"The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool” (Ps. 110:1).
In Psalm 110, David sets forth the perpetuity of Christ’s reign and the eternality of His priesthood. First, he affirms that God conferred upon Christ supreme dominion, combined with invincible power, with which He either conquers all His enemies or compels them to submit to Him. Second, he adds that God will extend the boundaries of this kingdom far and wide. Third, he shows that Christ, having been installed into the priestly office with all the solemnity of an oath, sustains the priestly honors with those of His regal office. Finally, David reveals that this office will be a new everlasting order of priesthood, whose introduction will put an end to the Levitical priesthood. Today we will examine the first two points dealing with Christ’s kingdom; and we will look at the last two points dealing with Christ’s priesthood tomorrow.
This psalm is prophetic, anticipating the kingdom of Christ, of which David’s throne was only a foreshadowing type. Christ made this clear when He explained the meaning of this psalm to the Pharisees. David said, “The LORD says to my Lord,” showing that he was not speaking of himself but of someone else—the coming Messiah. Like David, Christ was raised to His kingly office by the direct authority of God. He did not attain that position by human posturing or appointment, but only by the approval of God. While other earthly kings may acknowledge that it is by the grace of God they reign, they do not consider that they are sustained by I His power. David’s throne, however, was fulfilled in Christ, and fully established by the power of God. Because Christ’s kingdom is sustained by God, it can never be overcome.
As the exalted King, Christ expands His kingdom beyond the borders of Israel. “The LORD shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion” (v. 2). This points to the ingrafting of the Gentiles, through which the kingdom of heaven will abound in glory throughout the earth. In His death, Christ ripped the veil and broke down the wall of His earthly kingdom, sending the Gospel to the ends of the earth, where all His people are gathered together into the body of the church, and Christ’s power is put forth to uphold and defend us.
Most of us have difficulty comprehending what it means to be the subject of a sovereign ruler. This psalm says God’s subjects will be volunteers in the day of Christ’s power (v. 3). How voluntary is your devotional service to the King of kings? Assess your willingness to serve where and when the King calls.
