Friday, May 26, 2006

God's Footstool

In Isaiah 66:1 God tells us that the earth is his footstool.

In three earlier verses (1st Chronicles 28:2, Psalm 99:5, Psalm 132:7) the ancient Israelites use the imagery of God's footstool to refer to the ark. This was a reasonable metaphor, for God describes himself as residing above the ark. But it is also too small a metaphor, for when God finally describes what he sees as his footstool it is not the ark but all the earth.

Throughout scripture, God is portrayed as seated on his throne. He is not stressed out and pacing back and forth. He is calm, sitting in a nice chair, with his feet up. And all the earth is under his feet.

The earth has plenty of problems. In this age God is allowing human wickedness to thrive. Our evil ways sometimes make God weep, and sometimes make God angry. But his plans are secure, and so he can rest with his feet up.