The Old Testament scripture in Psalm 110:1, “The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool,’” is quoted in more than a dozen New Testament passages. This scripture is probably the most quoted Old Testament scripture in the New Testament. The first “LORD” refers to YAHWEH, meaning the triune God, and the second “Lord” means Jesus. Since the Father and the Son, through the theological understanding of the process of procession, make room in the Trinity for the third person, the Holy Spirit, this is a biblical reference to the Trinity—the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—God!
It is also one of the Bible’s passages that speaks of God and Jesus in a sitting position. This article examines the significance of God’s and Jesus’s physical positions. Please be aware, though, that the divine being in Christianity has no body, but they are spoken of in the Bible as having a physical form for understanding purposes.
TEACHERS
It was customary in Biblical times for teachers to sit while they were teaching. The sitting position for teachers was a position of authority and knowledge. The teacher not only transmitted knowledge to the students but also the ability to apply it, in line with the standards, principles, and cultural norms that the students needed to know. It also put the teacher in a position of intimacy with students, which was more conducive to learning than simply listening to lectures on knowledge and procedure.
There were times when the teacher stood rather than sat. When a teacher stood, they drew the students’ attention and projected a more formal presence. It indicated a separation between the teacher and the students, with the teacher as the expert. This happened, for example, when the teacher was ready to read something to the students or make a formal statement to them.
GOD AND JESUS
God and Jesus used this method of teaching in the Bible. When God and Jesus sat, they were exercising their divine authority and sovereignty. It was a position of honor. They imparted not only knowledge but also wisdom in governing God’s creation.
On the other hand, standing represents a call to action and a readiness for God and Jesus to intervene or support His creation.
God and Christ are depicted in heaven, as revealed in several scriptures of the sacred text. God is identified as sitting on His throne reigning (1 Kgs. 22:19; 1 Chr. 18:18; Ps. 2:4, 47:8, 99:1; Is. 40:22; Matt. 23:22; Rev. 5:13, 7:10, 7:15) and making judgments (Is. 28:6). God is also seen as a theophany in the temple (Is. 6:1).
Christ sits and reigns at the right hand of God (Mk. 14:62; Col. 3:1) and sits on His throne in heaven (Rev. 7:10). Jesus is also described as sitting while teaching (Matt. 5:1, 2; Luke 4:16, 5:3). Jesus sat down to analyze the scripture for His hearers.
Jesus stood to read the scriptures (Luke 4:20) and to intervene on behalf of Christians (Acts 7:55, 56; Rom. 8:34).
THE PRACTICE
The practice of sitting and standing while preaching and teaching has come through the ages, based on Jewish methods, and appears in Scripture.
Theologically, sitting allowed the teachers of the word of God to be in an intimate relationship with the students while simultaneously analyzing scripture with authority. This method of teaching continued throughout the Bible by both rabbis and regular teachers of the Word, as well as by divine beings.
The focus was always on the message’s content, its wisdom, and its truth. A teacher’s physical actions were not conveyed, but the meaning and analysis of God’s truth were on display.
CONCLUSION
It was theologically significant that God and Jesus sat and stood. Their authority, sovereignty, honor, knowledge, and wisdom, as well as their readiness and support of the human race, were displayed in each position. Though God and Jesus are sovereign, they are also very involved in their creation and in the lives of human beings.
Its relationship to the Jewish teaching tradition made it much easier for hearers to understand. While teaching the Gospel, the apostles, preachers, teachers, and those who followed them taught similarly, proclaiming the truths found in the Bible. To a large part, these methods are still used to teach the truth, wisdom, and authority of sacred Scripture today.
