and light was" (Gen. 1: 3); "By the Word of the Lord were the heavens made; and all the

host of them by the breath of His mouth";  "For He spake, and it was done, He

commanded, and it stood fast" (Psa. 33: 6, 9). Shall we not say that Psa. 29:, the

Psalm of the "Voice", looks forward to that happy day when the Son of God shall have

brought or carried all things on to the reign of peace?

"The LORD will bless His people with peace" (Psa. 29: 11).

The reader will remember the insistence that the structure of the epistle places upon

the word "spoken". The Hebrews naturally clung to the Law, and the record of the

majestic accompaniment on Sinai would intensify their attachment to that law introduced

by the words:

"And God spake all these words" (Exod. 20: 1).

Here in Christ they would or should perceive One whose Voice could not only shake

the earth, but the heavens also, and be led to trust in Him whose Word is so powerful

that it upholds all things. Creation is wonderful, but surely it is equally a wonder how

the creation with its multifarious activities, combinations and possibilities, "consists".

Col. 1: 17 and Heb. 1: 3 give the only answer possible. He Whose hands laid the

foundation of the earth, and Whose fingers made the heavens (Psa. 102: 25-27; Psa. 8: 3)

is the only possible upholder. The discovery of atomic fissures, the consciousness of the

terrific force that resides in the smallest piece of matter, only intensifies our appreciation

of the Power that can and does hold these destructive forces in leash.

The glories of the Son are not introduced into the opening verses of this epistle

without intention; they are now to be focused upon the great work for which He left the

glory, became a Man, and died upon the cross. The R.V. omits the words "our" and "by

Himself" reading:

We should, however, be aware that not only are these words found in several ancient

manuscripts, but are confirmed by some ancient versions. Tischendorf restored them in

his edition of 1858.