There are many parts of the Old Testament that are mentioned in the New Testament. An example of that is Habakkuk 2:4, “the just shall live by faith.” It is also mentioned in Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, and Hebrews 10:38. But no other passage of the Old Testament is mentioned or referenced more than Psalm 110. It is mentioned or referenced in Matthew 22:44, 26:64; Mark 13:36, 14:62, 16:19; Luke 20:42, 22: 69; Acts 2:34-35, 5:31, 7:55-56; Romans 8:34; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3, 13, 8:1, 10:12-13, 12:2, and 1 Peter 3:22-24.
Why is this Psalm so important? I mean, Psalm 22 is about the day and the events surrounding the crucifixion; why not quote this one over and over again? Well, this Psalm is about the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus. In it, along with Matthew 22, we are exposed to the Trinity and see YHWH, Adonai, and the Holy Spirit all working together. Jesus tells the Pharisees in Matthew 22:43 that the Spirit allows David to see this conversation in Heaven, 1000 years before Jesus was born. We have the entire Godhead; YHWH speaking to Adonai, and that is being allowed by the Spirit.
We have a world of churches that talk about Jesus, and all they preach is Jesus and His love – He loves everyone; He is love, love, love, and they never talk about the Jesus that is coming. But here in this Psalm, we get to see the entire person of the Jesus that will return shortly.
Let us set the tone; Jesus is told by YHWH (LORD) to sit at His right hand. Here we learn two things: that Jesus is sitting, meaning the job is done, and He is sitting at the seat of power. He is at Yahweh’s right hand. In Acts 7:56, Stephen sees Jesus standing at the Father’s right hand as He welcomed Stephen home. Jesus was in the seat of Power before He was born, and He returned to the seat of Power when He went back home to Heaven.
In verse 2, we see that he will reign in Zion, and He will reign in power and strength. By the way, Zion is Israel.
Verses 3-4: not only is He going to rule and be the King there, but He will also be the Priest after the order of Melchizedek. We first meet this Melchizedek in Genesis 14 when Abram is returning from rescuing Lot. He is met by the High Priest of Salem, who is also called the Prince of Salem. Salem will later be conquered by the Jebusites and be called Jebu-Salem, which is later conquered by David and comes to be called Jerusalem. Here is where Melchizedek lives, reigns as a King (called a Prince) in those days, and also is the High Priest. We are told in Hebrews 7:1-10 that this Melchizedek, whom Abraham met (verse 4), has no father and no mother, no genealogy. He has neither beginning of days nor end of life and is made like the Son of God. Jesus is this Priest forever, and He is also the King (Prince of Salem), which translates to Prince of Peace. This is Jesus!!!
Verses 5-7: What will Jesus, the High Priest and King, do when He comes? He will judge the nations (verse 6); also see the last part of Matthew 25: the judgment of the sheep and the goats. Then He will fill the place with dead bodies, and in Ezekiel 39:11-16, we see that when the Messiah returns, He will kill so many people that they will take 7 months to bury all the bodies, and they will use the armaments of war to burn fires for 7 years without cutting down any trees. And back in Psalm 110:6, Jesus will EXECUTE the heads of many nations.
Wow, justice will be done! Too many of us forget that Jesus is the God of wrath as well. When He comes the next time, there will be no humility, no meekness, and no loneliness. HE will come, and the skies will be filled; billions will die for their rebellion against the Most High God, and He will bring justice to the widows, the orphans, and the mistreated. He will kill the people who think their power and/or money camouflages them. They are wrong; Jesus sees it all, and it is all recorded. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!
But in all this, God is still not willing that any should perish. His patience is longsuffering, and His grace is extended to all who will call on the name of the Lord Jesus, who will humble themselves and beg for God’s mercy on us rotten sinners. He will hear and save.
Dr. Sean Gooding
Pastor of Bethany Baptist Church
70 Victoria Street, Elora, Ontario