The Daily Word of Righteousness

Two Beginnings, #18

Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows. (Hebrews 1:9)

The preceding is an exceedingly mysterious passage.

Who has loved righteousness and hated iniquity? The Lord Jesus.

Who has anointed the Lord Jesus with the oil of gladness? The Father.

But who are Christ's fellows (companions)?

This is a quotation from Psalms 45. It does not seem likely that the companions of Christ were or are human beings, although this is possible. What seems more reasonable to us is that after the Logos created the heavenly beings He was viewed as one of the many personages He had created—impossible as it seems. This would account for Satan's audacity in requesting worship from the Lord.

It would account also for the fierce envy and hatred of Satan and his fellow lords toward Christ. Although Christ had created them He had been moving among them as a fellow, a companion, just as He moves among us as a Brother.

Notice the interaction of the Lord and those who stood before Him in the case of Joshua the high priest.

And he (the angel of the Lord) answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. (Zechariah 3:4)

Again:

Thus saith the Lord of hosts; If thou wilt walk in my ways, and if thou wilt keep my charge, then thou shalt also judge my house, and shalt also keep my courts, and I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by. (Zechariah 3:7)

"I will give thee places to walk among these that stand by." Who are "these that stand by"?

When the rebellion occurred, the Logos and some of the angels (the elect angels) stood true to the Father. The Father, noticing the Logos' love of righteousness and hatred of iniquity, poured upon Him the oil of gladness, of joy.

And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: (Hebrews 1:10)

The Logos, Christ, created the earth and the heavens. The Father created the earth and heavens through the Logos.

They shall perish; but thou remainest; and they all shall wax old as doth a garment; And as a vesture shalt thou fold them up, and they shall be changed: but thou art the same, and thy years shall not fail. (Hebrews 1:11,12)

Here we notice the continuance of Christ (and those who belong to Christ and are part of Christ) and the removal of the first creation. The Logos created the earth and the heavens and the Logos shall fold them up like worn-out clothing and change them for new clothing.

"It has been finished." The wise individual, recognizing that the present physical world is doomed to extinction, will give his thought and effort to preparing for his life in the coming world of righteousness.

But to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? (Hebrews 1:13)

To no angel did the Father ever say, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool. But such a statement is made to Christ and to His coheirs. It is God the Father who is making the enemies of Christ His footstool.

To be continued.