Jesus is The Messiah

Psalms 110:1–7
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)

This psalm is clearly messianic and is quoted or referred to in the New Testament more than any other psalm. It is the only messianic psalm with no reference to David or another. Even the Lord quoted this psalm to silence His critics. He explained that this psalm spoke of the Messiah as greater than David, Israel’s greatest king (Mark 12:35-37). Peter used this psalm to show that Jesus sits at God’s right hand and is Lord over all (Acts 2: 32-35). We find David laying aside his royal robes and putting on a priestly garment. The content of this psalm presents three pictures of the Messiah: (1) His exaltation as King (vv. 1-3), (2) His consecration as Priest (v. 4) and (3) His vindication as a victorious Warrior in the future with victory over the enemies of God (vv. 5-7). A day of accountability has been appointed, and on that day the Lord will “judge the nations,” causing a great defeat for his enemies, symbolized by their “corpses” and heads.”  

As we study the Old Testament, we see that Aaron and his sons had a restricted monopoly on the priesthood. The only way you could become a priest was to be born a priest. No amount of wishing, wealth, wisdom, or work would make a man a priest unless he was born into the family of Aaron.  Then ordinary priests could not go in at all to the holy of holies. It was only the high priest who could do this and then only once each year. 

You can imagine what a shock and surprise it must have been to David when the Holy Spirit caused him to pen these words, “Thou art a priest after the order of Melchizedek and thou art a priest forever” (v. 4). What did David of the tribe of Judah have to do with Priesthood? For the first time the Priesthood was invested in a different tribe and in another family. This statement abolished the entire fabric and function of the priestly order of Aaron. Melchizedek was a king of Jerusalem, a mysterious figure, mentioned only once before David mentions him in this psalm (Gen. 14:18).

Application

This looks forward to Christ’s final and total destruction of the wicked (vv. 1,6) (Rev. 6-9). I look forward to the Lord’s return when He will take me to be with Him and He will rule and reign.