Hebrews 1:9

You loved righteousness (justice) and hated lawlessness. Therefore God your God has anointed you with the oil of exultation (the highest joy) above your companions.

The quote continues from Psalm 45:6-7.

I just read something in 2 Chronicles 1 that just helped me with a thought. The reason Jesus is compared to Solomon is because "wisdom and knowledge will be given to you (Solomon). And I will also gie you wealth, riches, honor, such as no king who was before you ever had and none after you will have."

I also wondered why when the NT speaks of Jesus in his glory and honor, many it will look back at Solomon and compare the two. It is because Solomon ruled as the most prestigious king in Israel's history. Chronicles was written after Judah had returned from the exile and Israel had long since been dispersed. The author was able to see every king that had reigned over both nations and he says Solomon was the grandest, because God had said so.

Anyways back to the quotation. This verse stands in stark contrast to the thought that Jesus is just a man or just a prophet, or just a nice guy.

The first phrase states that Jesus loved justice and hated lawlessness. He is a man who displays the perfect character of God. He is perfect and he stands head over heels over any other man. Because of that (second phrase), God has anointed his head with oil and raised him above his companions. Now first, back in their day (the Ancient Near Eastern culture), when one was anointed with oil, that means they were given special privilege and usually a position of authority. Some examples: Exodus 29 (Moses anoints the priests as a consecration ceremony); Leviticus 8 (Moses anoints Aaron and his sons as an ordination for leading the priests); 1 Samuel 10 (Samuel anoints Saul as King); 1 Samuel 16 (Samuel anoints David as King). There are many more examples, I just named a few.

But God anoints Jesus, who appeared as a man with the oil of great joy (and here is the interesting part) ABOVE HIS COMPANIONS.

Solomon was anointed above his companions and reigned on a throne from Jerusalem until he died and then passed the kingship to his son. Jesus had already died. But God anointed him above his companions (which could be men or even angels in the context of Jesus is greater than any other spiritual being) to reign in the heavens. He is given special authority over all because he has the character of God.

So again Jesus is above all other spiritual beings. We can trust him for any problem we might face because he has the authority to help and because he loves justice and hates lawlessness. We can trust. Turn to him in your hard times (and also in the good times for that matter). He is above all of us.