Psalm 40:6-7 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire; my ears have you opened: burnt offering and sin offering have you not required.… I. It is intimated that, whenever the Messiah should come, THE SACRIFICES AND CEREMONIES OF THE MOSAIC LAW WERE TO BE SUPERSEDED BY HIM. Jewish writers contend for the perpetuity of the ceremonial as well as of the moral law; but in this they are opposed, both by Scripture and by fact. 1. As to Scripture (1 Samuel 15:22; Psalm 1:7-15; Psalms 51:16,17; Isaiah 1:11, 12; Jeremiah 7:21-23; Daniel 9:27; Jeremiah 31:31-34; Hebrews 8:13; Hebrews 10:17, 18). 2. Whether Messiah the Prince be come or not, sacrifice and oblation have ceased. We believed they virtually ceased when Jesus offered Himself a sacrifice, and in a few years after they actually ceased. II. It is suggested that, whenever Messiah should come, THE GREAT BODY OF SCRIPTURE PROPHECY SHOULD BE ACCOMPLISHED IN HIM. "In the volume," etc. 1. The time when Messiah should come is clearly marked out in prophecy (Genesis 49:10; Haggai 2:6-9; Daniel 9:24-27). 2. The place where Messiah should be born, and where He should principally impart His doctrine, is determined (Micah 5:2; Isaiah 9:2). 3. The house or family from whom Messiah should descend is clearly ascertained. 4. The kind of miracles that Messiah should perform is specified (Isaiah 35:5, 6). 5. It was predicted of Messiah that He should, as a King, be distinguished by His lowliness, entering into Jerusalem, not in a chariot of state, but in a much humbler style (Zechariah 9:9). 6. It is predicted of Messiah that He should suffer and die by the hands of wicked men (Isaiah 49:7; Isaiah 52:14, 15, 53.; Daniel 9:26). 7. It was foretold that the Messiah, after being cut off out of the land of the living and laid in the grave, should rise from the dead. 8. It was foretold that the great body of the Jewish nation would not believe in Him; and that He would set up His kingdom among the Gentiles (Isaiah 53:1; Isaiah 49:4-6). III. It is declared, that when the Messiah should come, THE WILL OF GOD WOULD BE PERFECTLY FULFILLED BY HIM. "I delight to do Thy will." The will of God sometimes denotes what He approves, and sometimes what He appoints. The first is the rule of our conduct, the last of His own; and both we affirm to have been fulfilled by Jesus. (A. Fuller.) Parallel Verses KJV: Sacrifice and offering thou didst not desire; mine ears hast thou opened: burnt offering and sin offering hast thou not required. |
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