Hebrews 1:13
Your Enemies a Footstool for Your Feet
We live in a time which theologians call the “already/not yet.” Another way to say it is that we live “between the times”—the time of his first coming and his second. But what happened in his first coming changed the world and the times; for in that first coming, our Lord conquered sin, death, and hell through his substitutionary death and resurrection. Now through faith in Jesus Christ, the sins of believers are forgiven on behalf of the Son so that they no longer need fear death or hell. They are no longer slaves to the flesh, the world, or the devil but are free in Christ Jesus.
But as Hebrews 2:8 tells us, “At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him.” Though he has conquered death, we still die. We still know the world as broken and in bondage to decay. We struggle in our earthly tents with disease and pain. And yes, we still struggle with temptation and sin. This is what it means to live “between the times”: Even now we experience the blessings of what is sometimes called, “the new age,” as a result of his first coming; but we are still residents of “the old age” as well waiting for his second coming when he shall complete what he started. This time in which we now live is called the “age of grace” or according to Latin, anno domini, “in the year of the Lord” (A.D.) in which people may come to saving faith and be born again. Indeed, that is the whole purpose of this time spoken of by our Savior in the parables of the Ten Virgins and the Talents (Matthew 25:1-30).
So here, the Preacher tells us that as a result of our Lord’s enthronement unto the Right Hand of Power, Psalm 110:1 has been fulfilled: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” Peter quoted this passage on the day of Pentecost to explain the outpouring of the Holy Spirit as a result of Christ’s being seated at the Right Hand of God (Acts 2:29-36), Paul referred to it to speak to our Lord’s current reign from heaven and the ultimate defeat of death in the general resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:20-28), and our Lord quoted the passage to stump the Pharisees and implicitly show that it spoke of himself as not only David’s son but his Lord (Matthew 22:41-46). Make no mistake: “The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all” (Psalm 103:19). Death is on life-support, and his days are numbered—and those days are numbered by the Lord himself. So look up, for your redemption draws near (Luke 21:28). Our Lord reigns and one day, sin, death, hell, and the devil and all his hosts will all make a fine cushion for his feet.
