who built Ethan Allen furniture near to his home in western New York. Great grandfather Putnam was a skilled builder, and at one time we even recall staying in motel nearby that had Ethan Allen furniture in it! Not only was Great G'Pa Putnam a master builder, but he was a faithful witness for the Lord Jesus. Always he was faithful to attend the Stockton Community Church, and to serve and help others. We miss him!
A Rhyme for Little Folks
Ethan, Ethan, God's Psalm Man
Ethan, Ethan the Ezrahite*
A special Psalm once did write.
Ethan, Ethan, what did it say?
It told of God's faithfulness every day!
Ethan, Ethan, God's Psalm man,
Wrote a Psalm song very grand!
LEP
* Substitute "Levite" and say it again!
Just for Kids Discussion: Did you know that Ethan was a music man, a Levite, who helped with the singing long ago? And he wrote just one Psalm Song--Psalm 89. And here it is. Show children your Bible into which you've slipped a ribbon or special marker. If they have a Bible help them find Psalm 89. Notice how many verses Psalm 89 has and then mark it in their Bible with a highlighter. What was the first verse? What was the last verse? Can you count up to 89?
Now Ethan's Psalm is also called a "Doxology Psalm" because it is the last Psalm Book III. of the Psalter. And at the end what words do you see? Exactly, "Amen and Amen!" I call this a double Amen! Beside this Psalm there's four other doxology Psalms --one at the end of each Psalm Book collection! Do they all end in two amens? One other thing, do you know what "Amen" means? It means "So be it!"
The neat thing about Ethan's Psalm is someone wrote a song using the first verse which we still sing. Did you listen to it? Even long ago when I was a small girl, I sang this verse!
The Stat Mat: Click on the Stat Mat photo below. Notice its Ps. Number, Book III, and its number of verses 52. Point out its title or superscription says: "A Maschil of Ethan the Ezrahite" which means "a
contemplation" of Ethan. Notice "Ethan" is on a gold bottle top. On his head is his Levitical priest hat--a turban. Ethan was known for his wisdom, but he wasn't as wise as Solomon! See that this is a Doxology Psalm which ends Book III with two Amens!
The Chat Mat: Click on the Chat Mat to make it larger! Once again Ethan is featured in the center with the meaning of his name below--which is "strong and firm." Do your viewers know if their name is in the Bible, and if so, what is its meaning? To the left on the chat mat is a tiny pic of the Temple (Solomon's Temple!) and a small crown showing Ethan was appointed by King David to be part of the temple musicians. Over to the right see the photo of James Fillmore who used the first verse of Ethan's psalm in his famous song; "I Will Sing of the Mercies of the Lord Forever." Notice the girl's mouth open wide as she sings of the Lord's faithfulness!
Tiny Levite Priests On Bottle Tops: The top two represent Ethan the Ezrahite priest --see how one has a bottle top ring around it. Do click on these and they will be easy to see!!! Below is Heman the Ezrahite who also was a Levite Priest and who wrote Psalm 88. See Heman without his Levitical hat and then see him after with it on. A bit of glitter was added. These small bottle top figures are fun to move around, and younger kids will enjoy playing with them! Do use the "Ethan, Ethan, God's Psalm Man" action rhyme with your younger kids/grands. One last thing: Notice that there are six NT refs or references to Ethan's Psalm-check them out-- older kids/adults will be truly blessed upon finding so many of these beautiful Psalm words often recalled in NT verses by the Lord himself, and the apostles!
Coming soon will be Herman's Psalm, and Moses' Psalm too! Yes, Moses wrote a Psalm--one of our beloved Psalms--when posted you will be able to read his amazing words. It is a particularly special Psalm for me for my godly dad quoted it to me often!
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