Footstools
When I was in Cairo, Egypt, I had the pleasure of visiting the Cairo Museum. This museum houses an astounding number of artifacts that appropriately have to do with pharaohs, pyramids, sarcophagi, and other ancient Egyptian traditions. I saw a large number of mummies including Rameses II, who most believe to be the Pharaoh in Exodus 5, and a mummified baboon. I saw fascinating jewels, weapons and chariots. Most of the tour was spent on the large collection of items removed from King Tut’s tomb. As I passed through rooms and rooms of items, I noticed a theme on the footstools of Tutankhamen.
King Tut’s tomb was found in a pristine state: there had been no previous entries into the tomb and none of the things had been vandalized or removed. The tomb was packed completely full of items that Tut would presumably need in his afterlife. These items included actual chariots, food, weapons, beds, thrones, and chairs. These items were not made for his death; these were items that Tut used in life. Some of the chairs had footstools attached to them and they had an interesting design. The drawings on the tops of the footstools were of Egypt’s enemies. These enemies’ pictures were designed to sit exactly where the Pharaoh would put his feet. In fact, everywhere Tut put his feet, there were pictures of his enemies. He liked to keep his enemies underfoot. It was a sign of dominance over them. It was a sign of contempt and disregard for them; a symbol of an already-won battle over them. This concept is not uniquely Egyptian, though.
Psalm 110:1 – The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
David wrote this Psalm. Note that the first LORD is Yahweh who speaks to “my Lord.” This is a picture of God the Father talking to God the Son, Jesus. Peter quoted this passage in his famous sermon at Pentecost in Acts 2:34-35. The understanding was that Jesus was the Messiah. Peter continues:
Acts 2:36 – “Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”
Then Peter gives an altar call: repent and be baptized. Three thousand souls received Jesus that day. It was a powerful message: Jesus is the King; his enemies will be his footstool. The battle is already won. Which side do you want to be on?
The author of Hebrews also quotes David’s words twice (Hebrews 1:13 and 10:13). The first mention is in a discussion of Jesus being greater than the angels. The second reference simply states the fact:
Hebrews 10:12-13 – But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God, waiting from that time until his enemies should be made a footstool for his feet.
There are two sides: the side of Jesus the King and the side of His enemies. The enemies will become the footstool of Jesus. The outcome of the war has already been decided. Which side are you on? Who do you know that needs to know about this?
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