Friday, August 3, 2012

The King is a Priest and a Conqueror (Psalm 110:4-7)


SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 8/3/2012 7:39:57 AM



My Worship Time                                                                     Focus:  Psalm 110 PT-2



Bible Reading & Meditation                                                      Reference:  Psalm 110:4-7



            Message of the verses:  In yesterdays Spiritual Diary we looked at several introductions to Psalm 110 and then the first three verses.  We learned that Psalm 110 is a Messianic psalm that speaks of Jesus Christ as both King and High Priest and that it is quoted many times in the NT including in Matthew and also in the book of Hebrews.



            Consecration:  The King Is a Priest (v.4):  “4 The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind, ‘You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.’”



            This is the theme verse from this psalm as it speaks of Jesus Christ being a priest after the order of Melchizedek.  We know that in the OT the High Priests came from the tribe of Levi and the family of Aaron, and that they did not live forever so after they died their oldest son would take over for them as high priest.  Jesus on the other hand does not do His High Priestly duties on earth, for that was not allowed according to the Law since He was from the tribe of Judah.  Jesus does His High Priestly work from heaven but His duties are described in Romans 8:34 “who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us.  Jesus Christ intercedes for us as He sits at the right hand of God the Father.  We learn that Satan is the accuser of the brethren and that Satan also has access to heaven and so it is Satan who accuses the brethren to God and it is Jesus Christ who intercedes for the brethren and He has never lost a case yet, nor will he ever. 

            The throne of Jesus Christ is a throne of grace where we as believers can go to find help, and because we are a needy people we are always looking for the help that comes from the Lord:  “14  Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15  For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16  Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”



            Vindication:  The King-Priest Is a Conqueror (vv. 5-7):  “5 ¶  The Lord is at Your right hand; He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath. 6  He will judge among the nations, He will fill them with corpses, He will shatter the chief men over a broad country. 7  He will drink from the brook by the wayside; Therefore He will lift up His head.”



            Dr. Wiersbe states that Psalm 110 is a “royal psalm,” and in all of the royal psalms we will find predictions about battles and victories for God’s King.  In the age that we live in today Jesus Christ is calling sinners to be reconciled to God, (2Cor. 5:18-21), but in the future there will come a day of wrath, and in that day the Lamb of God will be the Lion of Judah as seen in Revelations 5:5-6.  We see this prediction in this psalm, in the verses above.  We read in earlier verses from this psalm that God would make the enemies of His Messiah a footstool for Him, and now we see more of that in verses 5-7.  Take time to read Revelations chapters 6-19 for in that section you will find what is going to happen during what the Bible describes as the “tribulation period” and it is in that seven year period of time that God will poor out His wrath on an unbelieving world.  There will be many people come to know Christ as Savior and Lord during that period of time, but life will be the most difficult during that time, more difficult than any other time of recorded history.

            Dr. Wiersbe write this interesting point about verse six:  “The word in verse 6 translated ‘heads’ or ‘chief men, rulers’ (NASB, NIV) is singular in the Hebrew.  It could be a collective noun or it may refer to the last great world ruler, the Antichrist or Beast (Rev. 13:1-10) whom Jesus Christ will destroy at His coming (2Thes. 2:1-2; Rev. 19:17-21)”

            He goes on to say the following about the difficult 7th verse:  “the image in verse 7 is difficult to decipher.  The NIV margin reads, ‘The One who grants succession will set him in authority,’ meaning that Christ will win the victory and receive the promised throne.  But it is necessary to alter the Hebrew text to get this meaning.  The picture is obviously not to be taken literally, for a King riding out of heaven on a horse doesn’t need a drink of water to keep going.  The warrior David, who knew something about battles, is saying, ‘Nothing will detain Him, detour Him, or discourage Him as He attacks the enemy. Like every good soldier He will linger only long enough to get a sip of water, and then He will raise His head and continue to chase.’ We remember that before His crucifixion, Jesus refused to receive the narcotic drink but tasted death to the full on the cross (Matt. 27:34).  Gideon and his men also come to mind (Jud. 7:4-7), for their fitness for battle was tested by the way they drank at the river.

            “Jesus Christ is exalted and enthroned in heaven!  One day He will come and conquer the devil and his armies and establish His kingdom on earth!  Hallelujah, what a Savior!”



            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Life on this earth can be very hard at times, and because of psalms like this I can the wonderful hope that one day Jesus will return to receive His Church and then will shortly after that event will conquer the devil and then the earth will be remade and we will see our King setting on David’s throne in Jerusalem ruling for 1000 years of wonderful peace on earth.



My Steps of Faith for Today:  Today I have something to do that I really want to do, yet it will be very difficult for me to do, and as the verses in Hebrews chapter 4:14-16 state that when I come to the throne of grace where Jesus sits I will find mercy and grace in my time of need.  I am so thankful for that wonderful promise.



Memory verses for the week:  2Peter 2:1-8



1.       Simon Peter, a bond-servant and apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our

God and Savior Jesus Christ:  2. Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3. seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own grace and excellence.  4.  For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, so that by them you may become partakers of the divine grace, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.

            5.  Now for this reason, also, applying all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral excellence knowledge, 6 and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, 7 and in your godliness brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love.  8 For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render your neither useless nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.  8/3/2012 8:49:30 AM   

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