INTRODUCTION
The first recipients of Hebrews are not named, but most
scholars believe that it was written to Jewish Christians due to its emphasis
on Jewish motifs and themes. Quotes from the Old Testament are used throughout
the book. The Jews that did not live in Jerusalem would have spoken Greek, and
this may be the reason the Old Testament quotes were taken from the Septuagint.
There are differences in
the way the passages are understood in the New Testament versus their
understanding in the Old Testament. This raises the question: Is the New Testament
author being true to the essence of the Old Testaments authors meaning. Jonathan Lunde points out that the goal is “to
recover the profoundly theological nature of the NT use of the OT Scriptures
and thereby to appreciate more deeply the astounding glory of the revelation
that has come from Jesus.”[1]
Psalm 8:4-8 is used in
Hebrews 2:5-9 and Psalm 40:6-8 is used in Hebrews 10:5-9. By taking a closer
look at these passages a deeper meaning may be achieved, and a greater
understanding of the message that God is speaking to his people not only then
but now.
THE MESSAGE OF PSALM 8
Psalm 8 is a hymn. One could
imagine David sitting under the night sky looking up at its glory, and speaking
forth this poetry. It begins with “O Lord our Lord how excellent is your name
in all the earth” (Psalm 8:1a). These same words end the chapter, and draw
attention to God’s sovereignty. He is a majestic God, a mighty God, a God of
wonder and power. These words create a framework for the key point of the
chapter. God made man to reflect his glory. “out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants
you have perfected praise” (Psalm 8:2). This is quoted by Christ in Matt.
21:16. Children are receptive to the love of God, and they need care. “…My
strength is made perfect in weakness…” 2 Corinthians 12:9a). “So, strength resides
in the cry of one who has privileged access to one who embodies strength.”[2]
Everything man has from his life to his death to eternity he has because God
provided it. He fights our battles against the enemy, and through him we can
stand strong. “
David is amazed at the
magnificent of God’s creation. He sees the heavens, and the moon and stars the
majesty of God’s creation, and he asked the question: “What is man that You are
mindful of him, and the son of man that you visit him” (Psalm 8:4)? It is a rhetorical question, and the answer is
in the heart of God, but David continues. God made man in his image. Humanity
was made a little lower than the angels, but was crowned with glory and honor. In
Jesus all that man was meant to be was personified. God gave man dominion over
this world, and over his creations, and then man bowed a knee to Satan in the
garden. Christ the perfect man bought it back as we will see as we look at
Hebrews 2: 5-9. Verses 7-8 spells out
all that man was meant to have dominion over. It takes us back to Genesis 1.
“Thus, in view of the greater dominion of Jesus, one that includes death, Psalm
8 also becomes prophesy of a greater fulfillment of the “everything” of verse
6.”[3]
THE MEANING OF PSALM 8:
4-8 IN OLD TESTAMENT CONTEXT
The previous Scriptures
speak of the glory of God’s heavens. Delitzsch points out that the heavens are
boundless space far beyond what man can see. They stretch out in space
positioned as God desires, and “He has created them with all the skill of his
creative wisdom. …The most natural thought would be: frail, puny man is as
nothing before all this; but this thought is passed over in order to celebrate,
with grateful emotion, and astonished admiration, the divine love that appears
is all the more glorious light, - a love that condescends to poor man, the dust
of the earth.”[4]
The eloquent question that is asked in vs 4 is answered in vs 5. Man made a
little lower than the angels was crowned with glory and honor. God cared for
man. This is amazing. “What is man that
you are mindful of him” (Psalm 8: 4a). The close relationship that man had with
God in the garden was severed at the fall, but God had a plan to redeem
humanity. He wanted to bring man back to what he was meant to be, a son of the
Most High God in close communion with him.
Man was to rule over
creation. Verses 6,7, and 8 described what man’s job was to be. He was to have
dominion over the works of God’s hands. God had put everything under his feet.
“This Psalm reminds us that our supremacy in the natural world did not result
from our own efforts or from something inherent in nature but from God’s
deliberate choice.”[5]
Chapter 8 takes us back to Genesis to remind us of where man started, and his place
in the earth and in the heart of God.
THE USE OF PSALM 8:4-8
IN HEBREW 2: 5-9
Verse 5 begins with the
word “for” taking us back to chapter 1:14 where angels are discussed. Christ is
greater than the angels. “Are they not all ministering Spirits sent forth to
minister for those who will inherit salvation” (Hebrew 2:14)? “Conclusion: the
angels, therefore, most definitively, are not the ones to whom this “coming
world” of salvation “has been subjected.”[6]
At this point Psalm 8:4-8 is quoted from the Septuagint. The author of Hebrews
quotes Psalms 8:4-8 which refers to Genesis to ascertain that God placed
humanity over all the works of his hands including angels. Christ being in the
form of man might cause an issue in proving his preeminence. The word “but” is
used at the beginning of verse 6 which implies that man and the son of man will
be at the helm in the world to come not angels. Humanities rule has been
hindered due to the sin issue. Man can only be redeemed through Christ which
brings him into right standing with God.
Vs. 9 quotes from Psalm
8: 7. He uses the name Jesus in this verse. Jesus, through his humiliation and
exaltation regained for man what was lost. “But we see Jesus, who was made a
little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and
honor, that he, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone” (Hebrews
2:9).
Psalm 8:4-8 in its Old
Testament context takes the reader back to the Genesis story of creation. Verse
four asked the question, and then in verse 5 gives the story of man before the
fall. He was made a little lower than the angels, and crown with glory and
honor. It tells what God did for man. He put him over the works of his hands,
and put everything under his feet. In verses 7-8 there is a list of all that he
was over. The Psalmist does not continue to the fall. This is what man was
meant to be.
Hebrews tells us about
the sin issue, and the result. “But now we do not see all things put under him”
(Hebrews 2:8b). Now we see Jesus “who was made a little lower than the angels
for the suffering of death” (Hebrews 2:9a). Jesus bought back what was lost. “The
purpose of his incarnation, death, an exaltation was that he might fully
experience death for every human being.”[7]
The authors use of Psalm 8:4-8 in Hebrews 2:5-9 brings man full circle. The
beauty of God’s plan for man, man’s fall, and then his redemption through
Christ. Psalm 8:4-8 was prophetic of what Christ would do for man to restore
him to his position with God. The author of Hebrews opens the full meaning of
these Scriptures. “The Psalms is only Messianic in as far as it implies man’s
final exaltation through Christ’s incarnation. It applies, in the first
instance, and directly, to man: and only in a secondary sense to Jesus as man.”[8]
THE MESSAGE OF PSALM 40
The message in Psalm 40
would appear to be that when you are in a pit or in the miry clay (trials of
life) wait on the Lord, because he will deliver you. Troubles have a way of
keeping us dependent on God. He delivers David, and he sings songs of praise to
God. David reminds the people that they must commit their lives to the Lord.
God takes pleasure in the praises of his people. David did not hide his love or
worship of God in his heart, but he proclaimed it before all. We are to praise
God amid our troubles. David begins in trouble, and is delivered and the
chapter ends with David in trouble, and asking God not to delay in delivering
him. Psalm 40 is a visual of life. Trials will come, and our only hope is
through God. We are to praise him through our trials and proclaim his goodness,
so that others will see the righteousness of God, and experience his
faithfulness and salvation.
THE MEANING OF PSALM 40: 6-8
“If verses 6-8 are to be
related directly to those that follow, we should understand the doing of “your
will” to be the proclaiming of your righteousness (vv. 9-10). In this light,
these verses are not polemic against sacrifice per se; they merely assert that
sacrificial offerings are not the prerequisite for entrance into the temple.”[9]
He does require that we use our ears to hear what he is saying. When God speaks
we need to listen closely. He speaks in a still small voice as with Elijah. He
was in the still small voice. God desires not sacrifice, but a heart that is
willing and obedient. It is the submission of the person to the will of God. He
wants only what is best for us, and we can yield in faith walking in his will
and purpose. God has pleasure in those who are obedient, and come to him with
praises in their heart. We need not only to hear, but to understand what the
Lord is saying, so we can truly obey. David brought the sacrifice, but with it
he presents his life to the Lord.
THE USE OF PSALM 6-8 IN HEBREW 10:5-9
David was the anointed
of God, and his covenant with God was that his heir would sit on the throne of
Israel forever. The words of David in this section of Psalm 40 is inspired by
the Holy Spirit, and prophesies the words that will be spoken by Christ. He
would offer up himself as the perfect sacrifice, and there would be no need for
animal sacrifices. This is why the author of Hebrews used this specific set of
Scriptures. In his death he fulfilled the requirements of the law for the
perfect sacrifice. “The practice of ritualistic sacrifice apart from a sincere
commitment to God’s will falls short of the divine intention for the
sacrificial system.” [10]The
prophetic part of Psalm 40 is complete by verse 10. “In the Epistle to the
Hebrew, 10:5-9, 7-9, of this Psalms are, by following the LXX, taken as the
language of the Christ at His coming into the world. There can be no doubt in
this particular instance that, as we look to the second part of the Psalm, this
rendering is brought about typically…. We are not thereby compelled to
understand the whole Psalm as typically predictive”[11]
When comparing the
textual differences, it depends on the version of the Bible that is being used.
Hebrews used the Septuagint, but today there are so many versions to choose
from that it becomes more difficult. The wording in the NKJV is very close to
the LXX.
The Septuagint, “Sacrifice
and offering thou wouldest not;” NKJV says, “Sacrifice and offering you did not
desire,” Septuagint, “whole- burnt- offering and sacrifice for sin you did not
require.” NKJV, “In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you had no
pleasure.” At the end of the next phrase the Septuagint uses, “concerning me”
and the NKJV says “of me”. The last section is quite different. The Septuagint
says, “I desire to do thy will, O my God, and thy law is in the midst of my
heart.” The NKJV says, “To do thy will, O God.” It then continues with verse 8.
Although Psalm 40:6-8 is
prophetic it also applies to David’s situation. David had a heart for god. He
understood the power of praise, and he understood that the attitude of the
heart that brought the sacrifice and burnt offering was equally important.
Psalm 40 is about persevering in trial and tribulations through faith, and
because of that faith in God there is praise. The law required sacrifices and
burnt offerings, but they needed to be offered with a right heart. David had a
right heart, and as he proclaims his delight to do the will of God he also
prophesies of The Messiah who would come through his line. The New Testament
writer is faithful to the meaning of the message, because the message David was
giving was also the heart of the Messiah.
CONCLUSION
We must always recognize
Jesus. He is the exalted Lord of all things. We still wait for his return when
all that was done by his life, death and resurrection will be fully recognized.
“We walk by faith not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). There is a difference in
the way the New Testament uses the Old Testament, but it brings a fuller
understanding of the Scripture, and a deeper meaning for the church today as
they benefit from both.
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Broyles,
Craig C. Psalms. Grand Rapids,
Michigan: Baker Books, 1999.
Cockrill,
Gareth Lee. The Epistle to the Hebrews. (Grand
Rapids, Michigan: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company,2012),127.
George
H. Guthrie. Hebrew: The NIV Application
Commentary. (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 1998), 328.
Walter
C. Kaiser Jr., Darrel Bock, Peter Enns. Tree
Views of the New Testaments Use of the Old Testament. (Grand Rapids,
Michigan: Zondervan, 2008), 41.
Keil
and Delitzsch. “Commentary on the Psalms”. (Edinburgh: T &T Clark, 1892), Clark’s Foreign Theological Library. fourth
series, vol. XXIX, vol. 1, 153.
[2] Broyles, Craig C.
Psalms. (Grand Rapids, Michigan:
Baker Books, 1999). 71.
[3] Ibid., 73.
[7] Ibid., 135.
[8] Delitzsch.
“Commentary on the Psalms”. (Edinburgh: T &T Clark, 1892), Clark’s Foreign Theological Library. fourth
series, vol. XXIX, vol. 1, 153.
