These early days of the Christmas season tend to be very focused on the external things of Christmas - holiday decor, shopping for gifts, making plans for parties and gatherings. We might talk about preparing for a celebration of Jesus' birth, but most of our focus is on those extraneous things and we fit a little bit of Jesus in ... just like we fit a creche or two in among our Santas, snowmen and Christmas trees.
Don't get me wrong - I love all of the craziness of the Christmas season. I love every one of the traditions, both secular and sacred. I spend an enormous amount of time thinking about my friends and family, deciding on the gifts that I want to share with them. Christmas music and lights, parties and gatherings are great fun and I have a blast planning and playing.
Today, I sit in the quiet after a glorious morning of worship with new friends. Thanksgiving is behind me, much of the year is nothing but a memory. The weather is still really nice, but the wind reminds me that winter is coming. A little boy told my sister this morning that he would turn 5 years old when the snow came. I've always associated Christmas and the coming of Jesus with snow, even though I know the truth of his birth in Israel. However, with all that is behind me, much stands before me. The anticipation of the celebration of Christ's birth and the increasing anticipation of His return to earth is something we should be able to make part of our very existence ... our breath and our life.
October 23, 2008 - Psalm 110:1-7
Meet Jesus.
This Psalm has always been considered to be Messianic prophecy. Jesus used it in Matthew 22:41-45 to prove his deity (also Mark 12:35-37).
But, much of this moves beyond the fulfillment of Messianic prophecy to the second coming of the Messiah.
In Acts 2:33-34, we hear Peter as he preaches to the people. The Holy Spirit has just blown into the room and tongues of fire rested on each of them (Acts 2:2-3). Peter reminds his listeners that Jesus has ascended and is sitting at the right hand of the Father. If you look at Revelation 5:7, the Lamb (Jesus) takes the scroll (THE scroll) from the right hand of God.
Psalm 110:2 speaks of the scepter. Revelation 12:5 reminds us that the male child (Jesus) will rule with an iron scepter and in Revelation 19:15 we see this come to fruition as the rider on the white horse (Jesus) prepares for battle.
Psalm 110:3 continues with preparation for battle, the same battle that is found in Revelation 19:14 the armies of heaven are willing troops, dressed in white linen or arrayed in holy majesty.
We have seen words over and over that remind us of God's eternal faithfulness. In Psalm 110:4, we are told again that the Lord will not change His mind. The Levitical priests during the time of David had no hope of succession to the throne. Their position was that of priest ... not King.
Melchizedek came onto the scene rather suddenly in Genesis 14:18. He was the King of Salem and we are told, a priest of the Most High God. Abram gave him a tithe and this is the last we see of him. Paul says in Hebrews 6:20 that Jesus did exactly this, he became a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek. He goes on in Hebrews 7 to discuss this aspect of Jesus' ministry, but in Hebrews 7:24-25, we are told that because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood and can thus save us completely.
Psalm 110:5-6 returns us to the battle scene and this is played out in Revelation 19:19-21. While David may have seen a brook in Psalm 110:7, the Hebrew word is 'nachlah,' which means torrent, river, stream, valley or flood as well. This takes me to the River of Life in Revelation 22:1-3. The River of Living Water flowing down from the throne of God and the Lamb.
The Lord has been lifted it up and now reigns over all. Praise the Lord.
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