Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 40:7

7. Then said I , Lo, I come : in the Volume of the book, it is † written of me :

When I understood and Considered thy Mind and Will therein, expressed, v. 6.

Either within my self, by a firm purpose: Or, unto thee by way of Promise or Engagement.

He may seem to speak like a Servant, answering to the Call of his Master, and signifying his Readyness to obey him; in which Sence it may be Accommodated to David. But the Servants Answer is usually expressed in Scripture, by another Phrase, Here am I, and never, to my Remembrance, in these Words. Besides this Phrase in that Sence, seems not to be Proper in this place, but rather, L[illegible: 1+ letters] I he[illegible: 1+ letters], which best suits with the foregoing Words, mine Ears hast thou opened. But these Words do most Literally and [illegible: 1+ letters]ruly belong to Christ, and the Sence is this: Seeing thou requirest a better Sacrifice than those of the Law, Lo, I do offer my self to Come, and I will in due time Come, to wit, from Heaven or i[illegible: 1+ letters] the Flesh, or, into the World, as this Phrase is more fully expressed, and explained in divers places of Scripture, and particularly▪ Heb. 10. 5. where this place is explained, and applied to Christ.

These two Words, Volume and Book are indifferently used of any Writing, and both Words seem here to express the same thing, as may appear by Comparing, Ier. 36. where we have the very same Words, and what is called the Roll or Volume of a Book, v. 2. 4. is called simply, a Roll or Volume, v. 6. 20, 21. and the Book, v. 10. 13. it being usual with the Hebrews to joyn two Words together in like manner; of which we have an instance here above, v. 2. Miry Clay, Heb. Clay of Mire. Now this Volume of the Book is meant, Either, 1▪ Of the Book of Predestination, in which Christ was written, as being fore-ordained before the Foundation of the World, 1 Pet. 1. 20. But that is a secret Book not to be Read by any man Living, and therefore not fitly alledged as an Evidence in this Matter. Or, 2. Of a Legal Instrument, wherein the Contract was drawn between God and him, wherein he did oblige himself to serve God, and to Execute his Will in all things; it being the manner of the Hebrews to write their Contracts in a little Volume or Book. But, 1. We Read of no such usage among the Hebrews in the Contracts, between Master and Servant, but onely of the boring of the Servants Ear, Exod. 21. 6. So the Foundation of this allusion is destroyed, 2. At least there was no such Contract written between God and him. And if it be said, that he onely speaks thus by way of allusion, that is but a Supposition without ground. And when the Words may be properly understood as they sound, of a thing really done, why should we forsake the plain Sence without Necessity? 3. The Phrase here used, doth not agree to this Sence; for then he should have said, I am written in the Volume of the Book. (i. e.) In the Catalogue of thy Servants; for in that Case the Persons or their Names are Constantly said to be written, as Exod. 32. 32, 33. Psal. 69. 28. Dan. 12. 1. Luk. 10. 20. Heb. 12. 23. Revel. 13. 8. and 20. 15. and 21. 27. and not any thing to be written of them, as it is here. Or, 3 Of the Holy Scriptures. In which something indeed was written concerning David: Namely, that he was a man after God's own Heart. 1 Sam. 13. 14. But it must be remembred, that those Books were not written till after David's Death, in whose time here was no other Book of Scripture exstant, but the five Books of Moses, unless you will except the Book of Ioh. And therefore this is meane of the Law of Moses, which is commonly and Emphatically called the Book, and was made [illegible: 1+ letters]p in the form of a Roll or Volume, as the Hebrew Books generally were. See Ez[illegible: 1+ letters]k. 3. 1, 2. 3. Zech. 5. 1, 2. Luk. 4. 17. 20. And so this place manifestly points to Christ, and must necessarily be understood of him, and of him onely, concerning whom much is said in the Books of Moses, as is Evident from Luk. 24. 27. 44. Ioh. 5. 46. Act. 3. 22. and 26. 22. and 28. 23. And this Sence being plain and Natural and unforced, and exactly agreeing both with the Words, and with the truth of the thing, and with the Belief of all Christians, I see no reason why I may not acquiesce in it.