Daily Devotions
Hebrews
For He has spoken in a certain place...
Text: Hebrews 4:4
THE DIVINE AUTHOR
Once again, the author employed his unique approach of speaking of God as the Author of the Scriptures in the following text.
“For He has spoken in a certain place of the seventh day
in this way, ‘And God rested on the seventh day from
all His works.'”
Hebrews 4:4
1. He has spoken
a) Compare this phrase with “He has said” (Hebrews 4:3)
b) The Greek text has exactly the same word (eireken).
c) Significance may be found in the use of the Perfect Tense here
(What God has “said” or “spoken” continues to have relevance and impact long after He had spoken the word).
2. In a certain place
a) The writer is most concerned to highlight the fact that God is the Divine Author of the word spoken.
b) To cite the text with specific reference (Cf. Genesis 2:2) did not seem as vital, compared to understanding what God has said.
c) He did acknowledge however, that he drew his authority from the Written Scriptures.
3. God rested on the seventh day from all His works
a) The word “rested” (katepausen) is the verbal form related to the noun “rest” (katapausin).
b) God, being Divine, does not actually need to rest.
c) This word “rest” is now given another dimension- that of cessation.
d) God worked in creating the cosmos in six days.
e) On the seventh day He “ceased” from all His work.
f) The word “rest” is a reference to cessation from all laborious earthly works
(This is a welcome dimension added to the idea of “rest”).