Psalm 110:1-7 -> Sunday School Lesson -> The Messiah will reign forever -> Hope

Things to consider

As believers we profess that some things are unarguably true. We believe that Jesus was born fully God and fully man, that He lived a perfect life, died for us on the cross and was raised again on the third day. We believe that He lives on in Heaven preparing a way for us. And we believe that He is coming back as He promised. But this time He’ll be coming as a a conquering King and Judge instead of the perfect lamb for sacrifice.

While we go over the lesson today there’s a couple of things I want us all to keep in mind.

What impact does Jesus’s impending return have on our life? Is that the same impact it should have?

Why is hope important and what causes us to lose hope?

With that in mind, let’s all turn to Psalm 110:1-3 and someone read for me please

Psalm 110:1–3 ESV

1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” 2 The Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies! 3 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.

What are some words or phrases that stick out to us in these verses?

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Vs 1 - The LORD says to my Lord

David uses the Hebrew word Yahweh here and then a version of Adonai. One is the covenantal name of God as the Great I am and the other is the name used to refer to God as the Lord over us in a more personal sense. If you’re every looking to show someone an example of the trinity in the Bible, this is a great place to do it. Yahweh says to Adonai

Vs 2 - in the midst of your enemies

While David reigned over Israel he had to almost constantly defend the Kingdom against the enemies surrounding them. They didn’t manage to succeed over Israel under David, or Solomon, but they stayed present and they stayed a problem.

If anyone wants to share I’d love to hear some examples of the enemies in our own lives that stay present and a problem even if they never manage to win. And how do we see God in that?

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Vs 3 - offer themselves freely on the day of your power(battle) in holy garments(splendor) -> does anyone else’s bible says something besides power or garments? -> battle/splendor

Just like David had enemies to fight, when Jesus will go to war with the enemy, and like David, He won’t do it alone.

Revelation 19:11–14 ESV

11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses.

And these armies aren’t described as being beaten down and exhausted, rather they’re described as being in holy splendor.

For me a couple of words come to mind here, and its something the podcast talked about for this material as well. Expectant and Urgent

We have to maintain hope against our struggles and enemies by rooting ourselves in the truth that He is coming back. We have to be expectant of His return, and we should be preparing for it with urgency. Starting in Matthew 36 Jesus tells us that we don’t know the day and time, and one of the examples He gives is of the master of a house not knowing when the thief would come. He tells us that we must always be ready

Another verse I want to look at really quick is

Acts 2:33–36 ESV

33 Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, he has poured out this that you yourselves are seeing and hearing. 34 For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says, “ ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, 35 until I make your enemies your footstool.” ’ 36 Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.”

If you’re a Bible Hoppers/Cross Referencer like I am you might be wondering where else this Psalm is referenced in the Bible:

Acts 2:33-36, Mat 22:43-44, Mark 12:35-36, Luke 20:41-43, Heb 1:13;10:12-13

I’m sure there’s more but this is just the one’s I could think of and find right off.

Verse 4 says

Psalm 110:4 ESV

4 The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”

What does this, or should this, do for our sense of Hope?

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What is a Priest? What’s the job of a priest?

A Priest would go to the Lord on the behalf of His people and offer prayers and sacrifices so that they could be cleansed of their sins. This is exactly what Jesus did, and still does, for us.

If you want a Rabbit hole start looking at the names we use to refer to Jesus, like High Priest for example. Vs 4 talks about being a Priest forever after Melchizedek (Gen 14:17-20, Heb 4:14-16 good place to start for this) but we can’t get into that or I’ll be taking even longer that Jeff does to get through our lesson.

Someone ready Psalm 110:5-7 for me please

Psalm 110:5–7 ESV

5 The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. 6 He will execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses; he will shatter chiefs over the wide earth. 7 He will drink from the brook by the way; therefore he will lift up his head.

Just like we know that Jesus is coming back we know that the day of judgment, or the day of his anger, is coming.

Isaiah 13:5–9, Zeph 2:1-3, Ezek 38:18-20

When it does, the gloves are coming off and it’ll be war like we’ve never seen.

execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses and shattering the leaders of the world? That’s pretty clear.

But then He drinks from the water and is restored and can lift His head in triumph. Being refreshed by water is fairly present theme in the Bible. Even with Gideon God tells him to choose his troops by how then drink water from the spring - Judg 7:1-8, in that passage God also makes a point to tell Gideon to send the unwilling home.

The study guide wraps it up better than I could even think about. It says “The Messiah will not leave any loose ends. Nothing will go undone and no promise will be broken. Just as Jesus accomplished the Father’s plan perfectly on the cross, He will fulfil the Father’s purposes when He comes back to judge the unrighteous.

I told Natalie this week when I was studying for this, How cool would it be to be one of the people on a white horse in the army of heaven, terrifying to think about, but what an honor.

As we go about our days this week be asking yourself, am I living expectantly for His return in my life? Am I living urgently for His return in the lives of others? Am I living a life that shows I’m beat down and tired by the enemies and struggles around me, or am I living as a willing servant in His battles?