Jesus Christ, the King/Priest of Psalm 110

Kings and priests have come and gone throughout human history. The promise of Psalm 110 is the coming of an eternal King who would also be a priest, forever. The author of this most important psalm is none other than King David of Israel, who reigned from 1011–971 B.C.

As the Holy Spirit revealed this utterly unique Person in human history to the poet/king, we have the very same Spirit of God to illumine our understanding of this prophetic Word. In short, we are learning Christ, who is the Son of David (Mt 1:1; 12:23; 15:22; 20:30–31; 21:9, 15) — the One who fulfills what was written some 1,000 years before He walked the earth as God incarnate, the God-man (Jn 1:14).

In Psalm 110, Yahweh, the God of Israel, declares what has been eternally decreed. Through His chosen servant (Ps 89:3; Mt 12:18), God will rule and reign over all that is in open rebellion against Him and His anointed (Ps 2). Yahweh addresses both the king and the people. His plan for this installation is unchanging because His purposes are eternal (Eph 3:11).

The enthronement of Jesus Christ occurred after His death, burial, and resurrection. Jesus ascended to heaven for His coronation (Jn 6:62; 20:17; Eph 4:8–10). He sat down at the right hand of the Father (Mk 16:19; Acts 2:33), the right hand of Majesty (Heb 1:3; 8:1). In addition, all authority in heaven and earth were bestowed on Jesus before all time (Mt 28:18; Jude 1:25). Therefore, the God/man glorified in heaven, today, works the will of God in all things, doing His good pleasure so to bring maximum glory to the Triune Godhead (Phil 2:13).

In relationship to the King, two groups are recognized in Psalm 110. One group responds to the King of kings in willing service (110:3). This first group loves Yahweh and His anointed King of glory (Ps 24). These are called, “Your people” (110:3). They are clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ (holy array). They are born again with the dawning light of the world, who is Jesus Christ (Jn 3:1–8; 1 Pet 1:3). The Holy Spirit has shone the light of Christ in our hearts (2 Cor 4:6), for us to know God in Christ, which is eternal life (Jn 17:3).

In Psalm 110, Jesus is also identified as a priest (110:4). The tribe of Judah was not priestly; therefore, we learn of Melchizedek, who preceded David by 1000 years, and Aaron by 550+ years. Aaron, Moses’ brother, was ordained by Yahweh to be the priestly family from the tribe of Levi. The priesthood of Messiah is aligned with Melchizedek, the king of Salem, who served Yahweh as a priest long before Israel was formed as the family/nation of God’s chosen people (Gen 14:18; see Heb 5–7).

The second group of people in view in Psalm 110 are the enemies of God and persecutors of the people of God (Jn 15; Rom 1:18–32). The kings of rebellious nations are all under the influence of Satan, who Jesus referred to as “the ruler of this world” (Jn 12:31; 14:20; 16:11). His dominion is also temporary, despite his global influence in every generation (Acts 26:18; Rev 11:15).

Who can deliver God’s people from the domain of darkness (Col 1:13)? It is the king/priest who is Himself the way of salvation (Jn 14:6). From the throne of God, the Father and the Son have sent the Holy Spirit to gather-in God’s people from every nation tribe and tongue (Jn 14:26; 15:26; Rev 5:9; 7:9). In this current age of world rebellion against Jesus Christ, the people of God proclaim Christ the King (1 Tim 6:15) — Christ, the great high priest of His people, Israel (Heb 4:14–16).

We herald the good news of His righteous reign, coming after His judgment of this world and all who were conceived into it (Ps 51:5; 2 Pet 3:13; Rev 20). On the day of His coming again. He will crush His opponents (Rev 19:11–21). The world rebellion will be put down. All that has been defiled by sin will be burned with fire (2 Pet 3:10–13). Those resurrected from the dead, outside of Christ, will be sentenced to eternal punishment in the fiery hell of the lake of fire (Mt 25:41, 46; Jn 5:28–29; Jude 7; Rev 20:11, 14–15).

Psalm 110 reveals the kingdom authority belonging to the “Lord”, who will make war against those who have raged in their quest for money, power, sex, and the desire to be gods themselves (Gen 3:5). The pride of man will come to an end, along with the vanities that always marked man’s ambitions apart from God (Eccl 1:2; 12:8).

Psalm 110 reveals the only hope for the world, Jesus Christ (Col 1:27; 1 Tim 1:1). God has assured His people that this world system will not continue with its insurrection against Him. Today, God continues to gather His elect, redeemed, regenerate, believing people from the mass of humanity.

God has sent His Son to reconcile those who belong to Him (Jn 3:16; Rom 5:10–11; 2 Cor 5:18–20; 2 Tim 2:19). Jesus will lose none of those whom the Father gave to Him before the foundation of the world (Jn 17:2, 6, 24; 2 Tim 1:9). When the last soul of God’s chosen ones is gathered into Christ’s church, then the end will come (Mt 24:14; Jn 6:39; 10:28–29).

Christian, take comfort from Psalm 110. Our God reigns in the heavens (Ps 115:3; 135:6); and He shall reign upon the new earth, forever and ever (Is 65–66; Rev 11:15; 21–22). Therefore, let us live to serve Him all the days He has appointed for us. For such a time as this, by His mercy and grace, you have been called to be a member of His body of people, His church (Mt 16:18), the Israel of God (Gal 6:16). You are a subject in His kingdom (Rom 14:17), an heir to all the blessings and benefits He has promised to His beloved (Rom 8:17; 2 Cor 1:20; Gal 4:7; Jas 2:5).

The Word of His promise, as it is in Psalm 110, is the surest thing in all the earth, in every epoch. Our Deliverer is coming (Jn 14:2–3; 1 Thess 4:13–5:11). He is the King of glory, who ever lives to make intercession for us to His Father and our Father (Rom 8:34; Heb 7:25).

May God richly bless you with the blessed assurance of the sovereignty of God, on full display in Jesus Christ, the revealed Lord of all (Acts 10:36) and Judge of all in Psalm 110. Hallelujah, the Lord God omnipotent reigns; and He shall reign forever and ever! His name is Jesus Christ.

David Norczyk

Spokane Valley, Washington

October 8, 2024

Psalm 110