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PSALM 45:6-7 and its christological contributions to Hebrews
Trinity Journal, Spring 2001 by Bateman, Herbert W IV
Two issues are worth mentioning here. First, if kingdom language has shifted from an exclusively earthly kingdom to include a heavenly (spiritual) dimension of the Son's perfect kingdom rule, does this suggest that no future kingdom is yet to come? More specifically, does the author of Hebrews believe that the Son's current rule and his kingdom are fully realized? The answer appears to be no. The author recognizes that demonic forces (2:14), death (2:15), and earthly opponents (10:26-31) still plague the Son's kingdom.37 This is not to diminish the victory that the Son has achieved (2:14-18; cf. 1 Cor 15:54-57). It does, however, point to the fact that the Son's ruling authority over his kingdom is presently limited and is not yet fully realized. But the existence of a heavenly kingdom does not deny the anticipation of a future kingdom. It merely affirms that a spiritual aspect of the realized Messiah's kingdom exists and that such a kingdom was never considered during the OT era. Therefore as the appointed heir of all things (1:2; 7:28), the Son's present kingdom and current rule will be extended (2:5-9; 13:13-16; perhaps 9:27-28). The phrase "until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet" (...) from Ps 110:1b in Heb 1:13b looks forward to a time when the Son's ruling authority will include the complete subjugation of his enemies (Ps 8:4-6 in Heb 2:5-9; 10:12-13, 26-31; cf. Matt 13:41-50; Phil 2:9-11; Rev 5:8-10).38 Thus Heb 1:5-13 stresses the divine Davidic Son's current rule from heaven but not at the exclusion of the future consummation of his kingdom. This current rule is not, however, a passive one.39
The second issue concerns his active rule over the church as the divine Davidic Son. Although merely implied in Heb 1:14, his active rule over the church is developed further in Hebrews 3. While stressing the superiority of Jesus over Moses,40 the author of Hebrews says in v. 6 that "Christ is faithful, as Son, over God's household, namely the church.41 Granting that Heb 3:2, 5, and 6 call attention to OT king-priest imagery (most specifically 1 Chr 17:13-14 and 1 Sam 2:35),42 the mention of "Son" also recalls Hebrews 1 where he has been described as the appointed royal high priest (1:2-3; cf. 3:2; 5:5-10; 7:28) and divine Davidic king over all things (1:5-13; cf. 2:5-8).43 Hebrews 3 addresses his role as the royal priest who is greater than Moses. Thus as the appointed royal priest, the Son's current rule over the church (or "sons," 2:10; 12:7-10) is a preview of the Son's eschatological kingdom. At the present time, the Son faithfully rules and exercises authority over the church (8:6; 9:15; cf. Phil 3:20-21; Colossians 13-14, 18).44 His present rule not only affirms but guarantees to his sons that a future extension of the divine Davidic Son's kingdom authority, in all its fullness, is yet to come.
V. CONCLUSION
The importance of Psalm 45 to the book of Hebrews is first evident in the intentionally centered and significantly unifying placement of vv. 6 and 7 among six other OT citations in Heb 1:5-13. In keeping with his cultural-theological worldview, three OT citations draw the first-century reader's attention to a Davidic messiah theme (Pss 2:7; 110:1; 2 Sam 7:14) and the other three citations draw attention to a deity theme (Pss 104:4; 102:25-27; Deut 32:43). Thus the author's intentional selection, thematic intermingling, and Jewish) practice of linking together OT citations serve to identify and support the Son's superiority over the angels. As a result, the author creates a conceptual chiastic structure, which is presented below.45
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