Jesus Is King And Priest Series

Introduction

You may have noticed that this year I have done shorter series of sermons rather than a lengthy exposition of a book of the Bible. Sometimes, I think it is helpful to mix things up more quickly and look briefly at different parts of the Bible.

Today, I would like to begin a five-week series of sermons that I am calling, “Jesus in the Psalms.”

Why look at five different psalms?

First, the book of Psalms was the songbook that Jesus used. There are dozens of different hymnbooks that are currently used today in the English language. On top of that, you have scores of contemporary songs that are sung weekly in congregations all around the world.

But, in Jesus’ day, there was only one songbook. And that songbook was the book of Psalms. There are 150 psalms in the Psalter. Jesus likely knew each psalm by heart, as did most of the people of God. They sang psalms daily and certainly each Sabbath. So, we want to learn the psalms that Jesus knew and sang.

And second, I want to study the psalms because all the psalms in the Psalter in one way or another point to Jesus. The five psalms we will study this month are particularly clear in how they point to the person and/or work of Jesus.

The psalm I want to study today is Psalm 110.

I would like you to take out your Bibles and follow along closely because it will help you to see what is in Psalm 110 for yourself.

Some truths about this psalm that are interesting.

First, and this may surprise some of you, Psalm 110 is the most quoted psalm in the New Testament and verse 1 is the most quoted verse in the New Testament. Commentator James Montgomery Boice notes:

By my count, Psalm 110:1 is quoted directly or alluded to indirectly at least twenty-seven times, the chief passages being Matthew 22:44 (parallels in Mark 12:36; Luke 20:42–43); Acts 2:34–35; 7:56; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Ephesians 1:20; Colossians 3:1; Hebrews 1:3, 13; 12:2; and 1 Peter 3:22. Verse 4 is referred to in Hebrews 5:6; 7:17, 21; 8:1; 10:11–13 and is the dominating idea of those key chapters (James Montgomery Boice, Psalms 107–150: An Expositional Commentary [Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2005], 892).

Second, Psalm 110 was written by David. The superscription is “A Psalm of David.” This is not an addition by a modern Bible editor but was written by King David himself when he composed the psalm.

Third, Psalm 110 is a royal psalm. The 150 psalms are categorized into one of 7 different genres. The categories are lament, royal, wisdom, thanksgiving, hymn, trust, and praise. Psalm 110 was likely a royal coronation psalm. A note in The Reformation Study Bible states:

It is likely that it [Psalm 110] was sung at the time of the coronation of the king. The composition seems to have been written after David defeated Jebus (Jerusalem) and celebrates his victory and enthronement in that city, explaining why he also inherits the royal priesthood of Melchizedek (R. C. Sproul, ed., The Reformation Study Bible: English Standard Version [2015 Edition] [Orlando, FL: Reformation Trust, 2015], 964).

And fourth, Psalm 110 is the greatest messianic psalm in the Psalter. That is one reason why the New Testament writers quoted this psalm so frequently. There are several other messianic psalms in the Psalter, such as Psalms 2, 22, 45, 72, and others, but they contain elements that also refer to an earthly king. Boice notes:

By contrast, Psalm 110 is entirely about a divine king who has been installed at the right hand of God in heaven and who is presently engaged in extending his spiritual rule throughout the whole earth. It tells us that this divine Messiah is also a priest, performing priestly functions, and that additionally he is a judge who at the end of time will execute a final judgment on the nations and rulers of this earth (James Montgomery Boice, Psalms 107–150: An Expositional Commentary [Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2005], 892–893).

Before I complete this introduction, I should mention that I spent one entire semester in graduate school studying only Psalm 110. That is how important is this psalm.

Scripture

Let us read Psalm 110:1-7:

A PSALM OF DAVID.

1 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!

3 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.

4 The LORD has sworn

and will not change his mind,

“You are a priest forever