The present article will be found in The Berean Expositor for May, 1951 (under the

title "The Secrets of the Son") (be-xxxvi Secrets of the Son), as at that time there seemed

little hope that the present series could be published for several years to come. The

subject is of great importance, and its inclusion as an integral part of this series seems

necessary both for the completion of these studies and that new readers may have the

benefit of the translation there given. We are sure that our readers will not look upon this

as a piece of "vain repetition".

We have seen that the purpose of the ages as it pertains both to the church of the

mystery, and to the people of Israel, follows a similar pattern. Both make a strange

descent from which both must be delivered and transferred before the goal can be

reached. While such a correspondence encourages us in our search, it does not answer

the question "why?" Why should it have been necessary for those destined to inherit

heavenly places, to come into life through him who is described as "earthy"? Why

should it have been necessary, for those destined to enjoy all spiritual blessings, to come

into life through him who was "natural" and not "spiritual"? If "flesh and blood"

CANNOT inherit the kingdom of God, why were the heirs of glory ever "flesh and

blood"? If all our hopes are centred in the second Man the Lord from heaven, why make

us a part of the first man, who was but a shadow of Him that was to come? For the

moment we take notice of that which presses itself upon us at every turn, namely the fact

that the heirs of glory not only are associated with Adam and his creature frailty, but that

Adam by his sin and disobedience has involved them all in death. This added disability

demands added deliverance and will be considered in its place. For the moment we are

considering the Divine programme, apart from the fall of man. We cannot read far on in

this matter before coming either to the eighth Psalm itself, or to references and comments

on it in the New Testament. As we shall be obliged to refer to its teaching as we proceed,

let us give Psalm 8: and its N.T. quotations a study now.

First, let us acquaint ourselves with the Psalm as we find it in the Old Testament.

Those readers who use "The Companion Bible" know that the Psalms are distributed into

five books, each book ending with a benediction and a double Amen, e.g. 41:, 72:,

89:, 106: and 150: These five books corresponds to the five books of the law, thus:

Genesis, Ps. 1:-41:  This book concerns Man and Promised Deliverer.

Exodus, Ps. 42:-62: This book concerns Israel and redemption and kingdom.

Leviticus, Ps. 73:-89:  This book concerns the sanctuary.

Numbers, Ps. 90:-106: This book concerns the Wilderness and the Overcomer.

Deuteronomy, Ps. 107:-150:  This book is the book of the "Second Time" in which

"He sent His word and healed them".