Hebrews 1:8-9 But about the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice 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.”
The author of this book continues to show the exaltedness of Jesus, the Son of God. In these verses, the author quotes Psalm 45:6-7 as a form of prophecy which speaks about the coming king. We find out several things about the reign of the Son. First, his throne is forever. He is the king of an eternal kingdom. He has been exalted and enthroned as king of this kingdom. Second, he is called God. The divinity of the Son is proclaimed in this verse. Third, his kingdom is one of justice. Justice is the rule of law that treats people according to what they have done. Justice is defined in the fourth descriptions of loving righteousness and hating wickedness. The justice in the Son’s kingdom will be according to God’s will. Wickedness will not be allowed. This creates an incentive. If people want to be part of this kingdom, they must be righteous. God has anointed the Son. The word “anoint” is also the the basic root for Christ. The Son is confirmed as the Messiah with the “oil of joy.” Oil was used in ancient Israel for anointing. This is the oil of joy. The Son’s kingdom is one of joy because he is the source of joy and strength (Nehemiah 8:10). The followers of Jesus will have certain character qualities and experiences because they are part of his kingdom. Although this passage is saying something important about Jesus, it also has some implications for his followers. We must acknowledge his Lordship and participate in his kingdom by living righteously and rejecting wickedness.
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