Although today we as believers are not tempted to worship angels we may be we if we saw one like the apostle John did (Rev 19:10, 22:9). Yet in the OT, Jewish people exalted angels and some even worshiped them (Col. 2:18). The Mosaic law had been given through angels (Deut. 33:1-4; Acts 7:53; Gal. 3:19), and there were many appearances of angels throughout the history of the Jewish people. Thus, if the author of Hebrews wants to prove the overall superiority of Christ, he must prove that Christ is superior to angels; that He is the superior mediator between man and God. As our friend Matt Stone summarized: "The author of Hebrews uses seven OT citations to explain why the Son is superior to angels: Psalm 2.7/Heb. 1.5a – Father never called His angels ‘sons'; 2) II Sam. 7.14/Heb. 1.5b – Father never committed to act as a father to His angels; 3) Psalm 89.27/Heb. 1.6 – Angels commanded to worship God; 4) Psalm 104.4/Heb. 1.7 – Father created angels and Son is above all creation; 5) Psalm 45.6-7/Heb. 1.8-9 – Son anointed for His eternal rule; 6) Psalm 102.25-27/Heb 1.10-12 – Son is the eternal, unchanging mediator of creation; 7) Psalm 110:1/Heb. 1.13 – Son invited to sit at the Father's right hand." BE107 Hebrews, General Epistles and Revelation by Matt Stone, March 2009
Jesus' Deity – So we see first of all that Jesus' deity shows He is superior to angels and thus the folly (and sin) of worshiping angels or any part of creation.
Jesus' Humility – Secondly we see the humility of Jesus in Hebrews 1:9 but more so as we see His humanity in Hebrews 2:5-18 which we will look at more in depth later. But note that Jesus had more joy and gladness than all His companions (this may mean His disciples or man in general). In Hebrews 12:2 we even see His joy to endure the cross in order to please His Father and make us His eternal sons and bride. Here we see our Creator (see v.2) condescend to become like His creatures (man) and more so to serve us and die for us with joy! Can you imagine anyone in creation (our fellow man) "joyfully" serving us by dying a painful, sacrificial death? Yet in Philippians 2 the Holy Spirit exhorts us through Paul to have the same attitude of Jesus: "Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 2:1-5). Could this possibly mean we could find more joy in humbly serving God by serving His people than in any other way? "Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia, that in a great ordeal of affliction their abundance of joy and their deep poverty overflowed in the wealth of their liberality. For I testify that according to their ability, and beyond their ability, they gave of their own accord, begging us with much urging for the favor of participation in the support of the saints" (2 Cor. 8:1-4).
Jesus' Sovereignty – "And, "YOU, LORD (speaking of Jesus), IN THE BEGINNING LAID THE FOUNDATION OF THE EARTH, AND THE HEAVENS ARE THE WORKS OF YOUR HANDS; THEY WILL PERISH, BUT YOU REMAIN; AND THEY ALL WILL BECOME OLD LIKE A GARMENT, AND LIKE A MANTLE YOU WILL ROLL THEM UP; LIKE A GARMENT THEY WILL ALSO BE CHANGED BUT YOU ARE THE SAME, AND YOUR YEARS WILL NOT COME TO AN END." (Heb. 1:10-12) {"In verses 10 -12 the creation's transience is contrasted with the Creator's perpetuity. Though the sun, moon, stars, mountains, oceans, and rivers appear to be enduring, the truth is that they have built-in obsolescence. The psalmist likens them to a garment: first, it becomes worn out; then it is folded up as unusable; then it is changed for something better. Look out upon a range of snow-capped mountains, upon a glorious sunset, upon a star-studded sky. Then hear the majestic cadence of these words: Like a cloak You will fold them up, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will not fail. All creation will change, but not the Son. He is the same yesterday, and today, and for ever" (Heb.13:8). [1]MacDonald, William ; Farstad, Arthur: Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments. Nashville : Thomas Nelson, 1997, c1995, S}
When we look at the Deity of Christ, the Humility of Christ and the Sovereignty of Christ we wonder why man would worship angels or anything in creation. In fact, Scripture calls us to look through creation to see God. "The heavens are telling of the glory of God; And their expanse is declaring the work of His hands" (Psalm 19:1). The foolishness of worshiping creation can be seen as one gazes through a window at the majestic Rocky Mountains and says, "Wow, what a beautiful window pane." Yet this is the sad story of man: "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes, His eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly seen, being understood through what has been made, so that they are without excuse. For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks, but they became futile in their speculations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the incorruptible God for an image in the form of corruptible man and of birds and four-footed animals and crawling creatures. Therefore God gave them over in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, so that their bodies would be dishonored among them. "For they exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen" (Rom. 1:18-25). Tim Keller in his book Counterfeit Gods rightly suggests that when the Bible speaks against idolatry, it is suggesting that God was saying that when we take any good thing in life; a great career, material possessions, or even our families, and turn them into ultimate things, we have become idolaters. We place these "good" things at the very center of our lives, because (conventional wisdom suggests) we think that they will provide us with security, significance, and fulfillment, if we only attain them. As one pastor put it, why go to the desk clerk (angels or anything in creation) with your needs or compliments when you know the Owner (God) personally and can go to Him for help (Heb. 4:14-16) or to compliment (praise) Him. In fact, God calls all of creation – angels, animals, and man, to praise Him and rightly so (Psalm 148).
In the book The Silver Chair by C. S. Lewis, Aslan the lion is the Christ figure and is in dialogue with Jill. Here we see the human folly in looking to creation versus the Creator for our needs that will never be satisfied until we seek first our Lord: "Are you not thirsty?" said the Lion. "I'm dying of thirst," said Jill. "Then drink," said the Lion. "May I – could I – would you mind going away while I do?" said Jill. The Lion answered this only by a look and a very low growl. And as Jill gazed at its motionless bulk, she realized that she might as well have asked the whole mountain to move aside for her convenience. The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic. "Will you promise not to – do anything to me, if I do come?" said Jill. "I make no promise," said the Lion. Jill was so thirsty now that, without noticing it, she had come a step nearer. "Do you eat girls?" she said. "I have swallowed up girls and boys, women and men, kings and emperors, cities and realms," said the Lion. It didn't say this as if it were boasting, nor as if it were sorry, nor as if it were angry. It just said it. "I daren't come and drink," said Jill. "Then you will die of thirst," said the Lion. "Oh dear!" said Jill, coming another step nearer. "I suppose I must go and look for another stream then." "There is no other stream," said the Lion.
QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION AND APPLICATION
1) What "streams" have you looked to in the past (or presently) other than or more than God to find a sense of purpose, fulfillment and joy?
2) Read Phil. 2:1-5 – Where have you found joy in serving God by serving His people? Explain your answer.
3)"For even though they knew God, they did not honor Him as God or give thanks… and their foolish heart was darkened" (See Rom. 1 above). Discuss how dishonor of God and ingratitude to God for His many blessings can lead to a "darkened heart." Do you find yourself low (1) or high (10) on gratitude to God? (Suggestion: Close in prayer by giving thanks to God and try to add some of the blessings you rarely thank Him for. Let each man speak out one blessing at a time and continue to go around the table taking turns giving thanks to God.)
4) What is your main take away from the message and table discussion and how can you apply it to your life this week?