Our Mighty and Merciful Priest King

Psalm 110

Consider Jesus, the Apostle and High Priest of our confession.

Hebrews 3:1

One of the most beautiful images of Christ in the Scriptures is found in the beginning of Hebrews where it tells us “He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high” (Hebrews 1:3). David longed for and sought to behold the beauty we see here (Psalm 27:4), and it is astounding to think that God became flesh, and we have seen “His glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Psalm 110, a Psalm of David, leads us to look at the Lord, our Savior, as both mighty King and merciful High Priest. “The writers of the New Testament quote Psalm 110 some fourteen times, more than any other psalm in the psalter. For them the words of Psalm 110 were brought to life in the ministry of Christ—the ultimate priest and king over all people” (Nancy declaissé-Walford). There is a great beauty to behold in Christ as our King and our High Priest.

It is hard to put into words the magnificence of our Savior, who willingly and humbly clothed Himself in humanity. He took on flesh for our sake. He became poor that we might become rich. He suffered in order that we may obtain glory. He died so that we could live eternally. He came to serve in order that we could become the children of God, no longer slaves but children and heirs. He humbled Himself, and God exalted Him. Christ is there now at God’s right hand, and we are the beneficiaries.

Peter testifies in Acts that when Christ was exalted to the right hand of God, He received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, which He has poured out on us. Because of His exaltation, we partake in the blessedness of the help and comfort of the Holy Spirit. In Christ, exalted at God’s right hand, we can now know the hope of His calling, the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and we have the surpassing greatness of His power at work in us and for us (Ephesians 1:18-20). Our life is now hidden with Christ in God, and since we have been raised with Him, we can keep seeking the things above, where Christ is (Colossians 3:1-3). And while Christ is ruling and reigning right now at God’s right hand, and His death and resurrection conquered sin and death, we are awaiting a day when all things will finally be subjected to Him and in His final victory He will deliver up the kingdom to the God and Father having abolished all rule and all authority and power (1 Corinthians 15:24-28). And on that day “Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore” (Isaiah 9:7). His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom. He will reign forever and ever. And that kingdom will be one where He Himself dwells eternally with His people, where there is no need for the sun or moon as He will be all the light we will need. All things will be made new and we shall behold His beauty and glory face to face.

Not only do we receive boundless riches through His kingship, we receive great mercies and blessings in Christ as our High Priest. Our Savior was made like us in all things in order that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest (Hebrews 2:17). He was tempted in what He suffered so that He could come to our aid in our temptations amidst our own sufferings (2:18). Because He faithfully fulfilled all God called Him to and is our great High Priest, we can hold fast to our confidence and the rejoicing of our hope firmly until the end, knowing this hope is both sure and steadfast (6:19). He can sympathize with us in our weaknesses and has entered within the veil on our behalf that we may now draw near to God with confidence, with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, to receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (4:16; 10:19-22). Our holy, innocent, undefiled Jesus holds His priesthood permanently and “is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them” (7:25). We, who have fled to Him for refuge, do not, we must not, grow weary and discouraged in our souls, whether from sin or suffering, but rather let us fix our eyes on Jesus, who endured hostility, endured the cross, but has triumphantly defeated His enemies removing the sting of death and the power of sin. As we pass through this life as sojourners and pilgrims, we look forward to finally arriving at that city prepared for us, whose builder and maker is God, in a kingdom which cannot be shaken.

Let’s pray through Psalm 110, rejoicing in Christ as our King and High Priest.

Our great King

110:1-3 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.” The Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies! Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours.

Lord, I pray:

▫️I rejoice today that because You have been exalted to God’s right hand, the promise of Your Holy Spirit has been given to me. The comfort and guidance of Your Spirit are mine. The Spirit Himself intercedes on my behalf especially in times when I do not even know what to pray. Thank you, Lord, for the great blessing of Your Spirit dwelling within me. Help me to live for You today and not grieve Your Spirit.

▫️What hope is now mine because of You! What riches of the glory of Your inheritance! What surpassing greatness of Your power toward me! These riches of grace You have lavishly given to me and purchased with Your own blood. Help me to understand the width and length and depth and height of Your love as I think on these things today.

▫️Help me today to set my mind on things above where Christ is. Let not the things of this world, its cares, its burdens, its sorrows, its pleasures, distract me from being heavenly minded. My life is hidden with Christ in God. Let my heart and mind abide in Him and live for Him alone.

▫️May my burdens feel lighter, may I be filled with great peace, and may I be filled with joy and gladness as I remind myself throughout today that You are ruling and reigning right now in my situation, and You will return one day soon and establish Your everlasting kingdom where peace and righteousness will be established forever. All my sighing, tears, and crying will be done on that day. All my temptations and sinful inclinations will be done away with. I will see You and will dwell with You.

Our merciful and faithful High Priest

110:4-7 The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. He will execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses; he will shatter chiefs over the wide earth. He will drink from the brook by the way; therefore he will lift up his head.

Lord, I pray:

▫️I am so thankful that in Christ, I can draw near to Your throne with confidence. I do not have to be afraid. I can come boldly and in sincerity, with full assurance of faith. You will help me in my time of need and pour out on me Your grace and mercy.

▫️It is a comfort to know that You sympathize with my weaknesses. You were tempted in every way, yet without sin, and so You can and You will come to my aid when I am tempted and when I am suffering. You suffered hostility, the cross, and death in order that You would be a merciful and faithful High Priest for Your people, for me. Thank you, Lord.

▫️Help me to hold fast to my confession. Our hope is sure and steadfast because You, our faithful God, has promised it to us and provided it for us and You cannot lie and You do not change. Therefore our hope is secure. We have this as an anchor for our soul. When I am feeling weary or discouraged today, help me to turn my eyes on You and remind me of Your truth and help me to live on Your Word.

▫️I will flee to You for refuge today. I will remember that I am a sojourner and pilgrim and that You are preparing a city for Your people. Help me to seek You and draw near to You each moment of this day. Bind my heart to You.

▫️O Lord, thank You. Thank You that You are so merciful, gracious, kind, powerful, and loving. Thank You that You have provided a way for me to be the beneficiary of all Your riches through Christ. I know I am undeserving. But I rely on Your compassion and mercy. Thank You that You are our mighty King and merciful High Priest.

May the Lord do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, for His glory and our good. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Photo credit to aleskrivec.

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