Day 314: 'Taking the knee'? - Psalm 110 vs 1

1 The Lord says to my lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’ Psalm 110:1 New International Version

While Christians believe all the words of the Bible are God given, it seems the Holy Spirit has highlighted some of them! One such highlighted part is vs 1 of Psalm 110. It was Jesus Himself who first draws our attention to it when He was confronted by the religious leaders trying to trap Him with trick questions about the Bible. After wisely answering their questions, He put a question to them and says: “What do you think about the Messiah? Whose son is he?’ (Matthew 22:42) The word Messiah meant 'anointed one' and the Jews expected such a person to arrive and bring about an eternal Kingdom that the prophets spoke of.

The leaders thought it was an easy question and immediately replied “The son of David”. But Jesus said to them, “How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord'? For David says, “The Lord said to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet.’” If then David calls him 'Lord', how can he be his son?” (Matthew 22:43-44) Matthew adds that none of them could answer that, and from that day on no one dared ask him any more questions! But what was the answer they were avoiding, and what did Jesus' question imply?

David was obviously speaking about the Messiah. So, if he called the Messiah 'my Lord' – it meant that the Messiah is much greater than David. This greatness becomes even more evident when God says to the Messiah: ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.’ So the Messiah wasn’t just a King upon a throne – He would be at the right hand of God. Did you notice who Jesus said inspired David to write those words? He said David was 'speaking by the Spirit'. And the Holy Spirit highlighted those words again in Hebrews 1 vs 13 and says: “To which of the angels did God ever say, ‘Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet’”? In other words, the Messiah is superior to even God’s angels.

The Holy Spirit highlighted those words yet again when the apostle Peter explained to the people of Jerusalem the meaning of the strange events that took place on their feast day of Pentecost. Tongues of flame had appeared on Jesus' disciples and they were able to speak to people from many nations in their own language. Peter said: “God raised Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of it. And, being exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David didn't ascend to heaven - yet he said, 'The Lord said to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”' Therefore, let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah.” (Acts 2:32-36)

All of this can only mean that the Messiah is none other than the Son of God. The apostle Paul prayed that Christians would know just how wonderful it is to belong to Jesus and to have God's power at work in our lives. He said: “That power is the same as the mighty strength God exerted when He raised Christ from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked - not only in the present age, but also in the one to come. God placed all things under His feet and appointed Him to be head over everything for the church.” Ephesians 1:19-20

At the time of writing this post the news over the past year was often about people 'taking a knee' for their political cause. But the biggest question everyone needs to answer is: “Have you bowed the knee to Jesus Christ the Messiah?” If not, you are one of God's enemies whom He will make a footstool for His Messiah. There's no middle road. God willing, we will look at some more verses from this important Psalm about the Messiah over the next few Sundays.