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life, and expressing his sentiments and feelings, are yet made the vehicle of prophetic information, respecting the Messiah who should descend from him. There is a prophetic promise, respecting David, which also ultimately refers to the same distinguished person: he is also predicted, by other prophets, under the very name of David: and many of the actions of David's life correspond with those of Christ.

Undoubtedly care is requisite, that the words of Scripture be not turned aside from their original intention. But when we perceive, throughout a series of compositions, one design; when we find David, although speaking primarily of himself, yet describing, with the utmost accuracy, the birth, sufferings, death, and resurrection of Christ, his priesthood and his kingdom; when we know, that all these were considered prophetic by the Jews, who have consequently continued to this day to use, in their ordinary public prayers, hymns, which originally referred to the events of one man long since dead; and only interesting to them because prophetic; we must, surely, confess, that in this is found something more than casual or fanciful accommodation. These circumstances indicate some preconcerted connection between the persons who are thus re

m

See Chandler's Defence, Chap. iii. Sect. 3.

lated, which is confirmed by their similarity in other respects. If they do not prove David to have been an historical type of Christ, in the same strictness as some other persons recorded in the Old Testament; they, at least, prove, that he personally foreshadowed him in the actions of his ordinary life.

II. Solomon, the son of David, is related to the Messiah in a similar manner.

1. There are prophecies primarily applicable to Solomon, secondarily, to Christ. "When thy days be fulfilled," said the Lord to David, by the mouth of Nathan the prophet, "and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever. I will be his father, and "Thine house and thy

he shall be my son."

kingdom shall be established for ever before thee: thy throne shall be established for ever.""

That this prophecy refers immediately to Solomon, admits not of a doubt. The words were part of a promise made to David, when he had intended to build a temple for the Lord. Nathan, who at first favoured the design of the king, was commissioned to declare

2 Sam. vii. 12, 14, 16. See also 1 Chron. xvii. 13. xxii. 10.

the will of God, to command him to desist, because he had shed much blood upon the earth, and to assure him that his work should be completed by his son. David, accordingly, made great preparations of materials for building the temple, a work, which it is notorious Solomon actually completed; and the prophecy was afterwards repeated to him.°

Still it is equally clear, that the words of this prophecy, and of others, which in like manner were spoken of Solomon, also refer to Christ. The Jews themselves all well knew, that the Messiah was to be the Son of David. It was an opinion perfectly established and uncontroverted; yet this opinion was founded upon passages originally applicable to Solomon, as this is, and afterwards more fully explained and referred to the Messiah by future prophets. The words of the prophecy are expressly quoted by the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, and applied to Christ: "Unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? and again, I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son?"P

If this quotation were the only one, in which a prophecy delivered to David, and fulfilled in Solomon, were applied to Christ, it might,

• 2 Chron. vii. 18.

P Heb. i. 5.

perhaps, be difficult to shew more than that the words were introduced to illustrate the supreme eminence of Christ, by a reference to the different places in which the term Son is applied in Scripture. But we must interpret one passage of Scripture so as to be consistent with another, which treats of the same thing; and the use which St. Peter makes of a corresponding prophecy, which cannot be so explained away, shews in what light the present must be understood.

In a Psalm, to which reference has before been made, we read, "The Lord hath sworn in truth unto David, he will not turn from it, of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne." This promise is the same with that made in the words of Nathan, and in other parts of Scripture; and, therefore, plainly refers, as they do, immediately to Solomon. But St. Peter expressly assumes, that David, being a prophet, knew that God had sworn an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to set upon his throne. These words assert the direct reference of the

prophecy to Christ, as

plainly as words can express the meaning.

See Sykes' Translation of the Epistle to the Hebrews.

Psalm cxxxii. 11.

Psalm lxxxix. 3, 4-36.

t Acts ii. 30.

We must, therefore, conclude, that the inspired author of the Epistle to the Hebrews actually quotes the prophecies, which primarily refer to Solomon, as also a real prophecy of Christ.

2. The seventy-second Psalm may also be noticed as an instance, in which the same words relate both to Solomon and to Christ.

It was doubtless a Psalm of David, and probably one of the last which the royal prophet composed, at the time when Solomon was solemnly proclaimed king during his father's life. The blessings of peace and tranquillity, which shall distinguish his reign, the wisdom, and righteousness, and mercy, with which he shall judge the poor of the people; the fame which he shall acquire, and his extensive influence over foreign nations, are all described with minuteness. The images, most prominently presented, are those of calmness and repose. And the whole Psalm forms a striking contrast to that which, as we have seen, refers to a corresponding event, the accession of David.

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When David, in the flower of his age, succeeded to the throne of God's people, he had triumphed over his enemies, and been mercifully raised from great distress. He then composed the second Psalm, in a characteristic

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