Seeing the Psalms and Jesus in Hebrews?
1 Long ago God spoke many times and in many ways to our ancestors through the prophets. 2 And now in these final days, he has spoken to us through his Son. God promised everything to the Son as an inheritance, and through the Son he created the universe. 3 The Son radiates God’s own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven. 4 This shows that the Son is far greater than the angels, just as the name God gave him is greater than their names.
2 but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things,
6 “As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill.”
7 I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
Psalms 2:6-8 ESV
This morning I felt compelled to read and hand copy Hebrews chapter 1 verses 1 to 4. I decided to look for Jesus and the Psalms in Hebrews. I’ve not made a plan or a commitment yet to this as a full on project but I find it a useful exercise today to see the connections because the book of Hebrews has a theme of Jesus and I want to make Jesus my theme and it is answering questions a jewish person might have (most people will have many of these questions regardless of whether they are raised jewish in religion or not.) about who is God, what is God doing and how is He doing it.
Hebrews 1:1-4 answer foundational philosophical questions immediately and lay out guides for thinking about theology, origins, creation, purpose, and anthropology and our place in the world.
The writer of Hebrews tells us:
There is a God.
God communicates frequently.
Time as we know it has a beginning and end.
Possession of all things is determined by God.
God created the whole universe.
God the Son is fully God expressing to us all of God’s character.
The Son has complete authority and possession and attention of all things.
The Son is the ultimate absolute ruler (Kingly language is used).
People are sinners.
The Son cleanses the sin of people. (This is an accomplished task)
The Son has the ultimate place of honour and authority in heaven with the Father.
And as you probably can see these same themes are what Psalm 2 deals with.
Why do the nations rage[a]
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”
Psalm 2 deals with these same points as so:
v2 Answers the question that the nations know there's a God. (point 1)
v2 People are sinners (point 9)
v3 It is also implied that God communicates, they know what they are casting away (point 2)
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6 “As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill.”
v4-6 Possession of all things is determined by God (point 4)
God sits in heaven above in attitude and position, He determines the King, the place and the purpose of things. And God’s representative, His King reflects His authority.
(points 6, 7, 8)
7 I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”
v7-9 The Son of God has possession of all things. (point 7)
The Son is the absolute ruler (point 8)
The Son has ultimate place of authority (point 11)
10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
v12 The implication of forgiveness is in the fact that the Kings are rebellious but can serve and Kiss the Son and then not perish. (point 10)
Had time allowed I would like to write much more and explain much more concerning the writing of the book of Hebrews and my quest to see Jesus and the Psalms in the book. I do not know if I will develop these thoughts further.
Dear Father in Heaven,
I see that my heart has been like the kings of Psalms 2, the rulers of this world and I have rebelled against you and your Son's good rule.
I am sorry for what I have done and I am sorry the world I am in is against you.
Thank You Father God for your Son, Jesus. Please accept my worship and willingness to serve Jesus as my King. I pray in the name of my Lord and Saviour Jesus.
Amen
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| Handwritten Hebrews 1:1-4 |
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