Despite the fact that many of you know both answers to this question, I plan to study it once again this afternoon. But this morning, I’d like to follow the trail that the Lord has blazed for us in getting there. First, Jesus went to II Samuel 23, and then He quickly shifted to Psalm 110.
Let’s consider the implications of II Samuel 23:1-3.
“Now these be the last words of David. David the son of Jesse said, and the man who was raised up on high, the anointed of the God of Jacob, and the sweet psalmist of Israel, said, The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me….”
I am aware that hundreds, if not thousands, of heretics have said things similar to what David says. They have had their eyes glaze over, and they’ve rocked back and forth, in some sort of trance. They have written their books, supposedly quoting angels or the Holy Spirit giving special revelation and knowledge to the people smart enough – or dumb enough – to buy those books. Or they have perched on their special thrones and spoken ex-cathedra, declaring that they are uttering the very words of God. Some of those people firmly believe that they are channels, or Bose speakers, through which God is broadcasting new and important information. But many of them are blatant liars, con-men, frauds – creeping into houses with the intention of leading silly men and women, laden with sins and divers lusts, into religious confusion – for their own personal gain. John warned us in his first epistle, chapter four, verse 1 – “Beloved, believe not every spirit (or professed guru), but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.”
This past Monday, a woman, who knows I am a pastor, asked me what I thought about the movie, “Heaven Is For Real.” She looked a little disappointed when I told her that I hadn’t seen the movie. Then she perked up when I said that I had read the book. But she deflated again when I said that the little boy’s account of Heaven and angels was filled with discrepancies when compared to the Bible. I said that my interest was in the Bible, not what 4-year-old boys might say about Heaven or angels. David was telling the truth when he said that the Holy Spirit was giving him new revelation.
We may have problems convincing unbelievers that there is a difference between David and four-year-old Colton Burpo – nevertheless there is no problem for me. And David said, “The Spirit of the Lord spake by me, and his word was in my tongue. The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me….” And God spoke to and through Isaiah, Jeremiah, Paul and a dozen other penmen of the Word of God. Today’s confused semi-religious people who want to know about Heaven, angels and salvation, need to turn to the pages of the Word of God, not to some best selling non-fiction – or fiction.
My first point this morning is that David knew when God was speaking through him. I’m reasonably sure that the King of Israel wrote or dictated personal and governmental letters, but none of those were inspired by God. When the Holy Spirit of God was behind his words or his pen, David was aware of it. He was not in a trance; He had not eaten a bad mushroom; not even too much mushroom pizza. “For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of (men like David or Samuel): but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost” – I Peter 1:21. I doubt that PAUL ever wrote any poetry or spiritual songs, but he did write letters to various Christian churches, and he was aware that he did so by the Holy Spirit. “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: that the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” Acts 1:16 – “Men and brethren, this scripture must needs have been fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost by the mouth of David spake …”
A corollary to my first point is that Christ Jesus, knew that David was speaking under divine inspiration. “David, while in the Spirit, referred to Christ as his Lord, rather than his son.” Jesus “saith unto them, How then doth David in spirit call him Lord, saying, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool? If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was able to answer him a word.” If David was not inspired of God when He wrote the Word of the Lord, and when he said that He was lead of the Holy Spirit, then both he and Christ Jesus cannot be trusted. This is one of those points of doctrine upon which the whole framework of Christianity hangs or falls.
In speaking to the scribes of the Pharisees, Jesus first made passing reference to II Samuel 23:1-3.
And then He moved on to Psalm 110.
“The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool” – is a verbatim quote from the words of David. As I have said, we’ll analyze the implication of Psalm 110 for those Pharisees – and for us – tonight. This morning, let’s just enjoy this Psalm just as the Holy Spirit gave it to David. It is a short but powerful piece of Hebrew poetry. There are some blessing for the saints contained in these words, but they are only given to us indirectly. This is talking primarily about the way in which the Lord Jesus will be glorified over His enemies. And if you remain one of the enemy of God, then you need to pay particular attention to what comes next.
One of our conclusions ought to be that David could not have dreamed it up all by himself. There are some outlandish and wild ideas here which would require a spectacularly sanctified imagination. It reinforces the fact that even though he doesn’t say it the way Isaiah or the Apostle John would say it, David was transported into the Holy of Holies and heard the voice of God saying these things out from the shekinah glory. This is too wild for the human mind to construct. David, while in the Spirit, heard the Lord speak, and this is what He said:
“The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” In Hebrew, Jehovah said to Adoni, “Rest here on my right until I bring things to their proper conclusion.” There is absolutely no doubt about Who was speaking to Whom. Perhaps the intellectual – but spiritually-blinded – Pharisees might deny the obvious. But even the child – who is a child of God – should quickly see who is speaking to whom. Jesus, whom we know to be Christ, said that Jehovah was talking to Christ, the Messiah – Christ Jesus.
One of the observant bystanders of this conversation in Matthew was the Apostle Peter, and at some point the point of that knife sunk into his heart. On that great and famous Day of Pentecost as recorded in Acts 2, Peter was preaching the Messiah. Acts 2:29-36 – “Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” When I preach Christ, I do so quoting the scriptures, and sometimes drawing logical inferences. I do not have the same Holy Spirit inspiration that David had in Psalm 110, nor it is like Peter in Acts 2.
Paul on the other hand was just as inspired and God lead as the other two men. So when he wrote the Book of Hebrews, it, too, comes to us as the word of God. Hebrews 1:1 – “God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high; Being made so much better than the angels…. To which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?” And then just adding a little salt to the stew, there is I Corinthians 15 – “But now is Christ risen from the dead, and become the firstfruits of them that slept. For since by man came death, by man came also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive. But every man in his own order: Christ the firstfruits; afterward they that are Christ’s at his coming. Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.”
David was privileged to hear Jehovah speaking to the Messiah before the Lord’s incarnation. You could say that he heard the Father talking to the Son. Or you might say that the Triune God was speaking to the Second Person of the Trinity in Jesus’ capacity as the Divine Servant of Salvation. And in that conversation we hear that DAVID called Christ Jesus “HIS Adoni” – “HIS Lord.” Christ was David’s Lord, not simply because the Psalmist had submitted and surrendered to Him, but because the Saviour had carried out His commission in saving David, the royal sinner. David was saying, “Jehovah spoke to MY Saviour and said…..”
And what was said? “Son sit down; you’ve carried out your primary purpose, now rest while I bring the rest of Creation into place.” We all know that a footstool is “a small, raised, padded platform for supporting someone’s feet.” As Stephen poetically said, “Heaven is God’s throne, and the earth is His footstool.” But there is also a nastier connotation: Have you ever seen the picture of the hunter on the safari, after he’s shot the monster water buffalo? There he stands leaning on his rifle and with one foot resting on the shoulder of the fallen beast. In times and cultures past, conquering kings and generals would often stand on the heads or necks of their enemies – sometimes they were dead, and sometimes they were still alive. This reference speaks about Jehovah making the enemies of Christ His footstool. There is no doubt in my mind that it is talking about the complete subjugation of the wicked. The Father said, “Son, rest until I’ve have subdued the entire creation under you.” Is Christ going to stand on your neck some day?
Verse 2 – “The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.” The “rod of Christ’s strength” essentially refers to His sceptre – the symbol of His Divine monarchy. The Post-millennialists might delight in this verse, because they interpret Zion to be the Lord’s church. So they concluded that out of the church would come authority over the unbelievers. They think that through evangelism, the world will be subdued to the point that Christ can return. Although I can see some applications, I’ve never understood “Zion” to be the New Testament Church. Zion, to me, is merely the home of the Lord – the place where God hangs His hat, so to speak. For a long time it was Jerusalem, and today there is a sense in which it is what is IN this building. But essentially, it is where the throne of grace is found – “Heaven” if you like.
Some day soon, the Lord will return to His creation and Zion will once again be moved to Jerusalem. And from the City of David, Christ Jesus will rule in the midst of the saints, angels and nations of the earth. Even so come Lord Jesus, rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
Verse 3 – “Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power.” “Thy people” are those whom Christ has received from the Father – the saints. There might be a test in here to determine if we are really among those elect people. Are you willing – right now – for the Lord to return and display His full power over Creation? Are you willing to lay aside your little short-term plans in lieu of the eternal plans of the Lord? “Thy people are willing to see the day of thy power. Thy people will be willing servants unto thee in the day of thy power. Even so come Lord Jesus, rule thou in the mist of thine enemies.”
“In the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.” Here is a simple passing comment from one who truly loved the Lord. IS there more perfect beauty than the beauty of holiness? To some people’s minds there is no better part of the day than the early, early morning. But there are some morning’s which are better than others. And when the dew of perfection lay upon the brow of the Creator on the first day of creation, there was probably not any more “perfect perfection.”
Verse 4 – “The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” How on earth could David have come up with an idea like this? If it hadn’t been given to him from above, I cannot conceive how he could have conceived it. I shouldn’t need to take you to the Book of Hebrews to show you that this speaks of Christ Jesus. According to the will and oath of Jehovah, our Saviour was and is a Melchizedekian priest. He was a priest before the establishment of the only other God-proscribed priesthood. He was a priest of the order of Melchizedek before the creation of the world.
What is so important about that? Only God-ordained priests have any authority to present the blood of the sacrifice to Jehovah. In a sense only priests have permission to come before the Lord, and so only priests have a right to pray. And thus the saints of God are priests before the Lord in a limited sort of way. Since Jesus is our Great High Priest, then we are lesser priests after the order of Melchizedek as well. But … other than the special priesthood that all saints enjoy, there is no God-given authority for any kind of ecclesiastical or organized priesthood today. The priesthoods of Christendom are variations of idolatry. They are condemned in the Word of God rather than promoted or taught.
Melchizedek – the original man of that name – springs at us out of the shadows of great mystery. Abraham was doing his best to serve the Lord, and when he wanted to present a gift to God, he gave it through mysterious Melchizedek – the king and priest of Salem. We don’t know how that man became a priest, except that it was by the will of God. We don’t know who his parents were, if he had any parents at all. If he did have father, it was not through that father that he inherited the priesthood. Furthermore we have no record that he ever passed his priesthood on to anyone else – his children. Some people say that he illustrates – and other people say that he embodies – an eternal priesthood. Some say that Melchizedek was the pre-incarnate Son of God, and I lean in that direction.
That ultimately means that his priesthood was different from that of Levi and Aaron. The Levitical priests were especially ordained by the Lord, to help Israel in its worship. But the sons of Aaron had to offer sacrifices to maintain their own relationship to God. Whether or not the original Melchizedek did, Christ Jesus certainly did not. The only necessary sacrifice that Christ ever made – was for others; He acted as a sinless priest.
Something else about Melchizedek which applies to Christ, was that they were (are) kings – as well as priests. The House of Levi never produced a King and never will. But this eternal Priest of the order of Melchizedek is busy today primarily interceding for His people, while He sits at the Father’s right hand waiting until his enemies are made His footstool. Christ Jesus is a King, and soon His kingdom rule will be absolute.
Verse 5: – “The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.” Which Lord are we talking about? It is the Adoni who sits at Jehovah’s right hand. It will be Christ Jesus who comes in Revelation 19 and strikes through the kings in the of His wrath. “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”
Psalm 1 – “Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”
Verse 6: – “He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.” Not only will He judge the heathen, the Lord will condemn and punish them. Do you know literal meaning of the Hebrew word “wound”? It is “pierce” or “smite through.” This will be no flesh wound. It will be no slap on the wrist when the Lord judges the wicked, despite the imaginations and wishful thinking of so many of our neighbors.
Revelation 19:16-19 – And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together unto the supper of the great God; That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.”
I. Verse 7 – “He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.” This raises an image on which most of us would not like to dwell. Perhaps if we’d stop thinking of the Lord as the Lamb slain from the foundation of the World for a moment. If we remembered that He is the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, this might not be so offensive. It seems to mean that the Lord will drink of the blood-filled brook near the final battle-site.
Isaiah 63:1-6 – “Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment. For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come. And I looked, and there was none to help; and I wondered that there was none to uphold: therefore mine own arm brought salvation unto me; and my fury, it upheld me. And I will tread down the people in mine anger, and make them drunk in my fury, and I will bring down their strength to the earth.”
Psalms 110 is one which the saints need to sing, and which should fill their hearts with joy. Because it is a psalm which reminds us all that the Lord is King. One of these days soon, He will be fully and completely glorified in the midst of His creation. But before that takes place, shouldn’t he be enthroned in our hearts? We need Jesus the Saviour before we need Jesus the conquering Christ. You need to humble yourself before Him. We all need to live in repentance and faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Have you not yet bowed before the Lord Jesus Christ?