RULE IN THE MIDST OF YOUR ENEMIES

The Power of God working in the life of the believer will make them rule over their enemies

Psalm 110:3 (NIV) — 3 Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb.

Psalm 110:2 (NIV) — 2 The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of your enemies!”

In the Old Testament, Zion represented Jerusalem, the City of David, the City of God

In the New Testament “Zion” represents the newness of the true worship of God that has come in Christ, i.e the Church (Heb. 12:22)

Heb 12:22 “But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering,”

Psalm 2:6 ““As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.””

Psalm 48:1-3 “Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised in the city of our God! His holy mountain, beautiful in elevation, is the joy of all the earth, Mount Zion, in the far north, the city of the great King. Within her citadels God has made himself known as a fortress.”

Psalm 102:16 “For the Lord builds up Zion; he appears in his glory;”

Scepter - Symbol of power, rule kingship, authority

Scepter - An emblem of a king’s ruling power and authority.

The rod of thy strength

Psalm 45:6 “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever. The scepter of your kingdom is a scepter of uprightness;”

Hebrew 1:8 “But of the Son he says, “Your throne, O God, is forever and ever, the scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom.”

The sceptre that will be extended is a sign of the king’s power and authority (110:2). This symbol is still in use today.

For example, in Nigeria, a new chief is usually formally presented with a staff of office, or sceptre, by the governor of the state. This staff symbolizes the authority vested in the chief.

The context of Psalm 110:2 is the Lord's promise to David's descendant, the Lord's anointed, as the ruler of Israel. The verse speaks of the Lord extending his "mighty scepter" from Zion, which is the city of David and the capital of Israel, and commanding the ruler to "rule in the midst of your enemies."

The language used in this verse suggests that the ruler will have the power and authority to conquer and subdue his enemies. The verse also speaks of the Lord's presence and support, as the ruler will be able to rule with the Lord's help and guidance.

In the New Testament, Psalm 110:2 is quoted in several passages, such as Acts 2:34-35, where Peter applies the verse to Jesus Christ, who is described as the "Lord" and the "Son of God."

In these verses, Peter argues that Jesus' resurrection and ascension to the right hand of God fulfils the promise of Psalm 110:2, and that Jesus is the Lord's anointed, the ruler of Israel, and the one who has the power and authority to conquer and subdue his enemies.

Out of Zion or, the Church, in which God dwells by His Spirit, will the Power of God reach out to the whole world

Rule in the midst of your enemies and see them now conquered.

God will send out His power and expand the territory and influence of His children around the World

From Zion, the Church, the Headquarters of God’s ruling power on earth the Power and authority of God will be made known to the Whole World

The midst of your enemies Illustrates the expansionistic nature of God’s rule.

God sends His representative to expand His territory beyond its present limits.

The victory that God gives His children is not for their benefit alone, but for them to expand Gods territory and dominion on earth

The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion.

It is in and through the church that the Power of God is known.

Jehovah has given to Jesus all authority in the midst of his people, whom he rules with his royal scepter.

This power goes forth with divine energy from the church for the in gathering of the elect, and the subduing of all evil.

We need to pray for the sending out of the rod of divine strength.

We need to petition God for help in areas where we are struggling

It was by his rod that Moses smote the Egyptians, and wrought wonders for Israel, and whenever the Lord Jesus sends forth the rod of his strength our spiritual enemies are overcome.

O God of eternal might, let the strength of our Lord Jesus be more clearly seen, and let the nations see it as coming forth out of the midst of thy feeble people.

Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies, as he does whenever his mighty scepter of grace is stretched forth to renew and save them.

Moses’ rod brought water out of the flinty rock, and the Gospel of Jesus soon causes repentance to flow in rivers from the once hardened heart of man.

Or the text may mean that though the church is situated in the midst of a hostile world, yet it exerts a great influence, it continues to manifest inward majesty, and is after all the ruling power among the nations because the shout of a King is in her midst.

Jesus, however hated by people, is still the King of kings. Jesus, it appears from this text, is not inactive while he sits at Jehovah’s right hand.

We look for the clearer manifestation of his almighty power in the latter days; but even in these waiting times we rejoice that to the Lord all power is given in heaven and on earth.

The dominion of Christ will is not just be local, but it will be a global victory for the Kingdom of God