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Go! And Bow Before The King-Priest - Psalm 110 Series
Contributed by Dean Courtier on Jul 18, 2025 (message contributor)
Summary: Psalm 110 is the most quoted Old Testament passage in the New Testament. This Psalm gives us a glimpse into a divine conversation between God the Father and God the Son—a heavenly coronation where the eternal Son is appointed as both King and Priest.
Go! And Bow Before the King-Priest - Psalm 110
Opening Prayer
Heavenly Father,
We come before You with reverence and awe. Open our hearts to understand the power and majesty of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Let the words of Scripture transform our minds, convict our hearts, and lead us to bow in worship before the risen King. May this message glorify Your name and lead many to salvation through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Reading: Psalm 110 (NLT)
A psalm of David.
1 The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit in the place of honour at my right hand
until I humble your enemies,
making them a footstool under your feet.”
2 The Lord will extend your powerful kingdom from Jerusalem;
you will rule over your enemies.
3 When you go to war,
your people will serve you willingly.
You are arrayed in holy garments,
and your strength will be renewed each day like the morning dew.
4 The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow:
“You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
5 The Lord stands at your right hand to protect you.
He will strike down many kings when his anger erupts.
6 He will punish the nations
and fill their lands with corpses;
he will shatter heads over the whole earth.
7 But he himself will be refreshed from brooks along the way.
He will be victorious.
Introduction: A Psalm Like No Other
Psalm 110 is the most quoted Old Testament passage in the New Testament. This Psalm gives us a glimpse into a divine conversation between God the Father and God the Son—a heavenly coronation where the eternal Son is appointed as both King and Priest.
Jesus isn’t just a teacher. He isn’t just a prophet. He is the enthroned King of kings, the great High Priest, and the eternal Saviour. And Psalm 110 invites us to Go! And bow before this King-Priest.
Point 1: Jesus Is the Exalted King (Psalm 110:1–3)
“The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit in the place of honour at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.’” (v.1)
This verse is a direct prophecy of Christ’s exaltation. David writes this psalm, yet speaks of two Lords:
“The LORD” – YHWH, God the Father.
“My Lord” – Adonai, referring to the Messiah.
Jesus Himself referenced this in Matthew 22:44, challenging the Pharisees on the identity of the Messiah:
“Then why does David, speaking under the inspiration of the Spirit, call the Messiah ‘my Lord’?” (NLT)
This proves Christ’s pre-existence, His divinity, and His authority.
Hebrew Word Study:
Adonai – Master, Sovereign, Lord.
Yashab (??????) – "Sit" as in reigning, not resting. This is a throne, not a bench.
Philippians 2:9–11 (NLT): “Therefore, God elevated him to the place of highest honour and gave him the name above all other names, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow…”
Charles Stanley said: “Jesus doesn’t need to prove who He is—His throne proves it. Our role is to worship, obey, and proclaim Him.”
That’s the truth, beloved! His enemies will be humbled. But we have the joy of willingly serving Him now, not when it’s too late.
Are you living under His lordship? Is Jesus merely an idea to you, or is He your King? Because to follow Jesus is to submit to His rule. He isn’t an add-on to your life. He is your life.
Point 2: Jesus Is the Eternal Priest (Psalm 110:4)
“The Lord has taken an oath and will not break his vow: ‘You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.’”
This is the only time in the Old Testament that someone is declared both king and priest.
Who is Melchizedek?
Melchizedek appears briefly in Genesis 14:18–20 as a priest-king who blesses Abraham. His name means “King of Righteousness”, and he was the King of Salem—which means “peace.”
He had no recorded genealogy, no beginning or end—symbolising an eternal priesthood.
In Hebrews 7:17 (NLT): “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
Greek Word Study:
Archiereus (????e?e??) – High Priest. One who intercedes, atones, and represents.
Jesus is not a Levitical priest. He is a superior priest, eternal, perfect, and sinless.
Tim Keller said: “Jesus is the only priest who can truly bring us to God because He is God.”
What a powerful truth! Only Jesus can reconcile us with the Father, because He offered not a lamb—but Himself.
You don’t need to earn access to God. Through Christ, your great High Priest, you already have it. When guilt or shame whispers you’re not worthy—remember, your Priest has already made you clean.
Point 3: Jesus Is the Victorious Judge (Psalm 110:5–7)
“He will strike down many kings when his anger erupts. He will punish the nations and fill their lands with corpses…” (v.5–6)