Thankfulness and Praise from Hebrews 1:5

“For to which of the angels did He ever say,

‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You’?

And again,

‘I will be a Father to Him
And He shall be a Son to Me’?” (Hebrews 1:5).

I am thankful that the Son is not only greater than the angels, but He is “far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Ephesians 1:21).

Today’s verse in Hebrews draws upon the Davidic covenant and the Christ as complete fulfillment.

The first quote is from Psalm 2.

“I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware’” (Psalm 2:7-9).

Paul uses Psalm 2:7 as an explanatory text for Christ’s resurrection (Acts 13:33). From Christ’s resurrection to His enthronement at God’s right hand should be seen as one great movement – from the lowest state (in the place of the dead) to the highest state (“…at the right hand of the Majesty on high,” Hebrews 1:3). The sonship described in Psalm 2:7 is not biological reproduction. Read the Psalm. As often happens in the Bible, ideas are often explained by parallel passages which function as apposition. In this case, 2:6 explains what this sonship reference is; the LORD proclaims, “as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain.” The begotting of 2:7 is enthronement language.[1] The eternal Son, through the work He accomplished in His life and atoning death, is anointed (“Christ” in verb form) as absolute King. Remember the creation of humanity in God’s “image” and “likeness,” and that this imaging and likening was dominion (Genesis 1:26). This image was tainted on the day humanity rebelled against God (we wanted to reign independent and autonomously instead of reflecting His sovereignty). The eternal divine Son, Who came and lived as the second Adam, was faithful in obedience to the Father. So He reigns as the absolute, perfect “image” and “likeness” of the Father, ruling over all.

The second quote in Hebrews 1:5 comes from 2 Samuel 7:14//1 Chronicles 17:13. The relationship between “the LORD and…His Anointed” (Psalm 2:2) is revealed to be that between a Father and Son. This is not just about governance, but eternal relationship. The Father and Son shared a love from all eternity past (John 17:24). The Father and Son shared a glory from all eternity past (John 17:5). This love and glory is now displayed in the Kingdom rule of the Son for the eternal glory of the Father.

Praise Him, for the eternal Son, because of what He accomplished in life and death as one of us, is now revealed to be God’s King of kings and Lord of lords for the subjecting of the nations (Psalm 2:8,9; Revelation 2:26,27; 12:5) and eternal glory of the Father.

The desert rat on his throne, content to let the King of kings reign over all.

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[1] The same understand is revealed in Psalm 89:27, where “I shall make Him My firstborn” is explained by the line, “the highest of the kings of the earth.”

Seeing Joy Through Hatred

“Why do the heathen rage, and the people murmur in vain. The kings of the earth band themselves, and the Princes are assembled together against the Lord, and against His Christ. ‘Let us break their bands, and cast their cords from us’” (Psalm 2:1-3, Geneva Bible).

Remember: every word and action against the Church is not about you, but about your Redeemer, the King of kings and Lord of lords Jesus Christ.

“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before you. If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you. Remember the word that I said unto you, ‘The servant is not greater than His master.’ If they have persecuted Me, they will persecute you also...but all these things will they do unto you for My Name’s sake, because they have not known Him that sent Me” (John 15:18-21).

The rejection and hatred of God's chosen King of the heavens and earth is not a surprise to the Father; how the world treats you, Church, is a visible image of this unseen superior reality. If you didn’t merit the hatred of the world, there is nothing you can do to ameliorate it. What is the Lord’s response to this rebellion? “But He that dwelleth in the heaven shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall He speak unto them in His wrath, and vex them in His sore displeasure, saying, ‘Even I have set my King upon Zion Mine holy mountain.’ I will declare the decree: that is, the Lord hath said unto Me, ‘Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee. Ask of me, and I shall give Thee the heathen for Thine inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Thy possession. Thou shalt crush them with a scepter of iron, and break them in pieces like a potter’s vessel’” (2:4-9). In the face of the world’s treason, the Father’s focus is on the Son and His rule. How can our focus, then, be anywhere else?

“Be wise now therefore, ye kings: be learned ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord in fear, and rejoice in trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish in the way, when His wrath shall suddenly burn” (2:10-12). This is not an “invitation.” This is command. The Son Who is the very expression of the Father’s love is also His means of wrath against those who reject His reign. Repent.

“Blessed are all that trust in Him” (2:12). As the circumstances providentially change around us in this world, Church, may our faith be strengthened as we look to Him more and more.

“...cast away everything that presseth down, and the sin that hangeth so fast on: let us run with patience the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, Who for the joy that was set before Him, endured the cross, and despised the shame, and is set at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider therefore Him that endureth such speaking against of sinners, lest ye should be wearied and faint in your minds. Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. And ye have forgotten the consolation, which speaketh unto you as unto children, ‘My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, neither faint when thou art rebuked of Him. For whom the Lord loveth, He chasteneth: and He scourgeth every son that He receiveth’” (Hebrews 12:1-6).

The scourging is not the final word, of course. “For He that overcometh and keepeth My words unto the end, to Him will I give power over nations. And He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and as the vessels of a potter, shall they be broken: Even as I received of My Father, so will I give him the morning Star. Let him that hath an ear, hear what the Spirit saith to the Churches” (Revelation 2:26-29). In this quote from Psalm 2, the reign of the King is entrusted to His loyal subjects because they had ears to hear the Spirit. We do not take this rule upon ourselves. It is our place to overcome through endurance and keep His Word. What He gives and when is up to Him.

Today, endure in His Word. That is your calling in the face of all the world will do.

The Wrath of the Son

“Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish in the way, when His wrath shall suddenly burn. Blessed are all that trust in Him” (Psalm 2:12, Geneva Bible). Trust in the Son and worship Him. This is not a live-and-let-live situation. “And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in dens, and among the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us, and hide us from the presence of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb. For the great day of His wrath is come, and who can stand?” (Revelation 6:15-17).

Be counted among the blessed that trust Him. “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ: as though God did beseech you through us, we pray you in Christ’s stead, that ye be reconciled to God” (2 Corinthians 5:20).