Read Psalm 110:1-7 1The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” 2The Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies! 3Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours. 4The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” 5The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. 6He will execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses; he will shatter chiefs over the wide earth. 7He will drink from the brook by the way; therefore, he will lift up his head.
Psalm 110 is the most quoted psalm in the New Testament. There is nothing else quite like it in the psalter. Clearly it is far more than just a royal psalm, a vision of some ideal king. This is a vision of a Messiah that is more than just a man – he is God’s equal. More than just a king – he is a priest-king.
David had no problem identifying a future king as his king. A future son as his Lord – my Lord. King David would never submit himself to an earthly king, an earthly son. He would, however, submit himself to Yahweh’s co-regent, seated at his right hand, wielding his scepter, judging the nations. But this king is not only a powerful king, he is a priest-king. After the order of Melchizedek. A priest of shalom. A bearer and forgiver of sins.
Christian, this same priest-king, the one David worshiped, lives in us. Jesus the Lord of lords. Our calling is to offer ourselves freely to him, dressed in the holy garments of his righteousness. One day Christ will rule over every single one of his enemies, each becoming his footstool. But until that day we are in Christ’s army of love, truth, and gospel declaring grace.
To live is Christ is to live a life of submission, like King David, to our Lord of lords. Our priest-king whose rule and reign will be full of both wrath against sin (king), and grace toward the sinner (priest). This too is our position in Christ as his royal priests in the world today.
Prayer. Jesus, if you were just a king there may be no forgiveness, if you were just a priest there may be no destruction of sin. Be my priest-king today. Work your grace and truth throughout my entire being. Amen.
To Live is Christ 