The EXEGETIST: A Library Of Independent Political Thought. By: Jack H. Dawsey

Nothing ain’t worth nothing, but it’s free

By: Jack Dawsey

The year 2010 and the beginning of a new decade are upon us.  Will it bring us the old saying, another year older and deeper in debt?  I hope not.  But with the continuation in the falling value of the dollar, and a possible repeat of the Bush decade, i.e. President Obama using Bush and Clinton retreads in his administration, is cause for concern. 

From a moral point of view, I suggest we call the first decade of this millennium the decade of debauchery, thievery and war.  It was a decade of bobble-heads on TV and their display of rudeness.  It was a decade of lobbyists filling the pockets of politicians in the U.S. Congress.  And it was a decade of being introduced to the adulterous affairs of preachers, governors, lawmakers and athletes. 

From a political point of view, the decade was one of empty promises, and a whole lot of nothing with respect to economic progress and recovery for taxpayers. 

As the new begins, there is a sense (albeit a false sense in my opinion) of economic and political optimism in America.  There is the belief that we Americans, more than anyone else in the world, know what we’re doing.  Let me quote from a speech that Mr. Lawrence Summers, then deputy Treasury Secretary of the United States and now President Obama’s top economist, said. 

According to the New York Times, (and I paraphrase), he said that if you ask why the American financial system is so successful it’s because there is no innovation more important than our audit system.  He further stated that our Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) insures that every investor gets to review corporate information, that our political and economic system has management discipline not found in foreign governments, and that we Americans report “the bottom line” accurately.

Is Mr. Summers saying our current American system is honest and transparent?  Is he saying we taxpayers ought not to be alarmed or to be concerned because our system breeds responsible managers and honest politicians that make sound decisions on our behalf?  If so, I have an Alaskan igloo condominium on Miami Beach to sell. 

But frankly what’s really impressive about this past decade is the nation’s willingness NOT to learn.  It seems the only thing history teaches is: “We don’t learn from history.  Or, we don’t learn from our mistakes.” For example:  even while the George Bush bubble was bursting near the end of the decade, Wall Street bankers were creating another.  Even after major corporations like Enron, WorldCom, Goldman Sachs, AIG, and the Federal Reserve gave us Ponzi-like financial schemes, we didn’t learn, and they moved on to create another.

Even after democrat and republican policies triggered a global economic collapse, (only to be rescued by taxpayers), the U.S. Congress wasted no time getting back to its corrupt culture.  Even now the democrat majorities in Congress, (President Obama included), refuse to give us a full accounting on the failures of Wall Street and the collapse of our financial system. 

By the way, I give no pass to the Republicans in this matter. They are equally culpable.  Have you noticed since the George Bush debacle, that Republican partisans blush when the name, Republican, is mentioned?  Instead, they brag, boast and cloak themselves under the code word: conservative.  What they mean is “they are conservative with their own personal money, but very liberal in the spending of yours.”   Even today, they still insist on playing but three strings on their five string banjo. (a) More tax cuts. (b) Just say no to Obama and (c) politicize the war.

So let’s bid adieu to the decade of corruption, where we achieved nothing and learned nothing, and welcome 2010 where nothing ain’t worth nothing, but it’s free.

What’s In A Name?

By: Jack Dawsey

“And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.”-Matthew1:21.

The name, Jesus, was given to our Lord because of the work He must and shall perform.  In other words, “He SHALL save his people…”  Note: The Scripture doesn’t say that Jesus will “attempt” to save his people, or that he will “try” to save, or that he will “make a way” to save, or that he will be a “mentor” to them that are saved, or he saves “if allowed” to save, or he “begs” sinners to “let” him save.  Rather, the Scripture is clear Jesus “SHALL SAVE…”  

The word shall is an auxiliary verb, meaning determination or finality of promise.  It has a fixed and binding meaning (hence; the term shall is used extensively in legal documents).  The word cannot and must not be augmented.

In the original Hebrew language (and among the ancient Jews), the name Jesus means savior.  The word “savior” has its root in the original “Oshea” (see 13^th Chapter of the Book of Numbers).  There, you’ll discover that Moses prefixed the first syllable of Jehovah’s name, “Jeh” to Oshea changing it to Jehoshea: meaning Divine Savior or Redeemer.  The name was soon contracted to Joshua because none would be so presumptuous to be called by Jehovah’s title. 

As the name Joshua passed through the Greek language, (and subsequent tongues), it was shorten to Je’zes or Jesus, the savior.   As Joshua was a “type” of savior, Jesus is the real savior.  The type was replaced with the antitype.  As Joshua was a captain of ancient Israel, Jesus is the real captain of His people, the believer.  Jesus is Divine because He is the one, true Jehoshea, chosen of God.

Let us notice the circumstances in the giving of the name Jehoshea (Gk. Ie’sous or je’zes) to the savior.  It was neither Mary nor Joseph that provided the name to their newborn son.  It was given by God Himself.  Not once but twice did God reveal this precious name.  He gave it first in a message to Mary and afterwards to Joseph.  It is remarkable that his name was affixed by the angels BEFORE he was conceived in the womb of Mary.  Obviously, the angels knew Jehoshea or ‘Jesus’ by that name in heaven, and continued to call him Jesus while He was formed in the womb.  Therefore, what’s in a name, particularly the name Jesus?

First, I suggest it reveals the character of the Son of God.  It shows the high esteem of His Father.  Consider this with respect to the naming of Jesus.  If the angels of God came to earth to do God’s bidding, isn’t that proof-positive of the Father’s esteem?  Isn’t it sufficient proof that the mind of God dwells in his beloved Son, and that He delights in Him with the highest pleasure much like a proud father would dote over his earthly son?

Consider this with respect to Jesus’ baptism.  The Father said “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”  In other places, the Father calls Jesus, “Mine Elect” or the “Elect” or “My beloved in whom my soul delights.”  Therefore, we have sufficient reason to believe the Father esteems His Son with such high regard due to the “finality” in the triumphant work He assigned him in redemption.  In redemption, Jesus unites the unholy with the holy, no small feat.  Nothing is more pleasing to Jehovah Father than to see His Darling Son manifest the outpouring of the Father’s love to sinners.  There is no greater love.  He said it best:  Greater love hath no man than this: that a man lay down his life for his friends…

But the root, Jehoshea, says something else.  It shows that God would have us regard Jesus as the only savior and redeemer.  Unlike modern theology taught in the schools of academia where Jesus is portrayed as a good man, or a prophet, the original manuscript identifies Jesus as “savior.”  The apostle’s writings are clear too:  “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we MUST be saved.” -Acts-4:12.

The name Joshua or Jehoshea is descriptive of God’s saving nature.  As Joshua replaced Moses, Jesus replaced all “types” and “shadows” and SAVED. 

He accomplished a work that neither Moses nor Oshea nor any could do because it required propitiation.  Propitiation is a distinctive work of atonement that none but Jesus was qualified to do.  He came to earth not to do his own will but the will of him that sent him, namely “to save.” By the way, Jesus either accomplished His Father’s will or He didn’t.  If He didn’t accomplish, then he’s an imposter.  On the other hand, if he redeemed and saved as the Scripture declares, he is the captain of salvation.  In summary, the name Jesus is ordained and affixed by his heavenly Father; hence, the reason his name is precious in the heart of believers.

In closing, here’s a “what-if” quiz for you.  What if it was mandated for you to abandon every name in your family tree, but one, which would you lay aside?  What if you were required to renounce every name among your relatives, including kings, queens and priests, but one, whom would you lay aside?  The language of the poet suits many.

“Jesus, thou art the sinner’s friend,

 As such I look to Thee,

Now in the bowels of thy love,

 O Lord, remember me.”

“Remember thy pure word of grace,

Remember Calvary,

Remember all thy dying groans,

 And then remember me.”

“Thou wondrous advocate with God,

 I yield myself to thee,

While thou art sitting on thy throne,

O Lord, remember me.”

“I own I’m guilty, own I’m vile,

Yet salvation’s free,

Then in thy all abounding grace,

O Lord, remember me.”

“Howe’er forsaken or distressed,

Howe’er oppressed I be,

Howe’er afflicted here on earth,

Do thou remember me.”

“And when I close my eyes in death,

And creature helps all flee,

Then, O’ my great Redeemer God,

I pray remember me.” -Unknown.