Heb 1:13 But to which of the angels said He at any time, Sit on My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool?

Heb 1:13 is based on Psa 110:1.

Psa 110:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto My Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.

I say “once again” because Psa 110 was first referenced to Heb 1:3 when it mentioned Jesus sitting “down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.”

Take a quick look below at Heb 1:3.

Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of His glory, and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the Word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high.

Thus, Jesus sitting at the Lord’s “right hand” is a “Key Phrase” in Hebrews that points us to Psa 110, where Psa 110:1 and Psa 110:5 both mention the Lord appearing at the LORD’s right hand.

Psa 110:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto My Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.

Psa 110:5 The Lord at Thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of His wrath.

In Psa 110:1 Jesus is “sitting” and in Psa 110:5 He is “striking.”

Psa 110 also contains the famous Old Testament prophecy of the Lord being a High “Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek” (Gen 18:18-20; Psa 110:4; Heb 5:6,10; 6:20; 7:1-3, 9-12, 7:15-17,20-22).

Psa 110:4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Heb 5:6 As He saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

In fact, in contrast to all the other references given in Hebrews, Psa 110 verses receive more coverage than any other: Melchisedec is referred to well over nine times (Gen 18:18-20; Heb 5:6,10; 6:20; 7:1-3, 9-12, 7:15-17,20-22) and there are five references to Jesus sitting “at the right hand” of the Father (Heb 1:3; Heb 1:13; Heb 8:1; Heb 10:12; Heb 12:2).

There are also several inferences to Zion as the “house” (Heb 3:2-6), the “Tabernacle” (Heb 8:2, Heb 8:5, Heb 8:11-12, Heb 9:1-10:35) and “New Jerusalem” (Heb 11:10, Heb 11:14-16, Heb 12:18-24).

Psa 110:2-3 The LORD shall send the rod of Thy strength out of Zion: rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies. 3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: Thou hast the dew of Thy youth.

It’s clear Psa 110 is vital to the content of the letter to the Hebrews.

And, when all of Hebrews is closely examined, a close correlation with Psa 110 appears, offering us insight into why the topic of angels has been brought up right alongside scriptures evidencing Jesus Christ as Lord God, Creator, and Almighty Son of God.

Psa 110 appears to have been used as a “guide” for the letter to the Hebrews.

Take a look:

1) Psa 110:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.

Psa 110:1 focuses on establishing two main points through scripture: 1) how Jesus is Lord and 2) who Jesus’ enemies are that need to be placed under His feet (Heb 1:1-3; Heb 1:4-7; Heb 1:8,9; Heb 1:10-12; Heb 1:13-14; Heb 2:1-5; Heb 2:6-18).

In our study’s thus far in the first chapter of Hebrews, we’ve looked at many scriptures establishing Jesus as Son of God, Lord God, and Creator God. And, the multiple mentions of angels have also established their background as creations of Christ, created to minister and serve (Heb 1:14). And then we came to Heb 1:10-12, which led us into Psa 102:25-27, and into the Book of Job (Job 1:6-12, Job 2:1-7).

There, covering the topic of the affliction of the righteous, we looked even deeper into Satan’s biblical (historical) acts and interactions with believers. And we discussed how Satan is god of this world (2 Cor 4:3-4), prince of this world (Jn 12:31,14:30,16:11), ruler of the darkness of this world (Eph 6:12), the Destroying Angel (Exo 12:22-23; 1 Cor 10:9-10 [Num 11:1; 14:36-37]; Isa 54:15-16; 1 Cor 5:5; Rev 9:11) and “death” (1 Cor 15:26; Heb 2:14-15).

Heb 2:14-15 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.

Since the last enemy which shall be destroyed is death (1 Cor 15:26; Rev 20:10), and Satan’s the last one thrown into the lake of fire, it’s clear Satan will be the last “enemy” placed under Jesus’ feet.

1 Cor 15:26 The last enemy that shall be destroyed is death.

Rev 20:10 And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.

Therefore, angels are brought up in this first and second chapters of Hebrews, because it keenly correlates with Psa 110:1.

The exposition of this first section (Heb 1:1-2:18) ends with the description of how Jesus took on death, to destroy the devil, who had the power of death.

Heb 2:14-15 Forasmuch then as the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise took part of the same; that through death He might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil.

In other words, being able to discern good angels from evil ones is imperative.

This pattern of following along with Psa 110 continues through to the next section.

2) Psa 110:2-3 The LORD shall send the rod of Thy strength out of Zion: rule Thou in the midst of thine enemies. 3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: Thou hast the dew of Thy youth.

The second section (Heb 3:1-4:13) covers Psa 110:2-3 and starts right off focusing on the “building” of the “house” (which is the Tabernacle of Zion) and goes over certain characteristics that make up its residency (Heb 3:1-5; Heb 3:5-19; Heb 4:1-13; Heb 4:14-5:3; Heb 5:4-11; Heb 5:12-6:12; Heb 6:13-20).

Zion is made of those who enter into God’s “rest” and do not harden their hearts towards God no matter what kind of provocation comes about (Psa 110:2).

In other words, they are “willing” to follow Christ no matter where He leads them (Psa 110:3).

3) Psa 110:4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

Remaining true to Psa 110:4, the third section flows right into expounding on the High Priesthood, focusing on Jesus as the High Priest of the true Tabernacle (Zion) which “only God can pitch” and giving background on Melchisedec. It explains the covenant “only God can fulfill,” provides historical examples, and explains how this Tabernacle is unlike any ever set up before on the face of the earth (Heb 7:1-16; Heb 7:17-23; Heb 7:24-28; Heb 8:1-13; Heb 9:1-22; Heb 9:23-10:36; Heb 10:37-11:40; Heb 10:36-39; Heb 10:26-31; Heb 12:1-17).

By the way, this is not to say there is some sort of requirement on the believer’s part (other than believing fully by faith), but merely to point AT what “only God” can DO and what the text says “He SHALL do.”

4) Psa 110:5-6 The Lord at Thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of His wrath. 6 He shall judge among the heathen, He shall fill the places with the dead bodies; He shall wound the heads over many countries (Rev 1:10-20; Rev 19:11-21).

Psa 110:5-6 represents the fourth section focusing on the “completion” of the Tabernacle of Zion, what it’s going to be like, and moves on into the Lord’s Return (Heb 12:18-29; Heb 13:1-8; Heb 13:9-25).

Although the author of Hebrews speaks towards the fulfillment Psa 110:5-6 and of the end in Heb 12:28-29, Heb 13:8, and Heb 13:10-14, it’s clear he was not allowed to say more about it (Heb 9:5). However, a more complete picture of the end is provided to us in the Book of Revelation by John the beloved.

Rev 19:11 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war.

There, scenes of Jesus’ return with the armies of heaven are depicted on a very bloody day of war (Rev 19:11-21; Rev 20:5).

5) Psa 110:7 He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall He lift up the head.

Psa 110:7 provides the fifth section concluding with Jesus drinking from “the brook in the way.” Although this could be any brook or river (Hebrew word “nachal“), after the battle has taken place, Rev 22:1-6 portrays “a river of water of life proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.”

Rev 22:1-2 And He showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb. 2 In the midst of the street of it, and on either side of the river, was there the tree of life, which bare twelve manner of fruits, and yielded her fruit every month: and the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations.

Therefore…

Heb 1:13 But to which of the angels said He at any time, Sit on My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool?

But to which of the angels said He at any time. This points out that no angel (heavenly or human) can be compared in any way to the superiority, Almighty creative and sustaining power of Jesus Christ, our Lord, the Son of God and the power of His Word.

Specifically, it’s imperative that we be able to discern good angels from evil ones. The only way to do that is to place Jesus as the Word of God foremost in all things., because no true and good angel (heavenly or human) will contradict the truth of God’s Word.

For example, good angels never receive worship of any kind (Gal 1:8), they will never seek to receive glory that belongs to God and they will never veer from the truth of what God’s Word says (Gal 1:8).

Most importantly, when asked, they will always confess that the Lord Jesus Christ has come in the flesh (1 Jn 4:2-3).

The only way to know if something is of God is if it speaks according to His Word. This is why scripture directs us to be as the Bereans, who having heard from Paul the Gospel, then went to search the scriptures to see if what he’d said lined up with the Bible (Acts 17:10-11).

Acts 17:10-11 And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

So that is what we must do: know God’s Word, walk in love, be at peace with one another, help one another and witness God’s Word and wonderful blessings to one another.

Sit on My right hand. The Son of God will sits on the right hand of His Father (Psa 110:1) until all things come to completion and He stands up to “strike” (Psa 110:5).

Until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool? This denotes that a passage of events that must be completed between Psa 110:1 and Psa 110:5.

So, until next time… Peace Out!

Loris Anne James