Av, “ wherefore.” It expresseth an inference from what was spoken before, manifesting the ensuing exhortation to be deduced from thence. And it hath respect unto the exhortation itself which the apostle directly enters upon, verse 12, “Take heed, brethren,”—‘ Wherefore take heed, brethren.’? There is therefore a hyperbaton in the discourse, the words that agree in sense being separated by an interposition of other things; and there is between them a digression to an example or argument for the better enforcement of the exhortation itself.
Kalas reves ro Ivete 10 dysov, “as the Holy Ghost saith ;” or, ‘that I may use the words of the Holy Ghost.’ There is an emphasis in the manner of the expression,—ré IIvtua ro dysov, “that Holy Spirit ;” so called xar’ iZoxq», by
1 The Hebrew in the psalm is in reality "2" 5?.—Ep,
VER. 7-11] EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. 5
way of eminency, the third person in the Trinity, who in an especial manner spake in the penmen of the Scripture. Those holy men of God spake ixé Ilved- faros eylov Pepowevor, “ moved,” “ acted,” “inspired by the Holy Ghost,” 2 Pet. i, 21. ;
Kabds révet, “as he saith.” This may intend either his first immediate speak- ing in his inspiration of the psalmist, as it is expressed, chap. iv. 7, év AwSid Aéyay, “saying in David,” where these words are again repeated; or his con- tinuing still to speak these. words to us all in the Scripture. Being given out by inspiration from him, and his authority always accompanying them, he still speak- eth them,
The words reported by the apostle are taken from Ps. xev. 7-11. He men- tions not the especial place, as speaking unto them who either were, or whom he would haye to be exercised in the word, 2 Tim. iii. 15. Besides, though such particular citations of places may be needful for us, for a present help unto them that hear or read, it was not so to the holy penmen of the New Testament, whose writings are continually to be searched and meditated upon all our lives, John v. 39. Whereas ours are transient and for the present occasion, every thing in their writings (which makes us attentive and industrious in our search) is to our advantage. The leaving, therefore, of an uncertainty whence particular quota- tions are taken is useful to make us more sedulous in our inquiries.
This psalm the apostle makes use of both in this chapter and the next. In this, he manifests it to contain a useful and instructive example, in what hap- pened unto the people of God of old. In the next, he shows that not only a moral example may be taken from what so fell out, but also that there was a type in the things mentioned in it (and that according unto God’s appointment) of our state and condition; and moreover, a prophecy of the gospel state of the ehureh under the Messiah, and the blessed rest therein to be obtained. Here we have the consideration of it as historical and exemplary; in the next we shall treat of it as prophetical.
The Jews had a tradition that this psalm belonged unto the Messiah. Hence the Targum renders these words of the first verse, ¥2% “?, “to the rock of our salvation,” x27» 4pm omp, “before the mighty one of our redemption;” with respect unto the redemption to be wrought by the Messiah, whom they looked for as the Redeemer, Luke xxiv. 21. So ver. 7, (7.82, “in that day,” seems to refer unto the same season. And the ancient Jews do frequently apply these words, “To-day, if ye will hear his voice,” unto the Messiah, For from these words they have framed a principle, that if all Israel would repent but one day the Messiah would come, because it is said, “To-day, if ye will hear his voice.” So in the Talmud. Tract. Taanith., distinc. Mamarai Maskirin. And the same words they used in Midrash Shirhashirim, cap. v. ver. 2. And this is no small witness against them as to the person of the Messiah; for he is God un- doubtedly concerning whom the psalmist speaks, as is evident from verses 2-7, He whose voice they are to hear, whom they acknowledge to be the Messiah, is « Jehovah, the great God,” verse 3; “ who made the sea, and formed the dry land,” verse 5; “the Lorp our maker,” verse 6. And indeed this psalm, with those that follow unto the 104th, is evidently of those new songs which belong unto the kingdom of the Messiah. And this is among the Jews the *]7 ™Y, or principal “new song,” expressing that renovation of all things which under it they expect. The next psalm expresseth it: “ Sing unto the Lorp “77 TY,” “a new song.” then by mr sv, saith Rashi, “This psalm is for the time to come;” that is, the days of the Messiah. #uepov, ©75, “ hodie,” “ to-day,” “ this day.” A certain day or space of time is limited or determined, as the apostle speaks in the next chapter. And the psalm being in part, as was showed, prophetical, it must have a various application; for it both expresseth what was then done and spoken in the type, with regard to what was before as the foundation of all, and