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 As
Joshua fought the Amorites, in taking the land of Canaan for
Israel, five kings were trapped in a cave and captured. Joshua
had the men brought forth, and said unto his chief men of war,
"Come near, put your feet upon the necks of these
kings" (Josh. 10:22-f) It was a graphic symbol of triumph
and submission.
Later,
Ruth lay at the feet of Boas (Ruth 3:1-f), giving herself to
him. Mary sat at Jesus feet, and Paul was brought up "at
the feet" of Gamaliel (Lk. 10:39; Acts 22:3) meaning; they
submitted themselves for instruction. When the early Christians
sold their possessions they "brought the money, and laid it
at the apostles' feet" -- giving them control of the fund
-- putting it at their disposal (Acts 4:34-f) (Incidentally,
here is a pooled fund, with control, by which the Jerusalem
church acted as one -- collectively.)
So,
it came as no surprise when we read that God "put all
things under His (Christ's) feet, and gave Him to be the head
over all things to the church, which is His body, the fullness
of Him that filleth all in all." (Eph. 1:22-f) The church
at Christ's feet, means He has the control -- we constitute His
church only to the extent we submit ourselves to Him.
The
submission must be complete. Though our submission is an act of
our free will, it is as complete as that of the kings to Joshua.
Paul writes, "Know ye not that your body is the temple of
the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are
not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify
God in your body, and
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in your spirit, which are God's."
(1 Cor. 6:19-f)
We
must "sit at His feet" to receive instructions. In
this there is submission of our will to His. Like Mary, we
develop a "singleness" of heart; knowing "one
thing is needful" rather than the multiple cares and
distractions of this life. None who "hunger and
thirst" for righteousness, "at His feet," will go
unfilled. (Matt. 5:6) But the "oncer attender"--"seldom-get-to-class"
"never-study-at-home" kind of church member, makes a
mockery of sitting "at Jesus' feet." The meaning of
the figure is completely lost on such.
When
we are truly "at His feet" we consign our soul to His
power and keeping. We are His to use, a "living
sacrifice" (Rom. 12:1) a "bond-servant" (slave)
of Christ. (1 Cor. 7:22) But we are also His to keep.
"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God,
that He may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon
Him; for He careth for you." There is security at the feet
of Jesus, and "peace that passeth all understanding."
(1 Pet. 5:6-7 Phil. 4:7)
Christ's
ultimate victory will see "all enemies under His feet. The
last enemy that shall be destroyed is death." (1 Cor.
15:25-26) And there is a triumph for Christians too, with all
things "under his feet." (Heb. 2:6-f) But we can
attain unto this high plane intended for us by our Maker, only
as we submit to the Lord. Obedience is freely rendered by those
who truly "sit at Jesus' feet.
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