The Pulpit Commentary — Hebrews — Section 26

Solomon" to come. It is true that kings fulfilment in Christ, the Bridegroom of the are elsewhere called" gods" in the plural (as Church, whose 71"apa.v6µcp,o, the redeemed are; in Ps. lxxxii. 6, referred to by our Lord, themselves e.lso being, after their measure, John x. 35); but the solemn addressing of XPtlT'Toi (cf. l John ii. 20, 27). But they are e.n individuu.l king by this title is (if the also made •• ki"IJ8 e.nd priests unto God" by vocative rendering be correct) peculiu.r to Christ (Rev. i. 6; v. 10); so that either of this psalm. The passage (l Sam. xxviii. 13) the supposed original references may be adduced in abatement of the significance of shown to be typical, if it.be thought necessary the title, where the apparition of Samuel is to find a definite fulfilment of all the details described by the witch of Ender as "Elohim of the address to the theocratic king. The ascending out of the earth," is not e. parallel view that in the fulfilment the angels are case. The word "Elohim" has a compre• to be understood as Christ's µET&xo, is in- hensive meaning, depending on context for admissible. There is nothing in the psalm its precise significance. If vocatively used to suggest the thought of them, nor does the in a solemn address to e. king sitting upon way in which they are contrasted with the e.n everh1sting throne, it surely implies the SoN in this chapter admit of their being e.ssigning of Di vine honours to the king so here spoken of as his µ.er&xo~ Men, in the e.ddressed. In this case still more is implied next chapter, are so spoken of. than in Ps. ii., where the King is spoken of Vere. 10-12.-And, Thou, Lord, in the Ill! God's Son, enthroned on Zion, the Son beginning, etc. The bearing of this quota- being here addressed ns himself "Elohirn." tion (from Pa. cii. 25-27) on the argument It may be that the inspiring Spirit suggested in ho.nd is not at first sight obvious ; since, languo.ge to the psalmist beyond his own in the pee.Im, the address is plainly to God, comprehension e.t the time of utterance (see without e.ny mention of, or apparent refer- I Pet. i. 10, 11). It may be added that the ence to, the SoN. The psalm is entitled, ultimate Messianic reference of the expres- "A prayer of the afllicted, when he is sion is confirmed by Isa.. ix. 6, where the title overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint El-Gibbor (" Mighty God," A.V.) distinctly before the LORD." It seems likely, from its used of God himself in x. 21 (cf. Deut. x. contents, to he.ve been written by some 17; Jer. xx:xii. 18; Neh. ix. 32; Pa, :x.xiv. suffering saint during the Babylonian capti- 8), is applied to the Messiah. A sceptre of vity : for its purport is e. prayer, rising into righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom. confident expectation for deliverance from e. In this and the following clause is P.xpressed state of deep affliction, Israel being in the important idea that the ideal throne of captivity e.nd Jerusalem in ruins. The the SON is founded on righteousness, whence prayed-for e.nd expected deliverance, por- comes also his peculio.r unction with "the trayed in vers. 16-24, corresponds so closely, oil of gladness." Only so far as Solomon both in thought and expression, with that or other theocratic kings exemplified the pictured in the IRtter chapters of Ise.iah Divine righteousness, did they approach the (beginning e.t eh. xl.),that we cannot hesitate idea.I position a.ssigned to the SoN. Cf. the in assigning the same meaning to both. latter part of ver. 14 in the original promise, There is, for instance, the looking down of 2 Sam. vii., and especially 2 Sam. :x.xiii. 3, the LORD from hee.ven to behold the aflliction eto., in the "last words of David." Observe of his people ( of. Ise.. !.:xiii. 15); the setting also the prominenoe of the idea in Ps. lxxii. free of captives ( cf. Iso.. xlii. 7; lxi. l); the and in later prophecy (of. Isa. ix. 7 ; xi. 2, rebuilding and restoration of Zion, and in etc.). Therefore, God, even thy God. The connection with this the conversion of the first "God" here may be again in the voca- Gentiles to serve the LORD with Israel (cf. tive, ns in the preceding verse, or it may be Isa.. xl.-lxvi. ; e.nd especially !ix. 19; Ix. as the A.V. takes it (cf. Pa. xliii. 4; 1. 7). 2). These e.re specimens of the general Rath anointed thee with the oil of gladness correspondence between the two pictures, above thy fellows. The primary reference which must be evident to e.11 who have is, not to the king's coronation (as in Pa. studied both. But the ultimate reference of l:xxxix:. 20), but to unction as symbolical Isaiah's prophecy is oerte.inly MeEsianic: of blessing e.nd joy, connected with the wherefore that of the psalm may be con- custom of anointing the heud at feasts ( cf. cluded to be the snme. And thus we have Deut. xxviii. 40; Pa. xxiii. 5; xcii. 10; Ce.nt. made one step in explanation of the applic- i. 12 ; Matt. vi. 17). "Thy follows," in its ability of this quotation to the argument of original reference, seems most nature.Hy to the Epistle in confirming its ultilllllte refer- mean "thy nssocie.tes in royalty," "other ence to the JHessia.h'e advent; to the final kings ; " of. Pe. lx:xi.x. 27, " I will me.ke him realization of the idenl of the SoN, typified my Firstbom, higher the.n the kings of the by theocrolio kings. But wo ho.ve still to earth." Or it might mee.n the compe.nione e.ccount for the apparent applico.tion to the of tho bridegroom, the ,ra.pawµcp,o,. The Son of what, io the original pse.lm, shows no l.o.tter reference lends itself rcnclily to the sign of boiog udclJeas1<d to hiw. One view  16 THE EPISTLE TO 'l'HE HEBREWS. [en. 1. 1-14.