“The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’” Psalm 110:1
Until. That is such a helpful word in this psalm.
Patience. Faith. Perseverance. Confidence. Until. Even when you fail, or you are failed by others or by your circumstances.
This psalm is a messianic hymn—it points by faith to redemption from brokenness. God’s covenant with his people will require a savior. Our Savior will come into a world of brokenness, and he will have to patiently endure and wait until his enemies are made a footstool.
Until. Let that word inspire you.
Two truths are evident: he will face enemies, but those enemies will be made a footstool—defeated.
“The Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies!” Psalm 110:2
The Lord rules in the midst of enemies. Embrace this truth. This is the essence of walking by faith. When the context is marked by enemies in your midst, the fact remains that he is the ruler. Maltie D. Babcock wrote in the hymn, “This is My Father’s World,” “Oh, let me ne’er forget, that though the wrong seems oft so strong, God is the ruler yet.”
So, we wait in patience. Until.
“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.” Psalm 110:3
This history-altering Messiah will inspire allegiance. His people, driven by the gift of faith, will embrace his kingdom. Believers, ridiculed by the world, will unwaveringly offer themselves as bondservants to this enduring, immutable king.
By faith. Until.
“The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, ‘You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.’” Psalm 110:4
Even in the midst of enemies, the Messiah is our priest. Forever. Immutable. Unchanging. The Father has sworn, and we simply trust. Faith. Trust. Belief. The priesthood of the Messiah, like that of Melchizedek, is unassailable. His priesthood is enduring—in spite of what circumstances may seem to say—and his priesthood will endure.
Until.
“The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. He will execute judgment among the nations…” Psalm 110:5-6
The Messiah—yet to be born at the writing of this psalm—is at the right hand of the Father. His rule is secure. Forget momentary circumstances. Enemies. Brokenness. Death. Nations.
He will overwhelm every king and execute judgment in every nation. His rule is secure. Any nation or people who oppose him will be overwhelmed. They will lose their lives and their souls. This priest, this ruler, will overwhelm every would-be ruler over the whole earth.
Until.
Sit with this priest in the midst of your circumstances. His enemies—your enemies—will be made a footstool. He will rule, and you will be secure. The Lord has sworn it. Offer yourself freely to this priest. He will drink of the cup before him now; and after he bows his head, he will lift it up again. Sit. Wait. Endure.
Until.
He will prevail, and we will enjoy his victory with him, our priest.
“He will drink from the brook by the way; therefore he will lift up his head.” Psalm 110:7
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I like the way you emphasize the word, “until” in this blog. Such a powerful thought! It reminds me of this song written by Stuart Hamblen…
My heart can sing when I pause to remember
A heartache here is but a stepping stone
Along a trail that’s winding always upwards
This troubled world is not my final home
But until then, my heart shall go on singing
But until then, with joy, I’ll carry on
Until my eyes behold the city
Until that day God calls me home
The word “until” just came to me as a theme in that psalm as I journaled. I love the song lyrics you shared. It captures the essence of what this psalm communicates, too. Thanks, Greg!