If He Wins I Win!

Psalm 110

1 The Lord said to my Lord,
“Sit in the place of honor 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.

For many years the start of verse 1 confused me. Was this saying that the Lord was talking to Himself? I didn't understand it. Then I looked at it in Hebrew and it became more clear. The Hebrew renders it this way,

יְהוָה - Hebrew written
ieue - Hebrew spelled
Yahweh - Hebrew in English
לַאדֹנִי - Hebrew written
l·adn·i - Hebrew spelled
to·lord-of·me - Hebrew in English

So what the Hebrew reads is Yahweh to Adonai. Yahweh is defined as follows:

Jehovah = "the existing One"
the proper name of the one true God

Adonai is defined as follows:

Lord, master, king, Lord of lords

This brings it into a more clear context. What David is saying here is that God, the Father, said to Jesus, David's Lord and master, to "Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet."

Verses 2 and 3 go on to talk about what God is going to do for Jesus by extending His kingdom from Jerusalem and that Jesus will rule over His enemies. When He needs to go to war He will have followers ready to serve Him.

Verse 4 confirms Jesus priestly ministry by showing that He is a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek. Praise God! Melchizedek received tithes and conferred blessings. That is what Jesus does today through His chosen pastors. Not all pastors fit this role. Only those who hold true to the teachings of Jesus and the Word as the final authority are able to fit that role for Jesus.

Verses 5 through 7 are a victorious battle cry for Jesus. He knows that God the Father has His back and that no enemy can stand in the presence of Him. He will confer judgment upon those who rebel and will bring the just punishment to the nations for their disobedience to His Word. Verse 7 lets us know that when all is said and done, Jesus wins! If Jesus wins then that means I win. Praise God!

Numbers 6:24-26 (AMP)

The Lord bless you and watch, guard, and keep you; The Lord make His face to shine upon and enlighten you and be gracious (kind, merciful, and giving favor) to you; The Lord lift up His [approving] countenance upon you and give you peace (tranquility of heart and life continually).

Published by Erik L. Vakula
Daily Bread From the Word
Copyright © 2009 Erik Vakula, All Rights Reserved