7 again He designates a certain day, saying in David, “Today,” after such a long time, as it has been said: “Today, if you will hear His voice, Do not harden your hearts.”
To further substantiate what God said in verse 6, the Holy Spirit quoted Psalm 95:7, a Psalm by David.
7 again
The author of Hebrews interrupted the quotation from Psalm 95 to call attention to another aspect of the truth found there.
He designates a certain day,
The readers of Hebrews have opportunity to enter God’s rest today.
saying in David,
Both the Holy Spirit and David were the authors of Psalm 95 (He 3:7).
“Today,”
The “today” quoted in Psalm 95 was long after Israel wandered in the wilderness. There was a promise for people in the time of David (the author of Psalm 95). This shows that the promise of a rest was not solely for the people in the wilderness. The same can be said of New Testament people—they have available an opportunity to enter God’s rest as well.
after such a long time,
God made another offer of rest over 500 years after Moses to David.
as it has been said:
This phrase refers to the author’s previous use of the quotation from Psalm 95. The writer of Hebrews also applied “today” to his present readers (He 3:14-15).
“Today, if you will hear His voice,
The repetition of the word “today” shows the availability of God’s rest still existed in David’s day.
Do not harden your hearts.”
The readers of Hebrews are not to harden their hearts against God’s promises as did those who wandered in the wilderness.
PRINCIPLE:
God’s promises remain relevant today for Christians.
APPLICATION:
God’s rest stands prominently available. Even 500 years after Israel failed, there was still a rest for God’s people. God did not void His promise because Israel failed; it was still valid for David’s generation. Thus, God’s promise of rest was still in force. And it is in force in the twenty-first century.
