WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.919 Heavenly Father, we come to you again, Lord, this Wednesday to make use of this privilege 00:00:12.919 --> 00:00:23.760 you have made available to us of the ability to speak to you, to hear from you as your 00:00:23.760 --> 00:00:24.120 children. 00:00:24.120 --> 00:00:33.799 And today in particular, we come to Psalm 110, eager to let you enlarge our view of Christ 00:00:33.799 --> 00:00:48.540 and his sovereign power so that he may control our attitudes, our perspectives, that he might 00:00:48.539 --> 00:00:53.420 quell our fears, that he might help us persevere. 00:00:55.839 --> 00:01:03.460 So please, Lord, speak to us through your word and inform our prayer that we may pray according 00:01:03.460 --> 00:01:04.000 to your will. 00:01:04.659 --> 00:01:05.859 In Jesus' name we pray. 00:01:06.280 --> 00:01:06.539 Amen. 00:01:06.539 --> 00:01:06.640 Amen. 00:01:07.739 --> 00:01:09.500 We're in Psalm 110. 00:01:09.500 --> 00:01:14.920 The subtitle of the psalm says, A Psalm of David. 00:01:20.500 --> 00:01:24.579 Just a short seven verses I'll read out loud first. 00:01:24.840 --> 00:01:25.519 Psalm 110. 00:01:25.519 --> 00:01:37.599 The Lord says to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool. 00:01:38.259 --> 00:01:41.599 The Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. 00:01:42.479 --> 00:01:44.319 Rule in the midst of your enemies. 00:01:45.340 --> 00:01:49.799 Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power in holy garments. 00:01:50.519 --> 00:01:54.079 From the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours. 00:01:54.079 --> 00:01:58.340 The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind. 00:01:58.819 --> 00:02:02.000 You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. 00:02:02.799 --> 00:02:04.439 The Lord is at your right hand. 00:02:04.560 --> 00:02:06.700 He will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. 00:02:07.079 --> 00:02:11.039 He will execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses. 00:02:12.139 --> 00:02:15.060 He will shatter chiefs over the wide earth. 00:02:15.579 --> 00:02:17.560 He will drink from the brook by the way. 00:02:18.099 --> 00:02:19.979 Therefore, he will lift up his head. 00:02:19.979 --> 00:02:24.840 It's like a really powerful psalm, right? 00:02:24.939 --> 00:02:33.379 It's arguably the most important psalm in the Psalter, especially with messianic implications. 00:02:34.139 --> 00:02:40.399 So verse one of this psalm is cited or alluded to more frequently than any other verse in the Old Testament. 00:02:40.400 --> 00:02:42.960 And for good reason. 00:02:43.400 --> 00:02:50.099 But before we talk about how this psalm is fulfilled by Jesus, let's try to understand the psalm in its own context first, original context first. 00:02:50.879 --> 00:02:52.719 It's divided into two main sections. 00:02:53.000 --> 00:02:55.599 And each section begins with an oracle from God. 00:02:55.719 --> 00:02:58.360 So God's speech in verse one and in verse four. 00:02:58.939 --> 00:03:03.280 So the first section, we see the enthronement of a king, verses one to three. 00:03:03.280 --> 00:03:11.719 And then the second section, verses four to seven, we see the appointment of the priest of God and at God's right hand. 00:03:11.879 --> 00:03:17.080 So the main point of the psalm, I think, is that we should trust in the conquering priest king. 00:03:17.219 --> 00:03:21.060 It's the same person who extends God's heavenly rule on earth. 00:03:22.520 --> 00:03:25.939 And so the first section deals with the enthronement of a king. 00:03:25.939 --> 00:03:32.460 It says in verse one, the Lord says to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool. 00:03:33.060 --> 00:03:37.479 The first Lord, as you guys have in all caps, refers to God. 00:03:37.819 --> 00:03:39.819 It's the proper name of God, Yahweh. 00:03:40.520 --> 00:03:43.659 And the second Lord refers to a human king. 00:03:44.039 --> 00:03:45.560 It's like master, Lord. 00:03:46.159 --> 00:03:52.560 And this seems to be being announced by some kind of court official, perhaps a prophet, since this is an oracle from God, 00:03:52.560 --> 00:03:58.020 declaring that the Lord is saying this about this king that's being appointed to reign over God's people. 00:03:58.780 --> 00:04:04.500 The right hand, he's invited to sit at the right hand of God, which means it's a position of prominence and honor. 00:04:04.680 --> 00:04:07.620 Usually the right hand is reserved for the second in command, right? 00:04:07.939 --> 00:04:09.680 So this king is very important. 00:04:09.680 --> 00:04:18.879 But this also teaches a very radical idea in any of the nations that had a monarchy in place, 00:04:19.400 --> 00:04:23.500 because usually in a monarchy, the king has absolute authority, right? 00:04:23.500 --> 00:04:27.579 But in Israel, a monarchy, even though it was a monarchy, was still a theocracy, 00:04:28.180 --> 00:04:33.519 because the monarch, the king, was understood to be subject to and accountable to 00:04:33.519 --> 00:04:37.360 and doing the bidding of the true king, which is God. 00:04:37.360 --> 00:04:45.639 So it's God who sits on the throne and the king, earthly king that we see usually as supreme, is only at his right hand. 00:04:46.199 --> 00:04:51.720 So God's the real king who reigns over his people, and the earthly king is just his representative. 00:04:52.840 --> 00:04:56.879 And God's going to establish the kingdom for his earthly representative, 00:04:57.120 --> 00:05:01.520 and he promises to subdue all his enemies by reducing them to the king's footstool, 00:05:01.699 --> 00:05:04.840 which, of course, is a picture of subjugation under your feet. 00:05:04.839 --> 00:05:08.639 And then verse 2 tells us how God will do this. 00:05:08.719 --> 00:05:08.919 He says, 00:05:09.000 --> 00:05:12.019 The Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. 00:05:12.739 --> 00:05:14.379 Rule in the midst of your enemies. 00:05:14.519 --> 00:05:19.759 So God sends from his holy city, Zion, the mighty scepter with which the king, 00:05:19.879 --> 00:05:23.019 the earthly king, will exert his rule in the midst of his enemies. 00:05:23.699 --> 00:05:29.259 And then God's granting of the mighty scepter to the king also means that an army will be raised up by God for him. 00:05:29.259 --> 00:05:30.599 Verse 3 says, 00:05:30.719 --> 00:05:35.139 Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power in holy garment. 00:05:35.539 --> 00:05:38.219 From the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours. 00:05:38.279 --> 00:05:41.879 It's a little bit complicated verse, hard to understand on its own. 00:05:42.199 --> 00:05:46.399 But the promise seems to be that the young men of the nation, the youth, 00:05:46.699 --> 00:05:51.319 will freely volunteer to serve in the military that will establish the king's rule. 00:05:51.319 --> 00:05:57.439 And the youth of the nation will rise up like dew in the morning from the womb of the morning. 00:05:57.959 --> 00:06:02.879 And this is a cool image because the dew, right, kind of appears mysteriously in the morning. 00:06:03.099 --> 00:06:06.899 You don't see any rainfall or hear any rainfall really at night. 00:06:07.219 --> 00:06:11.620 But then when you step out into the day in the morning, you see the dew has covered the earth. 00:06:11.620 --> 00:06:15.240 So seemingly, like in the same way, seemingly out of nowhere, 00:06:16.199 --> 00:06:21.439 this youth that will come to support this king will arise out of nowhere and cover the earth. 00:06:22.899 --> 00:06:24.819 And so that's the enthronement of the king. 00:06:24.939 --> 00:06:27.920 And then the second we see the appointment of the priest in verses 4 to 7. 00:06:28.860 --> 00:06:31.680 And it too begins with an oracle from God in verse 4. 00:06:32.120 --> 00:06:34.600 The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind. 00:06:34.759 --> 00:06:37.920 You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. 00:06:37.920 --> 00:06:42.439 And the subject of the psalm is still the same person. 00:06:42.800 --> 00:06:43.780 It's still the king. 00:06:44.080 --> 00:06:50.360 But it's very interesting because here we see that God appoints this king also to be a priest, right? 00:06:50.939 --> 00:06:52.620 And this is unusual. 00:06:52.900 --> 00:06:55.700 I don't know if you guys remember the story from 2 Chronicles 26. 00:06:56.280 --> 00:07:01.060 We're told the story of Uzziah, who was a king from the line of David in the nation of Judah. 00:07:01.639 --> 00:07:03.240 And he is an able leader. 00:07:03.240 --> 00:07:07.040 And he leads the nation to one of the most proper times of its history. 00:07:07.040 --> 00:07:10.140 But that makes him very prideful. 00:07:10.980 --> 00:07:17.240 And so it says in 2 Chronicles 26.8, it says that Uzziah's fame spread even to the border of Egypt. 00:07:17.939 --> 00:07:19.740 For he became very strong. 00:07:20.580 --> 00:07:31.400 However, in 2 Chronicles 26.16-18, because he became so prideful, he presumes to enter God's temple, even though he's a king. 00:07:31.540 --> 00:07:33.700 And then he burns incense to God. 00:07:33.699 --> 00:07:41.959 And a true priest, Azariah, along with other 80 priests of the Lord, confront Uzziah the king that this is not right. 00:07:42.159 --> 00:07:43.300 And so this is what they say to him. 00:07:43.360 --> 00:07:51.560 It is not for you, Uzziah, to burn incense to the Lord, but for the priests, the sons of Aaron, who are consecrated to burn incense. 00:07:52.079 --> 00:07:57.279 Go out of the sanctuary, for you have done wrong, and it will bring you no honor from the Lord God. 00:07:57.279 --> 00:08:02.939 So they boldly confront the king that he's not the one that's supposed to serve this priestly role. 00:08:03.299 --> 00:08:09.159 But instead of humbling himself, King Uzziah becomes angry and as a result gets inflicted by the Lord with leprosy. 00:08:09.879 --> 00:08:16.959 And as that episode makes clear, there was a clear line separating the kingship and the priesthood. 00:08:17.679 --> 00:08:20.799 And a king was not supposed to usurp the priesthood for himself. 00:08:20.800 --> 00:08:26.540 But here in Psalm 110, the king is also declared a priest forever, which is very interesting. 00:08:27.180 --> 00:08:28.740 And so this is not a normal priest. 00:08:29.520 --> 00:08:32.019 This is a messianic priest king. 00:08:32.419 --> 00:08:36.019 And that's why he is priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. 00:08:36.620 --> 00:08:39.060 And the normal priests were descendants of Aaron, right? 00:08:39.180 --> 00:08:45.539 But this king is declared a priest not by the virtue of his ethnic descent from Aaron, but after the order of Melchizedek. 00:08:46.080 --> 00:08:49.680 And Melchizedek, of course, is that mysterious Old Testament figure. 00:08:49.679 --> 00:08:53.379 He appears out of nowhere in Genesis 14. 00:08:53.679 --> 00:08:56.739 He has no genealogical information provided about him. 00:08:56.879 --> 00:09:06.039 But he seems to be a figure of exceeding importance and stature because he blesses Abraham, which implies that he is greater than Abraham, as the logic in Hebrews goes. 00:09:06.559 --> 00:09:08.699 And his name means king of righteousness. 00:09:09.399 --> 00:09:12.699 And he's a king of a city named Salem, which means peace. 00:09:12.759 --> 00:09:15.319 So he's a king of righteousness and a king of peace. 00:09:15.320 --> 00:09:22.920 And he's described as the priest, not of some pagan god, but of the most high god, which is a reference to Yahweh, the Lord. 00:09:23.560 --> 00:09:31.180 So then this king belongs not to, this king in Psalm 110 does not belong to the Aaronic order of priests, but to the priestly order of Melchizedek. 00:09:31.480 --> 00:09:34.040 It's a special eternal priesthood. 00:09:34.039 --> 00:09:37.219 And then things get even more interesting starting in verse 5. 00:09:38.639 --> 00:09:38.980 It says, 00:09:39.319 --> 00:09:41.279 The Lord is at your right hand. 00:09:42.620 --> 00:09:44.699 He will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. 00:09:45.259 --> 00:09:48.299 He will execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses. 00:09:48.459 --> 00:09:50.240 He will shatter chiefs over the wide earth. 00:09:50.399 --> 00:09:51.860 He will drink from the brook by the way. 00:09:51.939 --> 00:09:53.360 Therefore, he will lift up his head. 00:09:53.360 --> 00:10:00.300 So the question we need to ask is, who is this Lord mentioned in verse 5? 00:10:00.860 --> 00:10:04.279 Is it Yahweh, the Lord, God? 00:10:04.659 --> 00:10:07.139 Or is it the Lord, the Messianic King? 00:10:07.659 --> 00:10:07.740 Right? 00:10:08.060 --> 00:10:13.139 On the one hand, the word Lord here is the same word as the second Lord in verse 1. 00:10:14.700 --> 00:10:19.340 Sit at my, where Yahweh said to the human Lord, sit at my right hand. 00:10:19.340 --> 00:10:26.600 And it makes sense then that this Lord here who is at your right hand, meaning at the right hand of God, 00:10:26.660 --> 00:10:29.139 because God invited him in verse 1 to sit at my right hand. 00:10:29.259 --> 00:10:31.200 So it could be the human Lord, the same human Lord. 00:10:31.860 --> 00:10:34.899 And in verse 7, it says that he will drink from the brook by the way. 00:10:35.440 --> 00:10:36.600 Therefore, he will lift up his head. 00:10:36.660 --> 00:10:43.040 So this is likely a reference to drinking water from a brook in a conquered land, in a foreign land. 00:10:43.580 --> 00:10:48.120 And usually foreign nations would have been up in arms about a foreign king drinking from them without permission. 00:10:48.120 --> 00:10:51.100 But here they can do nothing about it because they've been subdued. 00:10:51.179 --> 00:10:51.820 They've been conquered. 00:10:52.379 --> 00:10:55.340 And so now the king raises up his head in victory, in triumph. 00:10:55.519 --> 00:10:57.580 So this seems to be referring to a human king. 00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:02.399 And so that's one view. 00:11:03.240 --> 00:11:08.200 But on the other hand, even though the word Lord here is the same as the word in verse 1, 00:11:08.740 --> 00:11:12.419 the spelling of it is slightly different in the original Hebrew. 00:11:12.419 --> 00:11:19.019 And in fact, the Jews used this variant spelling of the word Lord exclusively in the Old Testament 00:11:19.019 --> 00:11:22.279 when it was referring to God, the Lord God. 00:11:23.539 --> 00:11:28.759 And furthermore, the mention of the day of his wrath suggests that this is a reference to the divine Lord 00:11:28.759 --> 00:11:31.799 because that expression, the day of his wrath, the day of his anger, 00:11:32.199 --> 00:11:35.059 is frequently used throughout the Old Testament to refer to the judgment of God. 00:11:35.059 --> 00:11:42.099 So then it could be that in verse 1, the Lord God invited the king to sit on his right hand, the earthly king. 00:11:42.439 --> 00:11:47.379 And then in verse 5, the Lord God comes to the aid of the king at his right hand to help. 00:11:47.939 --> 00:11:50.139 So this is incredibly difficult to settle. 00:11:51.099 --> 00:11:55.819 And there have been good interpreters on both sides with strong arguments throughout church history 00:11:55.819 --> 00:11:58.059 as really early as you can trace it. 00:11:58.059 --> 00:12:05.319 But I believe that there is an intentional ambiguity here that's wonderfully explained and fulfilled by Jesus. 00:12:06.419 --> 00:12:14.719 And in fact, in Mark 12, 35 to 37, Jesus himself uses Psalm 110 to argue that he is in fact the Messiah 00:12:14.719 --> 00:12:16.959 and is greater than David himself. 00:12:17.619 --> 00:12:18.959 And this is what he says in Mark. 00:12:19.359 --> 00:12:20.399 Jesus says this, 00:12:20.399 --> 00:12:23.599 How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? 00:12:23.600 --> 00:12:26.980 David himself in the Holy Spirit declared, 00:12:27.500 --> 00:12:28.940 The Lord said to my Lord, 00:12:29.240 --> 00:12:32.560 Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet. 00:12:33.159 --> 00:12:35.700 David himself calls him Lord. 00:12:36.220 --> 00:12:38.000 So how is he his son? 00:12:38.920 --> 00:12:41.720 So look at the superscription, the subtitle again. 00:12:41.779 --> 00:12:43.259 It said the Psalm of David. 00:12:44.000 --> 00:12:47.080 So Jesus takes this to mean that David is the author of the psalm. 00:12:47.600 --> 00:12:50.379 And if David is the author, this is even more interesting. 00:12:50.379 --> 00:12:56.860 Then who is this Lord that David, the king, he is supposed to be the king that leads God's people. 00:12:57.080 --> 00:13:02.700 If he's calling him Lord, the Lord God says to my Lord, sit at my right hand. 00:13:02.759 --> 00:13:05.220 So who is this king that's greater than even David himself? 00:13:05.960 --> 00:13:11.539 And numerous New Testament passages refer back to the psalm and say that it's Jesus who is seated at the right hand of God. 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:16.100 Acts 2, 33, Romans 8, Ephesians 1, Colossians 3, Hebrews 12. 00:13:16.100 --> 00:13:24.940 And in Hebrews 6, 27 to 28, it tells us that Jesus is in fact the one who is appointed priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. 00:13:25.960 --> 00:13:30.980 And so Jesus, then it makes, isn't that amazing how that psalm just makes sense when you see it in light of Christ, 00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:35.139 when it's like, it doesn't make any sense when you're trying to figure out what it actually means on its original context. 00:13:35.860 --> 00:13:39.740 And then, so then this psalm provides wonderful assurances for us, 00:13:39.860 --> 00:13:42.340 for those who have been united with Christ through faith. 00:13:42.340 --> 00:13:47.259 First is it gives us assurance of salvation, assurance of pardon. 00:13:47.399 --> 00:13:53.360 The author of Hebrews tell us in that passage I mentioned that Jesus, because he's the resurrected Lord, 00:13:53.580 --> 00:14:01.420 and he sits forever at the right hand of God, unlike the Aaronic priests who died and therefore couldn't continue in their priesthood, 00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:05.259 his intercession, Jesus' intercession on our behalf is unceasing. 00:14:05.920 --> 00:14:09.120 And that's why in Romans 8, 34 to 39, he puts it this way, 00:14:09.120 --> 00:14:13.779 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died, more than that, who was raised, 00:14:14.220 --> 00:14:18.500 who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 00:14:18.960 --> 00:14:21.039 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? 00:14:21.539 --> 00:14:26.080 Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 00:14:26.820 --> 00:14:30.860 No, in all these things, we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 00:14:30.860 --> 00:14:36.440 For I am sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, 00:14:36.519 --> 00:14:44.240 nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. 00:14:45.580 --> 00:14:49.740 We're used to losing people who used to have our back, right, in our world. 00:14:49.740 --> 00:14:58.240 I mean, you have maybe in your workplace, you used to have a supervisor or a manager that really looked out for your interest, 00:14:58.580 --> 00:15:03.460 and had, and looked out for you, supported you, advocated for your promotion, and things like that. 00:15:03.500 --> 00:15:08.899 But then he or she moves on to another job, or leaves, and for one reason or another, 00:15:09.019 --> 00:15:12.919 and then you get a new manager or supervisor that cares nothing about you and doesn't know you. 00:15:12.919 --> 00:15:16.360 And then you feel like you lose that supporter, that patron. 00:15:16.860 --> 00:15:20.979 Or maybe it's a mom or a dad that raised you and was always in your corners, 00:15:21.379 --> 00:15:23.799 and your biggest cheerleader, and they get old and they die. 00:15:24.339 --> 00:15:26.919 Your wife or husband, the one who was always by your side, 00:15:27.500 --> 00:15:31.059 and then for most of your adulthood, and then they get sick or they die. 00:15:31.679 --> 00:15:35.539 But Jesus, who is for us, who is in our corner, 00:15:36.240 --> 00:15:39.219 and who gave himself for us as the atoning sacrifice, 00:15:39.220 --> 00:15:42.820 has been raised from the dead so he doesn't die ever again, 00:15:42.920 --> 00:15:44.740 and he reigns forever from the right hand of God. 00:15:45.040 --> 00:15:47.360 So that means we have nothing to fear that should give us assurance. 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:50.480 Not even death can separate us from the love of Christ. 00:15:50.580 --> 00:15:52.940 So even though our sins, all the time, every day, 00:15:53.080 --> 00:15:56.740 they clamor for our condemnation before the throne of God, 00:15:57.040 --> 00:16:00.360 but Jesus, our faithful intercessor, is always there at the right hand, 00:16:00.840 --> 00:16:04.259 saying, no, his blood pleads our acceptance, our forgiveness. 00:16:04.860 --> 00:16:05.779 So that's assurance. 00:16:05.779 --> 00:16:10.939 And he also gives us assurance of victory that should help us to persevere to the end. 00:16:11.600 --> 00:16:15.399 Ephesians 1, 20 to 22 says that God the Father raised Jesus from the dead 00:16:15.399 --> 00:16:17.919 and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places. 00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:21.799 And this is the implication, the application of the fact that Jesus is at the right hand of God. 00:16:22.199 --> 00:16:25.159 Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, 00:16:25.199 --> 00:16:26.779 and above every name that is named, 00:16:27.100 --> 00:16:29.259 not only in this age but also in the one to come. 00:16:29.819 --> 00:16:32.959 And he put all things under his feet, remember the footstool, 00:16:32.960 --> 00:16:36.280 and gave him as head over all things to the church. 00:16:36.780 --> 00:16:41.340 So that means all authority on earth, including all the evil authority, 00:16:41.820 --> 00:16:45.660 have been subjected to Christ, submitted by him, 00:16:46.160 --> 00:16:51.139 subdued by him, and have been given over to his people, to the church. 00:16:51.800 --> 00:16:54.420 And so that means we don't need to fear anything, 00:16:54.780 --> 00:16:56.660 any subjection to evil powers. 00:16:57.600 --> 00:17:00.840 Evil has been overthrown and Christ has taken his throne. 00:17:00.840 --> 00:17:05.840 And of course, when the new king is on the throne, 00:17:06.100 --> 00:17:07.819 the regime change has taken place, 00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:10.160 but the effects of that are still getting worked out, 00:17:10.579 --> 00:17:12.380 which is why we still see evil in our world, 00:17:12.500 --> 00:17:14.640 which is still why we see sin in our own lives. 00:17:14.980 --> 00:17:18.579 But it's now a matter of when that will be completed, 00:17:18.840 --> 00:17:22.420 not a question of if, because the king has taken his throne. 00:17:22.539 --> 00:17:24.220 There is a new regime in place. 00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:28.200 And that certainty should motivate us and comfort us when we are discouraged 00:17:28.200 --> 00:17:32.279 by the sin and evil in our own lives and in the world. 00:17:33.019 --> 00:17:35.059 And so that's why this is a really powerful psalm. 00:17:35.140 --> 00:17:35.420 It's short. 00:17:35.539 --> 00:17:38.559 It teaches that we can trust in the conquering priest king 00:17:38.559 --> 00:17:42.360 who extends God's heavenly rule on earth. 00:17:42.359 --> 00:17:46.299 So with that in mind, let's sing a song and pray. 00:17:46.299 --> 00:17:46.859 Let's pray.