The Scripture quoted is Psalm 102, a Psalm concerning `The King, in His humiliation' (The Companion Bible).

Much in this is reminiscent of Psalm 22, which opens with the words of the cross `My God, My God, Why hast

Thou forsaken Me?' The point of the Psalm is the cry of the afflicted and suffering Messiah, Who says:

`My days are consumed like smoke' (Psa. 102:3).

`My days are like a shadow that declineth' (Psa. 102:11).

In contrast with which He says:

`But Thou, O LORD, shalt endure for ever' (Psa. 102:12).

Later, the Sufferer returns to the theme of shortened days:

`He shortened My days' (102:23).

`I said, O my God, take me not away in the midst of my days' (102:24).

In contrast He says:

`Thy years are throughout all generations' (102:24).

Then follows the passage quoted in Hebrews 1:10, which concludes with the words:

`But Thou art the same, and Thy years shall have no end' (102:27).

The words `In the beginning', kat'archas, are the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew le-phanim `previously', and

take us back to Genesis 1:1.

He, Who is yet to `appear in His glory' and build up Zion (Psa. 102:16), He, Who as the Mediator and suffering

Redeemer mingled His drink with weeping, nevertheless before His humiliation was the great Creator. This is

embedded in Psalm 102 and in Hebrews 1.

The structure of the Psalm, reduced to a minimum, seems to be as follows:

A Complaint poured out before the Lord.

B Days consumed like smoke.

Days like a shadow that declineth.

C Contrast BUT THOU shalt endure (Heb. sit).

Thy remembrance unto all generations.

D When the Lord shall build up Zion.

D He shall appear in His glory.

B Days shortened.

Days Take me not away in the midst of.

C Contrast Thy years are throughout all generations.

BUT THOU shalt endure (Heb. stand).

Thou art the same.

Thy years shall have no end.

A Seed established before Thee.

Another Psalm belonging to the same group, namely Psalm 104, is quoted in Hebrews 1:7 `Who maketh His

angels spirits, and His ministers a flame of fire' (Psalm 104:4). It immediately continues:

`Who laid the foundations of the earth, that it should not be removed for ever (to the age and yet further, Hebrew

to the age of the age, Gk.). Thou coveredst it with the deep as with a garment ... at Thy rebuke they fled ... Thou

hast set a bound that they may not pass over' (Psa. 104:5-9).

Earlier we read, `Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: Who stretchest out the heavens like a

curtain' (Psa. 104:2). These, the heavens and the earth, are to wax old as a garment, be folded up, and put away.