intern a.I evidence a.gain et its Davidic a.uthor- "the rocl or thy strength out of Zion," a.ncl ehip, though, but for the above testimony to in the picture which follows of the sub- the contrary, it might ha.ve been the com- miii.ion of heathen kingR after warfare and position of n. prophot of David's da.y, or slaughter. But vers. 1 a.ncl 4 point still writton by Do.vid for use by his people-the to another than himself whom he fore- term, "my lord," having thus a primary sees in the spirit of prophecy. The psalm reference to him. In either of these cases begins, literally tro.nslatecl, "The voice [or, we might suppose the origina.l conception 'oracle,' Hebrew O.N/] of Jehcn.'ah to my lord, of vcr. 1 to have been that of David himself Bit thou on my right ha.nd," etc. This 1,cing cntluoned on Zion at the side of the sounds like more than a. mere echo of "King of glory" (Ps. xxiv.) who had "come Natban'd message, the language being in;" while ver. 4 might possibly ha.ve been different and still more significant. An,l suggested by David's organization of the that snch o. vision of a future fulfilmeno services of the tabernacle, and by the of the promise was not foreign to the mind personal pa.rt he took in the ritual when of David appears from his "last words" the ark was removed to Zion. Even so, the (2 Sam. xxiii. I, etc.), where also the signifi- quotation would anawer the purpose of ca.nt word ONJ is used. And now, mark who.I the argument according to the view of the the languag~ of this "oracle" implies-not drift of Messianic psalms which has been merely the entluonement of the Son on.Zion explained above. But, even independently as God's Vicegerent, bnt his session at the of the distinct import of our Lord's words, right hand of God himself, i.e "at the right there nre reasons (pointed out by Delitzsch) hand of the Mo.jesty on high;" God's own against the supposition of even o. primary throne being ever (as has been said above) reference to David in the words, "my lord." regarded as above the heavens, or, if on Two may be mentioned : (1) that the assign- earth, above the cherubim. Such, then, ment of encerdotnl functions to an earthly being the meaning of the "oracle" (and it king is contrary to the whole spirit of the is the meaning uniformly given it in the Old Testament; (2) that God's own throne New Testament), well may it be adduced is elsewhere represented as, not in Zion, but as the final and crowning proof of the above the heavens. Now, the conclusion position above the angels assigned to the thus 11rrived at, that David himself is speak- SoN in prophecy. ing throughout the psalm of a.nother than Ver. 14.-Are they not all, eto.? A final himself, gi~es a. pecnlinr fo~ce to ~ :~nl expression, adduced in contrast, of the quotation, 1n tha.t the Antitype 1B distm- position and office of the angels, as seen guished from and raised above the type above. The A.V. suggests the idea., not more evidently than in other Messinnio conveyed by the Greek, of guardian angels. psalms. In others (as we ho.ve reg11rded The more correct tranela.tion is, .A.re they not them) the typica.l king himself is the all miniBwring(il.uToup-y,1<<1) spirits,for service primary object in view, though ideally ( •is IS1a.1<011la.v) BenC forth, on account of thosB glorified so ns to foresha.dow One greater who are to (IS,<i To/,s µ.IAAormu) inlierit salva• than himself; here the typical king seems tion f The allusion is generally to their to ha.ve a distinct vision of the Messia.h apart office of subordinate ministro.tion in further- from himself, nnd speaks or him o.s his lord. ance of the Divine purposes of human salva- It does not follow that DCLvid's own position tion; tbo continua.nee of such office being and circumstances did not form a basis for denoted by the present participle, a.ToO'TE/1.• his vision. Wo perceive traces of them in 11.0µ.•va.,
HOMILETICS. Vers. 1 2.-The two revelations. In this sublime exordium, which strikes the key- note of his doctrinal teaching, the writer takes for granted : 1. 'l'he inspiration of tho Scriptures. "God bath spoken." How awfu\ this truth, yet how blessed I With what a clear ringing note of certainty the a.uthor ass1;1mes it I The Scri~tures put forth no theory of inspiration, but they everywhere claim tu declare the mmd and will of God. 2. The interdependence of tho two revelations. It is the same God who b~s "spoken" in both. The now does not ignore or contradict the old; it rests ~pon 1t, -1.evelops it, and completes it. 'l'he Old 'l'esto.ment-, no less than t~e New,. ~•.ll bear every trial to which it may be subjected by either the lower or the higher cnt1c1sm. I. THE OLD 'l'EBTAlllENT REVELATION CHARACTERIZED. It is: 1. .Ancient. "Of old time unto the fathers." "Since the world began" (Acts iii. 21). For nearly four hundred years now God bad ceased speaking ; it w:as more than fifteen b.undred since the first part of the Old TestameDt had been wntten; and 1t was over BF.DllEWS. V 18 THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS. [CH, I. 1-14,