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Hebrews 2:9-12 (KJV) But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man. [10] For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. [11] For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, [12] Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
Hebrews chapter 2 quotes a LOT of songs from the Hebrew Hymnbook we call “Psalms”. For instance, in verse 6 there is two questions asked.
Hebrews 2:6 (KJV) …. What is man, that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man, that thou visitest him?
This question comes from the eighth song in the Hebrew Hymnal, which sings:
Psalm 8:3-4 … When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him?
That’s a good question that an arrogant person will never ask. The arrogant and prideful worship themselves and not God. They create idols. The Christian well aware of Grace and of our brokenness often asks God:
Father, Why Do YOU Love Me So?
God made the angels of starlight, way up high in the sky. Yet man is made of the dust of the ground (Genesis 2:7). God took this pile of dirt, KISSED it, and gave us something the angels do not have.
God made us in His image and in His likeness!
God put us in charge of His creation.
Our hearts should sing with the Hebrew Hymnbook. We should praise Him and give glory to Him! Oh, what a wonderful God we serve.
Psalm 8:5-6 … For thou (O God) hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honour. 6 Thou madest him to have dominion over the works of thy hands; thou hast put all things under his feet:
God placed all of creation under man’s hands.
He did not give the world to the angels
But to us who are lower than the angels
We should be astonished that God loves us so. This should make us sing and praise His Holy Name. But then – given all things and blessed beyond measure – man fell. Adam sinned. You would think with that sin that God would wipe His hands of us. That’s what WE would do if we were betrayed. If we gave someone everything, and that someone turned on us, then our natural response would be to have nothing to do with them.
But God loves us so.
That’s the impact of the focal text today.
But we see Jesus.
We failed God, but rather than abandoning us,
God came to us.
We were crowned with glory and honor, and gave it all away.
But we see Jesus – God Become Man.
Hebrews 2:9 (KJV) But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honor; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.
Jesus – the eternal Word made flesh Who came to dwell among us (John 1:14), the One Who is Immanuel or God with us (Matthew 1:23) – was made lower than the angels so He could die for us. Jesus came to us to taste death for every man. He died for all. He died for you, and died for me.
But we see Jesus – Setting us apart as His Family!
Hebrews 2:11 (KJV) For both he that sanctifieth and they who are sanctified are all of one: for which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren,
When we receive Christ as Savior and Lord we are made one with Him. We are identified as sons and daughters of God because we have received Him. Jesus is not ashamed to call us “brethren” or “family”. By His Blood we have been bought.
But we see Jesus – SINGING!
Hebrews 2:12 (KJV) Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.
Jesus Christ sings to the Father in the midst of His Church. He sings praises unto the Father because of God’s salvation. The reason there is a Hebrew Hymnbook called Psalms is because of Jesus. This text is a quotation from that Hebrew Hymnbook:
Psalms 22:22 (KJV) I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee.
The twenty-second song in the Hebrew Hymnbook – Psalm 22 – speaks of our Jesus. While Jesus hung on the Cross He quoted this song. Compare the two texts:
Matthew 27:46 (KJV) And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
Psalms 22:1 (KJV) … My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me? why art thou so far from helping me, and from the words of my roaring?
While Jesus hung on Calvary, the crowd mocked Him. Compare the song to Matthew’s account:
Matthew 27:42-43 (KJV) He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him. 43 He trusted in God; let him deliver him now, if he will have him: for he said, I am the Son of God.
Psalms 22:8 (KJV) He trusted on the LORD that he would deliver him: let him deliver him, seeing he delighted in him.
Jesus quoted from songs as He hung on the Cross. I do not know if He actually sang from the Cross, but I do know He sang before He went to the Cross. He sang with His disciples before He was betrayed.
But we see Jesus – Singing on the way to Calvary.
Mark 14:26-28 (KJV) And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives. (see also Matthew 26:30)
Jesus sang. I believe Jesus sang a lot of His earthly life. Do you know why I believe this? Because Jesus quoted the Hebrew Hymnbook we call “Psalms” more than any other book in the Old Testament.
When called to verify His ministry He quoted Psalm 78:24
Calling Himself the Chief Cornerstone He quoted Psalm 118:22
Foretelling Jerusalem’s Destruction Jesus quoted Psalm 118:26
Talk of His betrayal Jesus quoted Psalm 41:9
Dying on the Cross He quoted Psalm 22:1
Committing His Spirit to the Father Jesus quoted Psalm 31:5
I could go on and on, but I’ll stop here. Before Jesus and His disciples left that first Lord’s Supper the commentaries said they probably sang the great Hallal (the selection of songs found in Psalms 113-118).
But We See Jesus Singing To Glorify God.
His Work Would Destroy Satan’s Hold On Creation.
Hebrews 2:14-15 (KJV) Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil; [15] And deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
Jesus sang because He knew that His work would free us from sin and Satan. Jesus sang because He knew that as our Great High Priest He would redeem us from hell, and keep us redeemed forever more.
Hebrews 2:17 (KJV) Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren, that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.
Singing hymns and praying is what the family of God does. We sing because He sings. We look up to God and praise Him in song. The birds sing daily without having to be told to do so, because they were made by God. We too should sing and praise Him. Jesus sings in the midst of His Church, in the midst of His family.
Singing In The Heart To God
Is Evidence Of The Filling!
The Church is commanded to sing from the heart. The Lord says:
Ephesians 5:18-21 (KJV) And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; [19] Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; [20] Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; [21] Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Singing brings us into harmony with our God Who sings, and with our neighbor. We are in one accord when we sing. It is for this reason God calls us to sing.
Pray Until You Can Sing
Sing From A Christ Filled Heart
Praise God For All That You Have
You Have Every Reason To Sing, Dear Believer.
Sing with our Jesus!