Read Psalm 110

A View of the Messiah, His Rule, and His People

Writing by inspiration, David prophesied about the coming Messiah in Psalm 110. We know that this Psalm was written by David because Jesus Himself said that it was (Matthew 22:41-45). Peter also, by inspiration, ascribed the Psalm to the pen of David when the apostle quoted from it in Acts 2:34-35. Paul alludes to it in 1 Corinthians 15:25-26 in reference to Christ’s enemies, and the Hebrews writer quoted from the Psalm in making the point that God never said these things to any of the angels but to the Son only (Hebrews 1:13).

Christ is the King; He rules over His kingdom. That kingdom is currently in existence; it is not a future institution, but a present one! Paul says that God has “conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” (Colossians 1:13). The kingdom is none other than the church. Jesus Himself equates the two in Matthew 16:18-19.

Not only is Christ the King, but He is also Priest. Only one other man in history served as both king and priest—Melchizedek. Indeed, David writes, “The Lord has sworn and will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek’” (Psalm 110:4). The Hebrews writer quoted this verse as well in Hebrews 7, pointing to Jesus as One who “has become a surety of a better covenant” (Hebrews 7:22).

In Christ’s kingdom, His followers are “volunteers” (Psalm 110:3). Christians become Christians by choice, and that choice often comes with consequences in this life. Jesus must have the preeminence in one’s heart and mind. “If anyone comes to Me and does not hate his father and mother, wife and children, brothers and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he cannot be My disciples. And whoever does not bear his cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple….So likewise, whoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple” (Luke 14:26-27, 33).

Do you serve Jesus as your King, knowing that He gave His own life as a sacrifice as your High Priest? Are you willingly following as a volunteer? He is the One appointed by the Father to rule.