God, the Father, had this to say about His Son, Jesus, "But unto the Son He saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." Heb. 1:8-9 Again, a sceptor of righteousness is the scepter of Thy kingdom.
The people of Israel wanted a king, so they could be like other nations that had a king. Their first king was Saul, then King David, followed by a long procession of both good and bad kings. The division in the kingdom came shortly after Solomon, David's son, was succeeded by his son, Rehoboam, who was the anointed successor. Two of Israel's tribes followed King Rehoboam, and the remaining ten tribes followed Jeroboam, who became their king. The two tribes of the southern kingdom were composed of the territory belonging to the tribes of Judah and Benjamin and the northern kingdom was composed of the territory belonging to the remaining ten tribes.
God had made a promise to King David that he (David) would always have somebody from his lineage to sit upon the throne. God promised David that the house of David and his kingdom would endure forever, saying, Your throne will be established forever. (ref. Ps. 132:11, Acts 2:29-30, 2 Sam. 7:16, Luke 1:32b-33)
Scripture says, "Concerning His Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, which was made of the seed of David, according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead:" Rom. 1:3-4
This of course, is who Father God is referring to, when in the following scriptures it is written, "But unto the Son he saith, "Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Thy kingdom. Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows." Heb. 1:8-9
How can we explain a scepter of righteousness? Not a whole lot is said in scripture to fully explain the use of a king's scepter. One of the most powerful descriptions of its use might be found in the book of Esther. Esther and her cousin Mordecai, who raised her, are both amongst the exiled Jews in the Persian diaspora in approximately 486 - 465 BC. Esther and Mordecai's faith in God cause a response on Esther's part to approach the Persian King Ahasuerus, risking her life in an attempt to save the Jewish people in that realm from wicked Haman, who was an advisor to the Persian king.
Haman's plot was to destroy the Jewish people. Esther, who through a fateful series of events is now queen to King Ahasuerus, said to Mordecai, "All the king's servants, and the people of the king's provinces, do know, that whosoever, whether man or woman, shall come into the king, into the inner court, who is not called, there is one law of his to put him to death, except such to whom the king shall hold out the golden scepter, that he may live; but I have not been called to come in unto the king these thirty days. And they told to Mordecai Esther's words. Then Mordecai commanded to answer Esther, Think not with thyself that thou shall escape in the king's house, more than all the Jews. For if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall there enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place; but thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed: and who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time as this? Then Esther bade them return Mordecai this answer, Go, gather together all the Jews that are present in Shushan, and fast ye for me, and neither eat nor drink three days, night or day: I also and my maidens will fast likewise; and so will I go in unto the king, which is not according to the law: and if I perish, I perish. So Mordecai went his way, and did according to all that Esther had commanded him. Now it came to pass on the third day, that Esther put on her royal apparel, and stood in the inner court of the king's house, over against the king's house: and the king sat upon his royal throne in the royal house, over against the gate of the house. And it was so, when the king saw Esther, the queen, standing in the court, that she obtained favor in his sight: and the king held out to Esther the golden scepter that was in his hand. So, Esther drew near, and touched the top of the scepter. Then said the king unto her, What wilt thou, Queen Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be even given thee to the half of the kingdom." Esther 4:11-17, 5:1-3
God answered the prayers of Esther, Mordecai and the rest of the Jewish people who were exiled living in that realm; Haman and many other enemies of the Jews were destroyed, as Esther and Mordecai had favor with King Ahasuerus. They put faith in God as their Deliverer and God made a way; God met all their needs.
We are told in Scripture, "But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you." Mat. 6:33
Esther was able to come all the way into the inner court, and the king held out his scepter that she would live. Prior to this, it's told, "And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight, more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti." Esther 2:17
"But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is forever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom." Heb. 1:8
A scepter of righteousness is descriptive of His righteousness; the true righteousness He offers to those who are willing to give up their own (their own effort and merit) as a way to approach Him for eternal life and enter into the inner court through the veil which has been torn.
'Righteousness' signifies uprightness and right-standing with God. 'Justified' refers to something that is crooked being made straight. In fact, we get the word, 'wicked' from the word 'wicker'; meaning twisted.
Jesus said to Nicodemus, "...verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again." John 3:5-7
Remember, (if you are born again), before you were born again, you were on a fast track heading down the highway of life. You were trying to earn your way to heaven by your effort and performance. Then you heard the truth of the gospel, the message that said it wasn't your performance, but what Christ did on the cross that offered you His uncondtional pardon, and you accepted His offer. He took your sin and gave you His righteousness. You accepted His sacrificial atonement. You repented, which means you changed the direction of your thinking; you went in the other direction. Now, you are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, all because of Jesus.
Jesus holds this scepter out for anyone to touch it. His scepter speaks of authority and right-standing and it is graciously extended.
God said He would break or destroy the scepter of many wicked nations (ref. Ps. 125:3) and finally, he said the scepter of Egypt will depart away. (ref. Zech. 10:11) Egypt represents sin and bondage, which in one way or another epitomized the passing pleasure of sin of all nations who forsake God. God's will is for you to forsake this temptuous, false way to meet your needs, as we should rely only on Him. As Scripture tells us, "By faith Moses, when he was come to years, refused to be called the son of Pharoah's daughter; Choosing rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season; Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompense of the reward. By faith he forsook Egypt, not fearing the wrath of the king: for he endured, as seeing Him who is invisible. Through faith, he kept the Passover, and the sprinkling of the blood, lest he that destroyed the firstborn should touch him." Heb. 11:24-28
It is in your thoughts that you feel close or distant from God, but the truth is, if you're born again, He's in you and you're in Him - He's always very near.
Esther and Mordecai prevailed against their enemies with the authority and enablement of the king who's favor they had, as Esther was able to enter the inner court and be in his (King Ahasuerus') presence. Jesus, our great King, has beckoned to all of mankind to come into the inner court of His presence by extending His scepter of righteousness.
By default, everybody who does not place their trust in Christ to enter the kingdom is embracing the world's way of doing things. You cannot earn your way to heaven by your effort and performance. Only One measured up to the standard of the law and we must place our trust in Him, as you've received an imputed righteousness. (ref. Rom. 4:5-8) Only then are you in right-standing with God and made straight. If you are born again, then you've been made the righteousness of God, it's something you cannot earn, even though the world, the flesh and the devil want you to think differently. This is walking in a different way and thinking different thoughts than the world's system of doing things.
Scripture says, "Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the Lord, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon." Isa. 55:7
