8 But regarding the Son He says,
“YOUR THRONE, GOD, IS FOREVER AND EVER,
Psalm 45:6-7
AND THE SCEPTER OF RIGHTEOUSNESS IS THE SCEPTER OF HIS KINGDOM.
9 YOU HAVE LOVED RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HATED LAWLESSNESS;
THEREFORE GOD, YOUR GOD, HAS ANOINTED YOU
WITH THE OIL OF JOY ABOVE YOUR COMPANIONS.”
The Source of the Quote Psalm 45
1 Beautiful words stir my heart. I will recite a lovely poem about the king, for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet.
2 You are the most handsome of all. Gracious words stream from your lips. God himself has blessed you forever.
3 Put on your sword, O mighty warrior! You are so glorious, so majestic!
4 In your majesty, ride out to victory, defending truth, humility, and justice. Go forth to perform awe-inspiring deeds!
5 Your arrows are sharp, piercing your enemies’ hearts. The nations fall beneath your feet.
6 Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. You rule with a scepter of justice.
7 You love justice and hate evil. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else.
8 Myrrh, aloes, and cassia perfume your robes. In ivory palaces the music of strings entertains you.
9 Kings’ daughters are among your noble women. At your right side stands the queen, wearing jewelry of finest gold from Ophir!
10 Listen to me, O royal daughter; take to heart what I say. Forget your people and your family far away.
11 For your royal husband delights in your beauty; honor him, for he is your lord.
12 The princess of Tyre will shower you with gifts. The wealthy will beg your favor.
13 The bride, a princess, looks glorious in her golden gown.
14 In her beautiful robes, she is led to the king, accompanied by her bridesmaids.
15 What a joyful and enthusiastic procession as they enter the king’s palace!
16 Your sons will become kings like their father. You will make them rulers over many lands.
17 I will bring honor to your name in every generation. Therefore, the nations will praise you forever and ever.
Psalm 45:1-17
10 And,
“YOU, LORD, IN THE BEGINNING LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH,
Psalm 102:25-27
AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS;
11 THEY WILL PERISH, BUT YOU REMAIN;
AND THEY ALL WILL WEAR OUT LIKE A GARMENT,
12 AND LIKE A ROBE YOU WILL ROLL THEM UP;
LIKE A GARMENT THEY WILL ALSO BE CHANGED.
BUT YOU ARE THE SAME,
AND YOUR YEARS WILL NOT COME TO AN END.”
The Source of the Quote Psalm 102
1 LORD, hear my prayer! Listen to my plea!
2 Don’t turn away from me in my time of distress. Bend down to listen, and answer me quickly when I call to you.
3 For my days disappear like smoke, and my bones burn like red-hot coals.
4 My heart is sick, withered like grass, and I have lost my appetite.
5 Because of my groaning, I am reduced to skin and bones.
6 I am like an owl in the desert, like a little owl in a far-off wilderness.
7 I lie awake, lonely as a solitary bird on the roof.
8 My enemies taunt me day after day. They mock and curse me.
9 I eat ashes for food. My tears run down into my drink
10 because of your anger and wrath. For you have picked me up and thrown me out.
11 My life passes as swiftly as the evening shadows. I am withering away like grass.
12 But you, O LORD, will sit on your throne forever. Your fame will endure to every generation.
13 You will arise and have mercy on Jerusalem—and now is the time to pity her, now is the time you promised to help.
14 For your people love every stone in her walls and cherish even the dust in her streets.
15 Then the nations will tremble before the LORD. The kings of the earth will tremble before his glory.
16 For the LORD will rebuild Jerusalem. He will appear in his glory.
17 He will listen to the prayers of the destitute. He will not reject their pleas.
18 Let this be recorded for future generations, so that a people not yet born will praise the LORD.
19 Tell them the LORD looked down from his heavenly sanctuary. He looked down to earth from heaven
20 to hear the groans of the prisoners, to release those condemned to die.
21 And so the LORD’s fame will be celebrated in Zion, his praises in Jerusalem,
22 when multitudes gather together and kingdoms come to worship the LORD.
23 He broke my strength in midlife, cutting short my days.
24 But I cried to him, “O my God, who lives forever, don’t take my life while I am so young!
25 Long ago you laid the foundation of the earth and made the heavens with your hands.
26 They will perish, but you remain forever; they will wear out like old clothing. You will change them like a garment and discard them.
27 But you are always the same; you will live forever.
28 The children of your people will live in security. Their children’s children will thrive in your presence.”
Psalm 102:1-28
As with the other Old Testament quotes we have dealt with already, I have given you the full block of the quote excerpt the writer has referred us to. You are able to look at the whole quote in context. These two quotes are filled with some obvious connections which immediately stand out. But it is also true that these two quotes contain some very interesting little inferences. Pay close attention to what was quoted from each of the two psalms and how the writer introduces the quote. Remember we are in the midst of a long section of the author’s collected points as to why the Son is greater than the angels.
Ask yourself the following questions:
- Why did the author choose these two psalms and why the particular sections he picked out?
- Who is being referred to in each case?
- Are there any words or terms used in the quotes you don’t understand? Do some digging.
- Are there any lines which need to be pondered some more for us to understand what is being said?
- What do you think is the conclusion you should draw from the point(s) the author has made?
- Has it advanced his argument?
Yes, this is a short Gem to give you some time in the next few days to think about the writer’s argument and consider for yourself what he is intending you to conclude from the points he has made. What God is saying about THIS SON. This is a chance for you personally to ponder what was said to see if there isn’t something you missed at first glance. That is certainly the case if we are in the habit of seeing an Old Testament quote in the New Testament and thinking “Oh yes that’s in the Old Testament, reading it cursorily and moving on.
Take the time to consider in more depth what is being said here.
We will pull it apart in the next Gem.
Jesus taught profound truth in simple ways. We do the opposite. Many “deep” teachers are actually just muddy!
Rick Warren
The author of Hebrews has focused us on deep truth in a simple way. Or is it just muddy to you? Let the mud settle. Read it again.
Ian
You regularly trust power you cannot see to do work you cannot accomplish. Jesus invites you to do the same with Him.
Max Lucado
Don’t let the storms of life, nor your own doubts or indifference eclipse your view of Jesus Christ.
Ian