17. An Exclusive Psalmist can never sing the name of 'Jesus'
John Newton penned the words of that exquisite hymn, How sweet the Name of Jesus sounds.* The name 'Jesus' means 'Saviour' in Greek. The Hebrew equivalent is the name 'Joshua' or 'Jehoshua', cf. Numbers 13:16 & 1 Chronicles 7:27. These two names are interchanged in Hebrews 4:8: For if Jesus [ie Joshua] had given them rest, then would he not afterward have spoken of another day. The name of 'Jesus' appears well over 900 times in the New Testament.
There is something very special about the Saviour's name. This name was given to Him by His Father. The angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph to instruct him that this was the name by which he was to call the offspring of the Virgin, Matthew 1:20,21: But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou son of David, fear not to take unto thee Mary thy wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Ghost. And she shall bring forth a son, and thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.
