The Lord And My Lord

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by Keith Macnaughtan

Psalm 110 has always been considered of particular interest and importance, not only because verses from this psalm are mentioned again and again in the New Testament, but also because very important doctrines are supported from it.

Accepting the translation of the Jewish Publication Society of America, we find that the awful name of Jehovah, the Eternal, represented here by the word 'LORD' spelt in capital letters, occurs three times. In each case, of course, we are directed to the Supreme One. We see Him seated on the throne of the universe, working out His unswerving purposes in the affairs of men and nations.

Men often think they are masters of their own destinies and that their prosperity is accomplished by their own efforts. It is true, too, that the Almighty One seems often to hide Himself from our eyes. "Verily Thou art a God that hidest Thyself . . . " says the prophet (Isaiah 45:15). Evil, and evil men, seem to triumph again and again over the good and godly. Think again, for example, of that most dreadful Holocaust. But although the movements of the Eternal seem to us to be at times, oh, so slow, yet He is still fulfilling His purposes for our world. "The mills of God grind slowly but they grind exceeding small." "How long?" we cry in desperation. But His reply often is, "Yet a little while."

"Until"

So in Pslam 110 the Ineffable One says to one whom David calls "my Lord" , "Sit thou at My right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool." However we may identify that one, the 'until' is the word that first claims our attention. When will God so crush His enemies that they become, as it were, simply His footstool? To us the time seems interminable. But God measures things by an eternal rule, we by only the things of time. Seen in the light of eternity, it is but a little while to endure the trials and difficulties of life, or conversely, to enjoy its triumphs.

But who is the "my Lord" whom the Eternal invites to "sit at My right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool" ? It cannot be David himself. No doubt it is true that the events of which David speaks in many psalms were drawn from his own experiences, but here he refers to another as "my Lord" and records God's assurance that he is to sit at God's right hand until certain things are accomplished. Great man though he was, it cannot be said of king David that he now occupies the place of honour and power at the very right hand of the Majesty on high!

This one is none other than Messiah himself. Truly, as regards his birth, he is David's son. But his office as the Messiah, not to mention other matters, makes him David's Lord -- "my Lord" .

In this psalm we have stated or implied all those things which we relate to the Messiah as they are revealed in Scripture: his birth, his life and death, his ascension and his present session at God's right hand. For Jehovah says, "Sit thou at My right hand . . . "

"Until I Make Thine Enemies"

But that is only for a time, for God goes on to say, "Until I make thine enemies thy footstool." Yes, there is a blessed time coming of which the Scriptures foretell, when all of Messiah's enemies will be subdued before him. We then read of the glorious time yet to be. Indeed, many of the prophets in Tenach speak of the ultimate triumph of Messiah. Is he not the King of whom Isaiah says, "Behold, a king shall reign in righteousness" ? (32:1)

Jeremiah, in the midst of his tears and lamentations, could still declare, "Behold, the days come, saith the LORD, that I will raise unto David a righteous shoot, and he shall reign as king and prosper, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah shall be saved, and Israel shall dwell safely . . . " (32:5,6).

Who is the prince of whom Ezekiel tells us in his description of that temple yet to be in the city of Jerusalem, the name of which is Jehovah Shammah, the Lord is there?

And who is that person whom Daniel saw in his vision come "with the clouds of heaven" ? He was "one like unto a son of man, and he came even to the Ancient of Days and was brought near before him. And there was given him dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations and languages should serve him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed" (7:13,14).

"Until I Make Thine Enemies Thy Footstool"

Who can deny that all these references – and many, many more from Tenach that could be added -- are to Israel's Messiah and that he, therefore, is that one to whom the Almighty said, "Sit thou at My right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool" ? And again, "Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies." Truly, all things are in the hands of the Most High, yet it is "the Lord at Thy right hand" who "doth crush kings in the day of his wrath." For he is the one who will "judge among the nations" and who, in the day of which we speak, "filleth it with dead bodies, he crusheth the head over a wide land . . . "

We may read in the New Testament in the book Revelation to see revealed the perfect harmony between Old and New Testaments, between Tenach and that which follows it in the Bible. We see Messiah coming, clothed with the glories of heaven, to the battle of Armageddon. His foes are destroyed before him and he rules as King of kings and Lord of lords, Jehovah's promise to His Messiah at last fulfilled: his enemies are made the footstool for his feet.

"And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew but he himself . . . and his name is called The Word of God.

"And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron . . . and he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS: (19:11-16ff).

So in the meantime let us avail ourselves with sincere hearts of the grace of our God. Let us seek and find peace with Him through His Messiah, Yeshua Hammashiach.

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