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Hebrews 1:13
The author of Hebrews quotes Psalm 110:1 in raising the questions if God has ever called any of the angels to, (NKJV) “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” And I believe that following verse (Psalm 110:2) is just as important in our understanding of the preaching of the author of Hebrews; it states (NIV), “The LORD will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, ‘Rule in the midst of your enemies!” As was the rule of King David being in constant battle as he built and secured the kingdom of Israel from its enemies (1 Samuel 16 through 2 Samuel), King Jesus was constantly bombarded by His adversaries who were seeking to destroy Him (Matthew 27:20; John 7:19). By submitting Himself to death, even death on the cross, the most horrible way to die, and not being deserving of death because He was found to be without sin, Jesus gave sin and death what it was not able to devour – a sinless death, that in itself, in Christ, devoured sin, death, and Satan which was the reason why Jesus died a sinless death – to devour, conquer, and defeat it once for all (Romans 6:10). And in defeating sin, death, and Satan, Jesus was raised to the right hand of God, above the angels. The Apostle Paul proclaims in 1 Corinthians 15:54-58 (ESV), “When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immorality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:
“Death is swallowed up in victory.” [Isaiah 25:8; Hebrews 2:14; Revelation 20:14, 21:4]
“O death, where is your victory?
O death, where is your sting?” [Hosea 13:14]
This is the victory that is found only in Christ Jesus.
This is the victory that places Jesus at the right hand of God.
As Jesus rules in the midst of His enemies, we too, live in the midst of our enemies. We cannot overcome our adversary the devil on our own, but Jesus defeated the devil for us so that we may be able, through Christ Jesus, to overcome the trials and temptations of the devil as we live in the midst of our enemies. We all face these trial and temptations, but Jesus has promised to be with us always through His Holy Spirit which He promised to all who will receive Him (John 14:15-18, 23-24, 26-27, 16:33).
Dear LORD,
Jesus swallowed up sin, death, and Satan in His victory over them while in the midst of them. When You sent Jesus into this world You didn’t prevent sin, death, and Satan from attacking Him – You sent Him into the midst of it to conquer it for us all so that all who will believe in Him should not perish to the depths of sin but have everlasting life in Him. Please open our eyes to see the truth and saving power of the One who sits forever at Your right hand – the One who saved the world from sin and grants forgiveness to all who will believe in Him. In Jesus name I pray, amen.