OLD TESTAMENT WITNESS TO ITSELF
We will now look at Old Testament proofs of its own inspiration.
First and foremost, as we have seen above, the writers constantly affirm the truth of their statements by saying “Thus saith the Lord” —there is no need to go all over this again, but I would remind you that Ezekiel uses this or similar expressions over 200 times.
David, in a Messianic Psalm, declares “In the volume of the book it is written of me” (Psalm 40:7), an Old Testament instance of the passages that speak of Christ.
Isaiah refers to the book of the Lord: “Seek ye out of the book of the Lord” (Isaiah 34:16). If it is the Lord's book, who shall accuse it of inaccuracy?
Isaiah, Jeremiah and Habakkuk all speak of being charged by the Lord to commit their predictions to writings: “The Lord said unto me, Take thee a great roll, and write in it with a man's pen, concerning, etc.” (Isaiah 8:1). “Now go, write it before them in a table, and note it in a book” (Jeremiah 30:2): “Take thee a roll of a book, and write therein all the words that I have spoken unto thee against Israel... and Baruch wrote from the mouth of Jeremiah all the words of the Lord” (Jer. 36:2-4): “Jeremiah wrote in a book all the evil that should come upon Babylon” (Jeremiah 51:60): “The Lord answered me, and said: Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it” (Hab. 2:2). These passages not only show the authority upon which the writers recorded their sayings, but also that they wrote what they were commanded of the Lord to write. But these statements are not confined to the prophets—David the psalmist claims that he wrote by the Spirit of Jehovah: “The Spirit of Jehovah spake by me, and his word was upon my tongue” (2 Samuel 23:2).
Again, let us take an example from a book of very different character—Proverbs. Here the writer does not claim that his words are from Jehovah, but he speaks of a book: “the word of God,” which he declares to be absolutely true in every particular—a striking statement of Old Testament inspiration: “Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him. Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar” (Proverbs 30:5, 6).
Most striking of all is the declaration of Jehovah concerning the writings of Old Testament. Hosea, as is well known, consists of “the word of the Lord that came unto Hosea,” and in the midst we find the Lord's declaration: “I have written to him the great things of my law, but they were counted as a strange thing” (Hosea 8:12).
The Psalms of David contain many testimonies to the integrity of the scriptures, but reference may be first made to the fact that the Lord definitely stated that David in writing Psalms was guided by the Holy Ghost: “How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool” (Psalm 110; Matthew 22:43, 44). And not only have we the Lord's testimony, but we have the testimony of common sense: what meaning had the above quotation to David as an ordinary human being? None whatever, but if inspired, the statement is but an ordinary one. Well, then, we see that the Psalms are stated to be inspired, and we may now listen to their testimony. “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimonies of the Lord are sure, making wise the simple: the statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold, sweeter also than honey, and the honeycomb” (Psalm 19:7, 8, 10): “Thy word is true from the beginning: every one of thy righteous judgments endureth forever” (Psalm 119:160): “The words of the Lord are pure” (Psalm 12:6): “Thy testimonies are very sure” (Psalm 5); “All thy commandments are faithful” (Psalm 119:86): “The righteousness of thy testimonies is everlasting” (Psalm 119:144): “All thy commandments are truth” (Psalm 119:151): “He established a testimony in Jacob, and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers, that they should make them known to their children” (Psalm 78:5). Lastly, after speaking of the words of the Lord, the Psalmist says, “Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them is great reward” (Psalm 19:11). These examples of David's testimony must suffice, and comment on them is needless.
Quotation after quotation has already been given to show that, despite the higher critic, Moses did in reality write the Pentateuch. But all the testimony has been taken from the New Testament, such as “Had ye believed Moses, ye would have believed me, for he wrote of me. But if ye believe not his writings, how shall ye believe my words?” (John 5:46, 47); thus not only definitely ascribing the writings to Moses, but also putting Moses on equal authority with His words. Let us find, now, the Old Testament evidence to this disputed fact.
In the books themselves we find that the Lord commanded Moses to write an account of the doings of the children of Israel and the words of the Lord in a book: “And the Lord said unto Moses, Write this for a memorial in a book” (Ex. 17:14): “And Moses wrote all the words of the Lord” (Ex. 24:4): “And the Lord said unto Moses, Write thou these words” (Ex. 34:27).
Then we get some references in the Old Testament outside the Pentateuch; in Isaiah 63 the prophet speaks of “the right hand of Moses” (Isaiah 63:11, 12), and the indwelling of “the Holy Spirit within him” (Isaiah 63:11, 12). The prophet Malachi ascribes the law to Moses: “Remember ye the law of Moses my servant, which I commanded him in Horeb,...with the statutes and judgments” (Mal. 4:4). Still more, remember the constant testimony of Him “in whom dwelt all the fullness of the Godhead bodily” (Colossians 2:9) to Moses. Were all deceived? On what grounds are we to believe that Samuel wrote one part and Jeremiah another? The surmises of some German and English critics! Do you believe them, or do you believe God, for He has spoken most clearly?
MESSIAH'S SUFFERING
The allusions to the Old Testament at the time of the passion are very impressive. Every step seems here to be guided by Old Testament prophecy: “Ye know that after two days is the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified” (Matthew 26:2). He was the true passover, and the time of His sufferings must correspond with the sacrifices which prefigured it. “The Son of man goeth, as it is written of him; but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed” (Matthew 26:24). The easiest way to show this is by making a series of quotations from the Old Testament, and side by side the corresponding New Testament quotation recording its fulfillment.
Old Testament
New Testament
1. “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His anointed” (Ps. 2:2).
Pilate “sent him to Herod” (Luke 23:7). “And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him (Lu. 22:2).
2. “Neither wilt thou suffer thine Holy One to see corruption” (Psalm 16:10).
“He is risen from the dead” (Matthew 28:7).
3. “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” (Psalm 22:1).
“Jesus cried with a loud voice saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, etc.” (Matthew 27:46).
4. “All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out the lip, they shake the head” (Psalm 22:7).
“Likewise the chief priests mocking him, with the scribes and elders” (Matthew 27:41): “They that passed by reviled him, wagging their heads” (Matthew 27:39).
5. “He trusted on the Lord that he would deliver him: let him deliver him” (Psalm 22:8).
“Saying: He trusted in God: let him deliver him now, if he will have him (Matthew 27:43).
6. “They pierced my hands and my feet” (Psalm 22:16).
“And they crucified him” (Matthew 27:35).
7. “They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture” (Psalm 22:18).
“And parted his garments, casting lots” (Matthew 27:35). See also John 19:24.
8. “False witnesses are risen up against me ' (Psalm 27:12).
“Many false witnesses came” (Matthew 26:60).
9. “Into thine hand I commend my spirit” (Psalm 31:5).
“Jesus cried with a loud voice, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit” (Luke 23:46).
10. “My friends stand aloof from my sore: and my kinsmen stand afar off” (Psalm 38:11).
“And all his acquaintance, and the women that followed him from Galilee, stood afar off, beholding these things” (Luke 23:49).
11. “Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me” (Psalm 41:9).
“And when he had dipped the sop, he gave it to Judas.... He then... went immediately out... Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them” (John 13:26, 30; 18:5).
12. “They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink” (Psalm 69:2I).
“They gave him vinegar to drink, mingled with gall” (Matthew 27:34). “Jesus... saith, I thirst.... When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar” (John 19:28, 30).
13. “When they looked upon me they shaked their heads” (Psalm 109:25).
“They that passed by railed on him, wagging their heads” (Mark 15:29).
14. “I gave my back to the smiters... I hid not my face from shame and spitting” (Isaiah 1:6).
“When he had scourged Jesus... they bowed the knee and mocked him... and they spit upon him” (Matthew 27:26, 29, 30).
15. “He was oppressed... yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before his shearers is dumb, so he opened not his mouth” (Isaiah 53:7).
“And when he was accused of the chief priests and the elders, he answered nothing... And he answered him to never a word” (Matthew 27:12, 14).
16. “He made his grave with the wicked and the rich in his death” (Isaiah 53:9).
“A rich man of Arimathea.. laid it in his own new tomb” (Matthew 27:57, 60).
17. “He keepeth all his bones: not one of them is broken” (Psalm 34:20).
“When they came to Jesus... they brake not his legs” (John 19:33, 36).
18. “Thou hast put mine acquaintances far from me” (Psalm 88:8).
“They all forsook him and fled” (Mark 14:50).
19. “I will cause the sun to go down at noon, and I will darken the earth in the clear day” (Amos 8:9).
“And it was about the sixth hour, and there was darkness over all the earth until the ninth hour” (Luke 23:44).
20. “They shall look on me whom they have pierced” (Zechariah 12:10).
“One of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side” (John 19:34).
21. “Smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered” (Zechariah 8:7).
“And they all forsook him and fled” (Matthew 26:31; Mark 14:50).
(Continued from page 280)
(To be continued)
[L. H. H.]