PSALM 45:6-7 and its christological contributions to Hebrews

Trinity Journal, Spring 2001 by Bateman, Herbert W IV

The duration of the king's ruling authority is evident through the phrase "forever and ever" (...) "Forever and ever," here, is similar to the expression "may the king live always" (of David at the end of his life, 1 Kgs 1:31; of Artaxerxes, Neh 2:3) or "I will sing forever" (as long as I live, Pss 52:9; 115:18; 145:1, 2). Gunkel rightly argues that the promise of immortality (Pss 21:5; 45:3, 7; 61:7f; 72:5; 110:30 should not be taken too literally since the poet is satisfied that the king's name (Pss 45:18; 72:17) or the king's house lasts forever (Pss 89:29f, 37f; 132:12; 2 Sam 7:16; 1 Kgs 2:4, 45; 9:2f).10 Thus the term "forever and ever" speaks of a ruling authority that will last throughout the monarch's life but is perpetuated by the promise of children through his anticipated marriage (Ps 45:17; cf. 2 Sam 7:llb12, 14a, 16; 1 Chr 17:11-14). More specifically, "forever and ever" is applied implicitly to the dynastic line (vv. 16-17). In summary, "your throne" identifies the OT Davidic monarch's current rule, and "forever" speaks explicitly of the duration of the monarch's rule during his lifetime and implicitly of the perpetuation of the dynastic line through his children.

B. "Your Throne" in Heb 1:8

In keeping with the OT figurative usage, "your throne" (...) speaks of the Son's current rule. The author addresses the Son's rule when he announces his entrance into a unique relationship with the divine Father as Davidic Son (Messiah)11 in Heb 1:5 via Ps 2:7(12) and 2 Sam 7:14;(13) when he proclaims the Davidic Son's ruling authority in Heb 1:8 via Ps 45:6a; and then when he reveals that the Davidic Son rules in Yahweh's presence in Heb 1:13 via Ps 110:la.(14) Whereas 2 Sam 7:14 and Ps 2:7 are verbally linked together via the term "son" (Jewish practice of gezerah shavah); 2 Sam 7:14, Pss 2:7, 45:6-7, and 110:1 are conceptually linked together in that they all speak of a Davidic son. The clearer passages about Davidic sonship (2 Samuel 7 and Psalm 2) seem to be placed first to conceptually link the later passages (Psalms 45 and 110) with sonship (perhaps the Jewish practice of kayose bo bemaqom aher). The general principle that any and all Davidic sons enter into a unique relationship with Yahweh and rule with authority is particularized here via 2 Sam 7:14; Pss 2:7; 45:6-7; and 110:1 to speak of a specific Davidic son (Jewish practice of kelal u-ferat).15 Thus together these passages reinforce a Davidic sonship theme. Conceptual continuity of Davidic sonship obviously exists between the Old and New Testament's figurative usage and application of the term "throne," though two distinctions also exist due to its new compositional and interpretational context.

First, the usage and application of "your throne" is different due to its literary linking with 2 Sam 7:14; Pss 2:7; 45:6-7; and 110:1. Albeit "your throne" retains the OT's proclamation of a monarch's ruling authority, the author of Hebrews intentionally intermingles vv. 6 and 7 with other OT passages that were frequently employed to speak of a Davidic Son, a Messiah, yet to come. For instance, the sonship theme and themes of victory in Ps 2:8-9, 11-12 led to several first century eschatological recontextualizations of the Psalm (1QS^sup a^ 2:11; 4QFlor 1:18-19; Pss Sol 17:4, 21). Likewise, Ps 45:6 may also be linked to 2 Samuel 7 in T. Jud. 22:2-3 when the author makes a conceptual link with the mention of "an oath the Lord swore to me [Judah] that the rule would not cease for my posterity." This conceptual link emphasizes and anticipates a future ruler from Judah's tribe.16