Saturday, June 22, 2013

Overheard


The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool." 
 --Psalm 110:1  (NKJV)

From the daily Bible reading on June 22, 2013 of Psalm 110; Galatians 3:15-29; 2 Kings 6:24-8.

In one of his most prophetic moments, David paints a beautiful picture of the coming Messiah in the words of the 110th Psalm.  Though short in length, it is long in vision.  In these seven verses he gives the Messiah attributes of a King (verses 1-3), of a Priest (verse 4), and of a great Warrior (verses 5-7).  Concerning the Lord as Priest, David makes a comparison to Melchizedek, who was both king of Salem (later Jerusalem) and a priest of God Most High, and who brought bread and wine to Abraham (then Abram) after a battle (please reference Genesis 14:14-20).  So the comparison to the Priest provides a nice transition between his descriptions of the King and the Warrior.

Today's focus verse clearly indicates to this correspondent that David is talking about the Christ.  In it he appears to overhear the Lord God the Father speaking to the Lord Christ.  David refers to the latter as "my Lord" - his Lord, his Christ.  In this conversation between God and Christ that continues throughout the psalm, the Messiah is instructed to sit at God's right hand, the honored place given to Jesus His resurrection and ascension.  Almost every phrase in this song points to Jesus as described in His Gospel and especially in His Revelation to the Apostle John as well as other apocalyptic scripture.  When Jesus returns, He will take His rightful place as King over all the new creation.  He will be the conquering Warrior, victorious in war, His enemies made into a footstool.  The world will be His Temple and He will be our Priest.  And He will judge all the nations, all the people.  In a few brief words, David manages to accurately describe the vision Jesus gave to John around 1000 years later (from the 10th century BC to the 1st century AD), of Jesus' second coming and His victory at the battle of Armageddon.

The word of God included in our Holy Bible often corroborates itself, especially regarding promises and covenants made and kept.  Christians base their faith on their belief in the resurrection of Jesus and the promise of their own resurrection.  This is linked to Christ's return at the end of days and His victory over evil just as He defeated death.  Our faith is securely grounded in the scriptures provided by David, Daniel, Ezekiel, Jeremiah, Isaiah, and John, as well as from Jesus Himself as recorded by the Gospel writers.  Thanks to God, we don't just have one record, but many views of the future that is to come, and of our life with God and Jesus in Paradise.  Amen.

Gracious God, thank You for giving us Your holy word in such abundance that we can take assurance in knowing what You promise You will make happen.  You are ever faithful, and Your servants have truly recorded what will come to pass, all for our benefit.  Forgive us when we doubt You, or try to rush Your hand when we become impatient.  Give us the strength, please Father, to endure until Your Son comes to take us home.  Come, Lord Jesus, come.  Holy holy holy is the name of Jesus in which we pray.  Amen.

No comments: