Tag: Hebrews 1:8-9
Jesus the joyful and glorious King!
Scripture reading for March 3rd: Hebrews 1, Psalm 45, Proverbs 14
Hebrews 1:3-4, 8-9 “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the Word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the Name He has inherited is more excellent than theirs.” . . .“But of the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness beyond Your companions.”
Hebrews opens with a powerful statement about Jesus Christ, Son of God. The writer of Hebrews stated that Jesus was the full radiance of God’s glory and was an exact representation of God’s nature. Not only that, but the Son of God upholds the entire creation by His powerful Word. After defeat of death and hell on the cross, the Son has taken His rightful place at God’s right hand, ruling with authority. The writer of Hebrews then declares the truth of Psalm 45:6-7 by quoting them as applying to Jesus Christ. Like God, Jesus is an eternal ruler who loves righteousness and hates wickedness. Because of this, the Father anointed His Son with the oil of gladness above all others! He is the meek Son of Man who now is the victorious Son of God calling out to all mankind to join in His glad and glorious and righteous reign!
Psalm 45:4-6 “In Your majesty ride out victoriously for the cause of truth and meekness and righteousness; let Your right hand teach you awesome deeds! Your arrows are sharp in the heart of the king’s enemies; the peoples fall under you. Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of Your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness.”
Prayer: Father God, thank You for sending Your Son to earth in the meekness of human flesh. Thank You for raising Him from the dead in victory over sin and death, making a way that all sinners such as I might enjoy an eternal relationship with You. Thank You for the gift of righteousness and the oil of gladness you pour out on all who believe and join in the bridal company awaiting the coming king!
Proverbs 14:34 “Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a reproach to any people.”
Radiating the Glory of God
Scripture reading for February 16th: Exodus 38-40, Hebrews 1
Hebrews 1:1-4 “Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, Whom He appointed the heir of all things, through Whom also He created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of His nature, and He upholds the universe by the Word of His power. After making purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the Name He has inherited is more excellent than theirs.”
The Name of Jesus Christ was given from the Father to Joseph by an angel. This Jesus is the First-born Son of God, and is the exact representation of God the Father and radiates to sinful man God’s awesome glory. No man could look on God in the fullness of His glory and live. But Jesus Christ made God and His glory known! The ark of the covenant, whose pattern Moses received from God was to be where God’s glory would reside in the midst of His people on earth. When the ark was placed in the tabernacle, and covered with the curtain and sacrifices were made exactly as God prescribed, God’s glory filled the Tabernacle and was in the midst of Israel to guide, protect and provide for them on their journey to their promised inheritance. In the same way, when we repent and invite Jesus to reside in us, God’s glory fills us and we reflect that glory to the world on His behalf.
Hebrews 1:8-9 “But of the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You with the oil of gladness beyond Your companions.”
Prayer: Father God, Thank You for Your Son, Jesus Christ, the Name above all names and the exact representation of Your glory and the creator and sustainer of earth and all life. Thank You for Your eternal rule in righteousness and the anointing of Jesus Christ and His followers with the oil of gladness. I receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and invite Him to reflect His glory through my life.
Exodus 40:34 “Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. And Moses was not able to enter the tent of meeting because the cloud settled on it and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle.”
Rejoicing in the oil of joy!
Scripture reading for December 14th: Philemon, Hebrews 1-4
Key Scriptures: Hebrews 1:8-9 “But about the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has set You above Your companions by anointing You with the oil of joy.“ (a quote from Psalm 45:6-7)
The writer to the Hebrews pointed out that God spoke prophetically through the sons of Korah concerning Jesus Christ. Christ would be God’s Son and rule on an eternal throne. Righteousness would be the scepter of His kingdom and rule. The Son, like God the Father, loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Because of this integrity of character, God anointed Jesus with the oil of joy! Hallelujah for a joy-anointed Savior who anoints His people with the Holy Spirit and joy!
Rejoicing in the anointed Jesus: “The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on Me, because the Lord has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn and provide for those who grieve in Zion–to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, . .” (Isaiah 61:1-3)
Thankful for the Oil of Joy!
Scripture reading for February 14th: Numbers 25-29
Key Scriptures: Numbers 25:10-13 “The Lord said to Moses, “Phinehas son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron, the Priest, has turned My anger away from the Israelites; for he was as zealous as I am for My honor among them, so that in My zeal I did not put an end to them. Therefore tell him I am making My covenant of peace with him. He and his descendants will have a covenant of a lasting priesthood, because he was zealous for the honor of his God and made atonement for the Israelites.”
It has been said that zeal is love in action. Eleazar was zealous for God’s honor and thrust his spear into a sinning Israelite who was having idolatrous and immoral sexual relations with a woman not his wife. In doing so, God gave him a covenant of peace and exaltation to a lasting priesthood.
Joyful thanksgiving: Jesus Christ was zealous for God’s honor and took a spear for the sins and immorality of mankind! He received everlasting honor and an eternal Priesthood as reward! “But about the Son He says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever, and righteousness will be the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness, therefore God, Your God, has set You above your companions by anointing You with the oil of joy.” (Hebrews 1:8-9)