Priest-King Series

Psalm 110 Priest-King

5/31/15 D. Marion Clark

Introduction

Jesus continues his walk along the Emmaus Road with two of his disciples, interpreting “to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself” (Luke 24:27). He is the Offspring of Eve who bruised the head of Satan; he is the Redeemer who delivers his people from a greater bondage than that of Egypt; he is the goat slain on the Day of Atonement and the sacrificial animal of all the temple sacrifices which atone for the people’s sins. Today we see how he fulfills the image that most captured the Jewish imagination and stirred hope in their hearts.

Text

The LORD says to my Lord:

“Sit at my right hand,

until I make your enemies your footstool.”

2 The LORD sends forth from Zion

your mighty scepter.

Rule in the midst of your enemies!

When we and the Jewish people think of the greatest king of Israel, we naturally think of David, Israel’s second king. David was a man after God’s own heart. Ever since his defeat over Goliath, he became renown as a warrior, and as king of Israel, he delivered his people from the oppression of the Philistines and other neighbors, eventually establishing peace within the nation’s boundaries. It was David who fulfilled the ideal of a godly king ruling over God’s people in justice and leading them to worship and to follow their Lord God.

Of particular significance is the covenant promise made to David by God. David had wanted to build a temple for the ark of the covenant. He inquired about it to Nathan, God’s prophet. Nathan at first okayed the plan, but then received a message from God to deliver to David. The king was not to proceed. That task would be given to his son to act on. But there was another matter in the message which was of vital importance to David and to all of Israel ever since. God said to David through Nathan, “Your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.”

Forever! Forever there will be a son of David sitting on the throne of Israel. Psalm 89 treats this theme:

Once for all I have sworn by my holiness;

I will not lie to David.

His offspring shall endure forever,

his throne as long as the sun before me.

Like the moon it shall be established forever,

a faithful witness in the skies” (Psalm 89:35-37).

That promise certainly would be tested. After David’s successor, Solomon, the kingdom of Israel is divided into the northern kingdom, which retained the name Israel, and the southern kingdom, which took the name of the primary tribe Judah. The northern kingdom rebelled and throughout its history would experience a succession of king after king being overthrown and replaced. In Judah, however, the line of David would continue until the destruction of Jerusalem.

Yes, the line of David continued unbroken on the throne, but it was the throne that failed to continue. Israel broke into two kingdoms, and then both kingdoms eventually fell. As time went on, prophets prophesied of the downfall of these kingdoms. Even so, they also prophesied of the rise of Israel, as her people return from exile and the throne of David is renewed. Indeed, there would come the Son of David who would redeem and rule his people. Here are the samples of the prophesied hope.

Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah. 15 In those days and at that time I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David, and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land (Jeremiah 33:14-15).

My servant David shall be king over them, and they shall all have one shepherd. They shall walk in my rules and be careful to obey my statutes. 25 They shall dwell in the land that I gave to my servant Jacob, where your fathers lived. They and their children and their children’s children shall dwell there forever, and David my servant shall be their prince forever (Ezekiel 37:24-25).

For to us a child is born,

to us a son is given;

and the government shall be upon his shoulder,

and his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

7 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 9:6-7).

Can you catch on to the expectation and hope revolved around the great king who would come from the line of David and prove to be the Offspring of Eve, the Prophet spoken of by Moses, the Redeemer who would champion Israel and establish her as God’s mighty kingdom empire forever?