Daily Devotions
Hebrews
Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says...
Text: Hebrews 3:7
AN IMPORTANT REFERENCE TO THE HOLY SPIRIT
The author of Hebrews has the most interesting way of citing Scripture. The following text is a clear example of his unique way of looking at things.
“Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says:
‘Today, if you will hear His voice…”
Hebrews 3:7
1. A quotation from the Book of Psalms
a) This text is a clear quotation from the Book of Psalms.
b) It is in fact taken from Psalm 95:7-11.
c) The authorship of Psalm 95 is unknown (unspecified).
2. The Holy Spirit as the Authority behind the Scriptures
a) The construction of the above text (Hebrews 3:7) puts forward the suggestion that the Holy Spirit is the Divine Author.
b) While there may be human authors, the Source must be traced to the Divine Spirit of God Himself.
c) Peter would agree with this line of thinking. He wrote about Divine Authorship in one of his general epistles:-
“Knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of any
private interpretation (literally “origin”),
for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God
spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.”
2 Peter 1:20-21
d) Paul would have no difficulty in agreeing that the Scriptures do not originate from man. He wrote,
“All Scripture is given by inspiration of God…”
2 Timothy 3:16a
READING THE SCRIPTURES
How should we read the Scriptures? If we follow the reasoning of the author of Hebrews correctly we would recognize two vital things:-