There are savages among us… Without the law there is no freedom, there is no safety.”
–Louis L’Amour (Borden Chantry)
“And having been set free from sin, you became slaves of righteousness.”
–Romans 6:18 (NKJV)
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There is a “divine plan that supersedes all human plans” (George W. Bush). God is in charge–period! President Bush continued to say, “We can be confident in the way of Providence…. Behind all of life and all of history, there is a dedication and purpose set out by the hand of a just and faithful God.” Psalm 110 is an expression of King David regarding God’s authority and sovereignty.
1 — The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”
2 — The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies!
3 — Your people shall be volunteers in the day of Your power; in the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth.
4 — The LORD has sworn and will not relent, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
5 — The Lord is at Your right hand; He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath.
6 — He shall judge among the nations, He shall fill the places with dead bodies, He shall execute the heads of many countries.
7 — He shall drink of the book by the wayside; therefore He shall lift up the head. (NKJV)
This psalm portrays God as King over all the earth, a God who is executing His plans for human history and beyond.
Read carefully for there could be confusion at the beginning of the psalm as to who is speaking. It is a brief conversation between members of the Godhead. Let me give this to you from Steven Lawson, “The LORD, God the father, says to my Lord, God the Son, something remarkable. Jesus Christ, David’s Lord is appointed to sit at God’s right hand, the place of highest authority, privilege, and honor.” I trust that better sets the scene. If you recall, Jesus used this to question the scholars that questioned Him. He asked (Matthew 22:44-45; Mark 12:36-37; Luke 20:42-44) why does David, who was king call the Messiah “Lord”? David, in his theology, recognized the Lordship of His descendant.
The enemies of the Lord shall be His footstool. In ancient times, kings would often have the enemies they conquered lie before them and they would place their feet upon them showing that they were defeated. Here we see that Christ’s enemies will become His footstool. There will be no one to oppose His rule. In this we see a future prophecy of the Millennial king.
But then, that many of mystery from the time of Abraham is mentioned–Melchizedek. There are three verses about him in Genesis 14. Abraham recognized him after returning from victory and battle. Melchizedek is there to greet him with food and a blessing in the name of God. Abraham proceeds to give him an offering. He does not appear again until the writer of Hebrews speaks of him (Hebrews 5-7) who says he is a king and priest and says that Jesus is like Melchizedek. Remember, Jesus wasn’t from the tribe of Levi, so according to the Law He could not be a priest. Ah, but get this, neither was Melchizedek. Jesus is like Melchizedek. “Besides being our sacrifice, our Savior, and our Intercessor, He is the one who comes to us when we are completely worn out from our daily battles and gives the refreshment that we need.” (William Petersen)
Verses 5-7 speak prophetically of the return of Christ. David sees a future time when the Messiah will return and defeat His enemies. We see Him now making intercession for the saints, but one day He will return in His glory as King. He will then execute all those “kings” who oppose Him. In Matthew 25:31-46, we see Him judging the nations–separating the sheep from the goats. There will be none left to oppose Him. Now is the time to bow before Him, not in the day of His wrath. It was said that Queen Victoria said she wished that the Lord would come in her lifetime. “I would love to lay my crown as His blessed feet in reverent adoration.”
“Look, ye saints, the sight is glorious:
See the Man of Sorrows now;
From the fight return victorious,
Every knee to him shall bow:
Crown him! Crown him! Crowns become the Victor’s brow.”
–Thomas Kelly
————————————-
There is a “divine plan that supersedes all human plans” (George W. Bush). God is in charge–period! President Bush continued to say, “We can be confident in the way of Providence…. Behind all of life and all of history, there is a dedication and purpose set out by the hand of a just and faithful God.” Psalm 110 is an expression of King David regarding God’s authority and sovereignty.
1 — The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.”
2 — The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies!
3 — Your people shall be volunteers in the day of Your power; in the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth.
4 — The LORD has sworn and will not relent, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.”
5 — The Lord is at Your right hand; He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath.
6 — He shall judge among the nations, He shall fill the places with dead bodies, He shall execute the heads of many countries.
7 — He shall drink of the book by the wayside; therefore He shall lift up the head. (NKJV)
This psalm portrays God as King over all the earth, a God who is executing His plans for human history and beyond.
Read carefully for there could be confusion at the beginning of the psalm as to who is speaking. It is a brief conversation between members of the Godhead. Let me give this to you from Steven Lawson, “The LORD, God the father, says to my Lord, God the Son, something remarkable. Jesus Christ, David’s Lord is appointed to sit at God’s right hand, the place of highest authority, privilege, and honor.” I trust that better sets the scene. If you recall, Jesus used this to question the scholars that questioned Him. He asked (Matthew 22:44-45; Mark 12:36-37; Luke 20:42-44) why does David, who was king call the Messiah “Lord”? David, in his theology, recognized the Lordship of His descendant.
The enemies of the Lord shall be His footstool. In ancient times, kings would often have the enemies they conquered lie before them and they would place their feet upon them showing that they were defeated. Here we see that Christ’s enemies will become His footstool. There will be no one to oppose His rule. In this we see a future prophecy of the Millennial king.
But then, that many of mystery from the time of Abraham is mentioned–Melchizedek. There are three verses about him in Genesis 14. Abraham recognized him after returning from victory and battle. Melchizedek is there to greet him with food and a blessing in the name of God. Abraham proceeds to give him an offering. He does not appear again until the writer of Hebrews speaks of him (Hebrews 5-7) who says he is a king and priest and says that Jesus is like Melchizedek. Remember, Jesus wasn’t from the tribe of Levi, so according to the Law He could not be a priest. Ah, but get this, neither was Melchizedek. Jesus is like Melchizedek. “Besides being our sacrifice, our Savior, and our Intercessor, He is the one who comes to us when we are completely worn out from our daily battles and gives the refreshment that we need.” (William Petersen)
Verses 5-7 speak prophetically of the return of Christ. David sees a future time when the Messiah will return and defeat His enemies. We see Him now making intercession for the saints, but one day He will return in His glory as King. He will then execute all those “kings” who oppose Him. In Matthew 25:31-46, we see Him judging the nations–separating the sheep from the goats. There will be none left to oppose Him. Now is the time to bow before Him, not in the day of His wrath. It was said that Queen Victoria said she wished that the Lord would come in her lifetime. “I would love to lay my crown as His blessed feet in reverent adoration.”
“Look, ye saints, the sight is glorious:
See the Man of Sorrows now;
From the fight return victorious,
Every knee to him shall bow:
Crown him! Crown him! Crowns become the Victor’s brow.”
–Thomas Kelly