Footstool

2023-04-22

The footstool is a lowly place. Consider James 2:1-4. The people to whom James wrote were showing partiality between rich and poor. Perhaps they were subconsciously doing this. They see a rich guy come in and naturally respect or fear him. Perhaps they see dollar signs, wanting to get in on some of his offerings. On the other hand, they see a poor person. What can he offer them? So they assign each man his seat: “And ye have respect to him that weareth the gay clothing, and say unto him, Sit thou here in a good place; and say to the poor, Stand thou there, or sit here under my footstool” (James 2:3).

See what happened here? The rich get the “good place.” The poor get “under my footstool.” It is an undesirable place. It is where the lowly servant goes.

David, in his humility, wanted to build a temple that would be God’s footstool. “Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an house of rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building” (1 Chronicles 28:2).

We are called to worship at the footstool of God. “Exalt ye the LORD our God, and worship at his footstool; for he is holy” (Psalms 99:5). The phrase “for he is holy” strongly implies that we are not. The unholy humbles himself before the Lord and worships and serves Him at the lowly place, the footstool. “We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool” (Psalms 132:7).

The earth is also called the footstool of the Lord. “Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is my throne, and the earth is my footstool: where is the house that ye build unto me? and where is the place of my rest? For all those things hath mine hand made, and all those things have been, saith the LORD: but to this man will I look, even to him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and trembleth at my word” (Isaiah 66:1-2; cf. Acts 7:49-50). Once again, we see that people should humble themselves before God, for we dwell on His footstool.

Though the earth is considered God’s footstool, it also means there is some respect that must be paid to it. Even God’s footstool, a lowly place, has some dignity because it is the Lord’s. “But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God’s throne: Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King” (Matthew 5:34-35).

Zion is called God’s footstool as well. “How hath the Lord covered the daughter of Zion with a cloud in his anger, and cast down from heaven unto the earth the beauty of Israel, and remembered not his footstool in the day of his anger!” (Lamentations 2:1).

Lastly, the footstool is a place for His enemies. “A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool” (Psalms 110:1). The enemies of the Lord belong under His feet. However, they do not want to submit under the holy footstool. This is the same spirit that led to the Tower of Babel and wanted to ascend and become like the Most High. The Lord will force them to submit to Him under His feet.