Jesus the priest-king

Introduction

If you have not been with us, we have been going through the Messianic Psalms for our Christmas Study. What this means is that we have been looking at the psalms that speak of a kingdom ruled by king Jesus. While much of Jesus’s teaching is focused on a kingdom in the New Testament there is an understanding that we have of the kingdom that is promised in the Old testament. These promises of a king that would come help us influence now the way that we live as people of the king.

This morning we arrive at the most quoted OT chapter of the New Testament. This psalm is even given to be one of the main scripture reference that is seen in the Book of Hebrews. This chapter that we endeavor to walk through this morning is quoted more than Isaiah 53. What makes this section of scripture so special that Jesus himself would reference it in a theological debate with the Pharisees ? Yahweh establishes this messianic figure, or Lord (adonia), upon an everlasting throne and Yahweh grants him authority and the title of priest. This Lord will have his enemies conquered, he will execute judgement over all the nations. As we work through this psalm the main point that I want us to leave with is this: Freely offer yourself to Jesus our interceding priest and King. This passage can easily be broken down into two stanzas that both begin with the speaking of Yahweh himself.

The King Enthroned (1-3)

Psalm 110:1-3 “The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” The Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies! Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours.”

If we take a look at the begining of the text, we may be confused without an understanding of who the author is and who both of these Lord’s are.

“The Lord said to my Lord.” The author is noted in the subscription above King David. This is confirmed by our savior himself who declared that this passage was written by David in Luke 20:42. David records for us a conversation between two Lords.

The first LORD that is in all caps is the Holy name of God, Yahweh.

The second Lord mean Adonia, which is a name given to a king. So what we have here in this psalm is God’s direct declaration to David’s own Lord and King. The jewish audience in Jesus’s time understood this Adonia or Lord to be the messiah and to be David’s Son. This is also seen in the Lukan account of the conversation between Jesus and the Pharisees in Luke 20.

David as the king of Israel calling someone else Lord, may not seem like a crazy thing to us, but for a King to be subservient or submissive to someone else other than God himself there is a call in for question.

Who is greater than David himself? This is exactly Peter’s argument concerning Jesus in Acts 2:34 “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand,”

David understood the position that Yahweh was placing this Lord in. Notice where Yahweh declares the Adonia be placed. He is to be placed at the right hand of the God himself. This was a place of power and authority. Higher than David himself. Notice how the appointment of the Lord himself was not gained illegally, but by he was appointed by the authority of God himself. This special place is far higher than David and angels. He is seated above all creatures. Therefore, he is given full dominion to reign.

Yahweh also declares that this Lord will sit at his right hand “until I make your enemies your footstool.” God’s chosen king will defeat his enemies. His enemies necks will be crushed under foot of God’s chosen King. The kingdom that is established by Yahweh will be immovable, impenetrable and sufficient.

This kingdom is immovable and impenetrable in the way that the Lord will rule. Look at psalm 110:2, “The Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter, Rule in the midst of your enemies.

The King’s battalion is controlled by the Lord. We dont often see scepters in depiction of modern Rulers. In scripture, the scepter is often seen in concern to the coming messiah and the coming kingdom.

Gen 49:10 “The scepter shall not depart from Judah, nor the ruler’s staff from between his feet, until tribute comes to him; and to him shall be the obedience of the peoples.”

Numbers 24:17 “I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel; it shall crush the forehead of Moab and break down all the sons of Sheth.”

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

This Long staff or rod was used by kings to symbolize their authority and power. Here it is a symbol of royal rule and punishment over the enemies of the king.

The Lord was to rule in the midst of his own enemies. No matter the attack formation or power of the enemies, the kingdom of God that is established here will never be moved or penetrated by its foes.

This kingdom is also sufficient. David writes, “Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours.”

There will be an extension to the kingdom. It will flow out of Zion to the ends of the earth. The rule of the scepter stretch far and wide. However, His rule will not be of oppression but rather his rule will be sufficient. It will extend to the ends of the earth with glory and magisty and people will offer themselves not out of compulsion or oppression but humbly to this king. Just as the dew spreads itself upon the whole of the earth, so shall those who come to be refreshed by the king shall cover the earth.

We would do well to try and name this king. While hints have carried us thus far, only explicit truths can help us determine who this man who is seated at the right hand is. The New Testament makes it easy for us to figure out who this king is. In Mark 1:15 Jesus at the begining of His ministry declared “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” The awaited kingdom of a ruler that was depicted not only in the psalm that we are looking at today but throughout all of Scripture. Jesus spoke of this kingdom throughout the gospels. Jesus in his death and resurrection secured a kingdom and was placed at the right hand of God.

Daniel chapter 7 gives us more of the conversation between Yahweh and Jesus.

Listen to what happens. Daniel 7:13-14 ““I saw in the night visions, and behold, with the clouds of heaven there came one like a son of man, and he came to the Ancient of Days and was presented before him. And to him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve him; his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom one that shall not be destroyed.”

As man rejected this king, in his death God exalted him. he was exalted to the right hand of God and all dominion, glory and a kingdom was given to him. Acts 5:30-31 “The God of our fathers raised Jesus, whom you killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him at his right hand as Leader and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins.”

As Christ went upon the cross, taking the full wrath of God upon himself, dyeing, In his resurrection the establisment of his kingdom and reign began. Sin was defeated in jesus’s death and death itself was defeated in his resurrection. He now holds all power, authority and dominion over the whole earth. Where man rejected, God exalted to King.

King Jesus’s work has finished what was promised in the garden. As Adam who was given dominion over the earth, lost his dominion because of sin and Man’s nature was filled with corruption by sin. There was a promise made that the head of the serpent would be crushed from the seed of the woman. This promise held in it not only a promise of salvation but also a promise that the dominion that was lost would be returned to the everlasting king.

Because we live in post resurrection times, what does this now mean for us if Christ is currently reigning at the right hand of God?

Verses 1-3 show us two places that we can land. First, as enemies of God and Second, those who offer themselves freely to the king.

Enemies of God

All of mankind are by nature enemies of God. Notice that those who are enemies of God will be crushed. They will be destroyed, they will feel the wrath of God himself as he sweeps throughout the world leaving his enemies laid bare from thigh to neck. If we were to use the language of Habakkuk 3. These enemies of God are not only those who are outwardly defiant against God but all those who do not submit themselves to the kingship and lordship of our savior. For Jesus to be your savior he must also be your king. You must submit yourself fully to him. Those who do not offer themselves fully will face the full wrath of God upon them. See the promise is that, sin will be dealt with one way or another. If this is you today, understand this, you dont have to be here. You dont have to be an enemy of God. Offer yourself freely to the king. Repent of your sins and turn to Jesus. Humbly acknolage your insuficitenct and die to self and bow at the feet of the risen king.

Kingdom is established and will never end,

Victory is already won

We do not have to fear.

This is a reminder of the second place we can land

Those who offer themselves freely to the King

Those who come before the throne declaring that they are willing and cheerfully consecrating themselves to the service of Christ. Those who come and remove their heavy burden placing it at the throne to receive a lighter better burden given by the king himself. Those who have came freely to King Jesus come for the sole purpose to serve him.

This service is seen in all we do as a church. Are we desiring to serve king Jesus in our ministries? our marriages? our employment? our parenting? It is an honour as citizens of the kingdom of God to serve our king. Romans 12:1 “I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” We serve our king through true reverence and worship, doing all things to the glory and majesty of our king Jesus.

David gives us another description of who our king is through the Promise of the Lord himself.

The Priest Installed (4-7)

Psalm 110:4-7 “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. He will execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses; he will shatter chiefs over the wide earth. He will drink from the brook by the way; therefore he will lift up his head.”

Yahweh installs the king Jesus as a priest in the line of Melchizedek. This is a weird transaction not just because Melchizedek isn't a name we would choose to name our newborn child or the mystery surrounding Melchizedek himself. This is a weird transaction because no other person in Old and New Testament is considered to be both priest and king besides Melchizedek. And there is a lot of mystery surrounding who this character is. In the narrative of the OT he only appears once in the book of Genesis for only a couple of verses.

Turn with me quickly to Genesis 14:18-20 “And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” And Abram gave him a tenth of everything.”

Notice that this figure is both the King of Salem and priest of God most high. His name literally means king of righteousness. So he is priest king. The only one that is found in Scripture besides Jesus himself.

God is giving a specific and different priestly order and separating this king from all others.

David himself can be seen as both prophet and King as he gives this divine oracle to us. However, there was a seperation between being a king and a priest. The priestly order was to come from the levitical line and the Kings would come from the line of Judah.

King Saul and King Uzziah both felt the need to merge these together on their own whim and thus fail. This appointment of being both King and Priest in the order of this eternal office

No why would this be important. For a priestly order to be set apart with this line?

Instead of me trying to make the argument, Lets let Scripture explain it to us. Turn to Hebrews 7 with me.

Hebrews 7 (ESV)

For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. He is without father or mother or genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest forever.

See how great this man was to whom Abraham the patriarch gave a tenth of the spoils! And those descendants of Levi who receive the priestly office have a commandment in the law to take tithes from the people, that is, from their brothers, though these also are descended from Abraham. But this man who does not have his descent from them received tithes from Abraham and blessed him who had the promises. It is beyond dispute that the inferior is blessed by the superior. In the one case tithes are received by mortal men, but in the other case, by one of whom it is testified that he lives. One might even say that Levi himself, who receives tithes, paid tithes through Abraham, for he was still in the loins of his ancestor when Melchizedek met him.

11 Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron? For when there is a change in the priesthood, there is necessarily a change in the law as well. For the one of whom these things are spoken belonged to another tribe, from which no one has ever served at the altar. For it is evident that our Lord was descended from Judah, and in connection with that tribe Moses said nothing about priests.

Verse 15 This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchizedek, who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life. For it is witnessed of him,

“You are a priest forever,

after the order of Melchizedek.”

For on the one hand, a former commandment is set aside because of its weakness and uselessness (for the law made nothing perfect); but on the other hand, a better hope is introduced, through which we draw near to God.

And it was not without an oath. For those who formerly became priests were made such without an oath, but this one was made a priest with an oath by the one who said to him:

“The Lord has sworn

and will not change his mind,

‘You are a priest forever.’ ”

This makes Jesus the guarantor of a better covenant.

The former priests were many in number, because they were prevented by death from continuing in office, but he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

For it was indeed fitting that we should have such a high priest, holy, innocent, unstained, separated from sinners, and exalted above the heavens. He has no need, like those high priests, to offer sacrifices daily, first for his own sins and then for those of the people, since he did this once for all when he offered up himself. For the law appoints men in their weakness as high priests, but the word of the oath, which came later than the law, appoints a Son who has been made perfect forever.

Because of this Order Jesus our Priest King is able to do things that the Levitacal Priest were not able to do:

He provides eternal salvation- because his priesthood is eternal, the salvation he offers is eternal.

1 Peter 1:1-5 “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God’s power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time.”

He allows us to draw near

Where before we couldnt approach the throne of Grace because of our sin we are now able to approach because of our faith in the priest King who made a sacrifice for all.

His sacrifice is sure

While the levites had to continue to make intercession, Christ makes a once and for all sacrifice

Hebrews 10:11-12 “And every priest stands daily at his service, offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins. But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins, he sat down at the right hand of God,”

He can save to the uttermost

Hebrews 7:25 “Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.”

He has the power of eternal life

Hebrews 7:16 “who has become a priest, not on the basis of a legal requirement concerning bodily descent, but by the power of an indestructible life.”

He is the guarantee of a better covenant.

The Priest-king is established Through the word of the Lord and in verses 5-7 we finish off this psalm with a final picture of our Priest and King. Psalm 110:5-7 “The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. He will execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses; he will shatter chiefs over the wide earth. He will drink from the brook by the way; therefore he will lift up his head.”

Jesus the priest king is not a wimpy ruler. Rather his divine appointment as priest king should strike terror in those who oppose him and Joy to those who are with him. His wrath will be poured out upon the kings and his judgement will come. For those who do not know him should fear this wrath.In the book of revelation this scene is once again reminded Revelation 6:15-17 “Then the kings of the earth and the great ones and the generals and the rich and the powerful, and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and among the rocks of the mountains, calling to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who is seated on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?””

This is world wide reign over all the nations was what was predicted in Psalm 2:8 “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession.”

All nations will be made to fall before our King Priest.

One writer puts it this way. “as a shepherd is gentle towards his flock, but fierce and formidable towards wolves and thieves; in like manner, Christ is kind and gentle towards those who commit themselves to his care, while they who wilfully and obstinately reject his yoke, shall feel with what awful and terrible power he is armed.” (Calvin, Commentary on the psalms)

See the king priest Jesus upon the throne.

For those of you here today who are just thinking through Christianity or may be apathetic toward Christ, there is coming a day when Christ full power will be set in motion against his enemies, see the grace that is offered to you today. That you could repent of your sins and turn to him and he will allow you who was against him to enter into his everlasting kingdom.

For those of us who have been Christians, remember that you live in this kingdom and you have a good and faithful high priest. We have a perfect kingdom and a perfect king. One who will right every wrong, one who will wipe every tear from our eyes. A good and faithful King Priest.

Let us therefore, live in our citizenship continually offering ourselves freely to our interceding priest and king.