Psalm 110

WHO IS JESUS?

Introduction

People around the world discuss and debate the identity of Jesus, and understandably so, for there has never been anyone like him. Some say he was a good teacher, others posit him as a great prophet, and Christians declare him to be the Christ. Yet even those who align themselves with Jesus struggle with a complete understanding of his identity. To determine who Jesus is, we will turn to an Old Testament passage that the early church did as they discussed Jesus’ identity.

is referred to more than any other Psalm in the New Testament. First, Jesus referenced the first verse of this Psalm in three of the Gospels as he confronted the Pharisees about his identity. While the phrasing of the first verse seems initially confusing, Jesus refers to it to establish that he is not only the rightful heir to the throne of David, but that he is the Son of God (c.f., ; ; ). Second, the writer of Hebrews alludes to this Psalm repeatedly, but he begins the letter with a reference to Jesus as being seated at the right hand of the Father, and not even the angels have this position (1:13). The writer was establishing Jesus’ identity as the great Priest and hope for salvation (). The New Testament writers and the early church interpreted this Psalm as a prophecy of Jesus the Messiah, as both King and Priest, and it was fulfilled in Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection.

While the exact context for the use of this Psalm is difficult to place, it was likely used during the coronation ceremonies of Israel’s kings around the time of King David and the monarchy in approximately 1,000 BC, and used until the kingdom split after Solomon’s death. However, it would be difficult to establish an exact context with certainty, but it does not mean that we can’t grasp the significance of the passage.

is easily identified as prophecy Psalm about Jesus, and can best be understood as a conversation between God the Father and God the Son. David is enabled by the Holy Spirit to receive and record the revelation of this conversation, and he records two significant decrees of God the Father. First, Jesus is the eternal King that leads God’s people into a battle to rule the world. Two, Jesus is the eternal Priest-King of God’s people. Let’s peel back the curtains of this revelation and discover who God says Jesus is.

Body

I. JESUS IS THE KING (1-3)

In this first decree, David tells us three things about the King:

A. THE KING’S POSITION (1)

· The first “Lord” of this verse is Yahweh, which is the official Hebrew name for God, and the second “Lord” of this verse is Adonai, which means master. The text is emphasizing that this utterance came to David about the very words of Yahweh to the earthly Master and King.

· Equally important is the content of Yahweh’s words. Yahweh commands the earthly Master and King to sit at his right hand in a position of authority, and Yahweh himself will make the enemies of the King his footstool, which is a place of submission and defeat.

· Yahweh has established Jesus as King over the earth, and there is a purpose behind this position. Yahweh commissions him.

B. THE KING’S COMMISSION (2)

· Yahweh will send the King’s mighty scepter out from Zion (Jerusalem) into the world, which is symbolic of the King’s dominion or rule.

· The King is commissioned to initiate his holy war to exercise his dominion or rule throughout the world.

· It is through the power of Yahweh that King Jesus is commissioned to rule the earth, but he will not do it alone and Yahweh promises him soldiers for the commission.

C. THE KING’S SOLDIERS (3)

· Yahweh tells the King that he will have soldiers to “offer themselves freely on the day of your power.” This is a figure of speech (metonymy), which means that the soldiers will serve for the duration of the holy war.

· The phrase “from the womb of your morning the dew of your youth will be yours” is a Hebrew parallelism, which simply means a use of different words to nuance or restate the same thing.

· The King’s soldiers will be set apart for the battle to exercise the King’s rule or dominion over the earth, and they will persevere to the end.

ILLUSTRATION: When I joined the Army, I freely signed a document and took an oath that I would follow my commissioned leaders with an unwavering allegiance. This was a serious commitment, and I knew there would be no turning back. If I was going to be a soldier, I knew that I would have to persevere no matter the circumstances. This would not be like a hobby, job, sport, or fad, for I could not just turn away when I no longer felt like doing it. If I did, I would no longer be a soldier, and serious consequences would follow.

APPLICATION: In many ways, my induction into the Army is much like you and I being a soldier for King Jesus. He has been commissioned to exercise rule over the earth, and anyone who claims the name of Jesus as their King, are soldiers set apart for the fulfillment of this great commission. I want to ask you a legitimate question: Do you ever view your service to Jesus as a hobby, job, sport, or fad, and just stop doing it when it is not convenient? If so, does that concern you? Jesus is our King, and we are to serve him freely.

II. JESUS IS THE PRIEST-KING (4-7)

In this second decree, David describes a sacred role of the King in Yahweh’s plans. The King will be the divinely appointed Priest, which combines the throne and altar as never before. Jesus is the eternal Priest-King.

A. THE PRIEST-KING IS ETERNAL (4)

· Yahweh makes a divine promise that the King will be his eternal priest, which means that he will mediate between the people and Yahweh.

· However, the King will not be like the priests of the line of Aaron and Levi. He will be a special Priest, following the order of Melchizedek.

· Melchizedek first shows up for a brief moment in Genesis as a king-priest of ancient Jerusalem, is mentioned here in this verse, and is discussed extensively in the book of Hebrews. The writer of Hebrews uses the connection between Jesus and Melchizedek to establish Jesus as the mediator of our salvation ().

· The Christian hope is in the person and saving work of Jesus Christ ().

· Not only is the Priest-King eternal, but also powerful.

B. THE PRIEST-KING IS POWERFUL (5-7)

Yahweh is at Jesus’ side, and therefore, he has supreme power. Look at the results of His empowerment:

1. HE WILL BE A CONQUERER (5)

Jesus will shatter the rulers of the world on “the day of his wrath.” This indicates that there is going to be a specific day in which he will accomplish this feat.

2. HE WILL BE THE JUDGE (6)

· Jesus will execute judgment over the nations, and the text tells us what he will do.

· The ESV translates “rosh” (singular) as “chiefs” (plural). I suggest that this should be translated as the chief or head over the nations will be crushed, along with his followers. The “rosh” will have his “rosh” crushed is none other than Satan himself.

· This great judgment is promised in , discussed in , and prophesied of in .

3. HE WILL BE TRIUMPHUNT (7)

· “The brook by the way” was actually an intermittent or seasonal water source for nourishment along the route of travel. I believe that this is significant in that it reveals that Yahweh provides the refreshing strength for victory through Jesus Christ, for he is the living water.

· Jesus will lift his head in triumph over the enemy.

ILLUSTRATION: Earlier I explained that the early church viewed this Psalm as a messianic prophecy of Jesus. In Peter’s first sermon that is recorded in , he quotes the first verse of this Psalm as he shares the gospel with the people. When the people heard this message they were “cut to the heart” and asked Peter what they should do, and Peter told them to “repent” and be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ” for the forgiveness of sin and that they would receive the gift of the Holy Spirit ().

APPLICATION: Have you repented of your sins and trusted the great Priest-King Jesus? I want to invite you to do that right now.

Conclusion

This Psalm depicts Jesus Christ as the great King and Priest, and he is currently working through his people to exercise his rule over the earth. Christians are to be freely serving this cause.

I know that it so easy to get caught up in the routine of daily life and lose focus of our devotion to the cause of our King, but this text shows us the implications of our unwillingness to place the gospel as priority in our lives. First, followers of Christ persevere in the faith by not treating their service to the King as some fad or hobby to be abandoned when bored. Second, people will perish without the saving work of Christ, and how will they know unless they hear?

I want to provide everyone here an opportunity to share the story of Jesus Christ. The person at the back of the room will be issuing gospel tracts as you leave, and I want to challenge each of you to pick up at least one on your way out and share it in a meaningful way this week. I am going to invite one of you to give a testimony next week on your mission to share the story this coming week.