Our psalm for this week, one composed by David, is the most quoted psalm in all of the New Testament. It is a psalm that Jesus used to confound the Pharisees when they kept trying to catch Him in His Words. Peter used it when preaching his first sermon on the day of Pentecost. And the author of the Book of Hebrews also quoted and made references to this psalm. Let’s take a look at it.
David is the author of our psalm, which is one of several Messianic psalms, speaking about and prophesying about Jesus. As David composed the first verse, we see the word “lord” twice, yet they have different applications. The first word LORD is in all capital letters. When we read the Bible and see the word LORD in all capitals it is because the writer is referring to Yahweh, the personal Name of God. The writers thought the Name was too sacred to write down, so they used LORD. The second word “lord” in this verse only has the first letter “L” capitalized. That is indicating that it is the Hebrew word “Adonai”, which means “master”, similar to feudal times when people had lords over them which they did service and homage to.
As David wrote, the LORD (Yahweh) was speaking to David’s Lord, someone who was master and lord over David (vs. 1). Yet he was the king of Israel. How could there be anyone over him? The Messiah was often termed “Son of David”, as He was a descendent of David’s. Yet here the Son of David and Messiah was referred to as the Lord and Master over David. David was subservient to Him, and this showed that the Messiah was Divine. No one, not even a king as great as David was, is above the Messiah. Jesus quoted this verse to demonstrate that He, the Messiah, was both the Son of David and David’s Lord, and thus Divine (Matthew 22:41-46).
As the psalm continues, we read that the Messiah would be a priest after the order of Melchizedek (vs. 4). Melchizedek’s name means “king of righteousness”, and he was mentioned very briefly in Genesis 14:18-20. There he was described as both a king of Salem (believed to be ancient Jerusalem), and also priest of the Most High God. The name Salem also means peace, so Melchizedek could be said to be a king of peace. As such, he meets Abraham as the patriarch returned from a battle, and the king and priest blessed him. The Messiah would also be both a king and priest. No mention is ever made about Melchizedek’s background or genealogy, no recorded beginning or end, thus resembling the eternal Son of God, and an archetype of the Savior.
Melchizedek was superior to Abraham. He blessed Abraham, not the other way around, as the greater blesses the lesser. Abraham also paid him tithes. Jesus, the Messiah, is called in our psalm a priest in the order of Melchizedek, and thus superior to all priests who came before. Melchizedek was a priest long before Aaron and his descendants from the tribe of Levi, which were given the role of priest in Israel. Jesus, in His human incarnation, was born from the tribe of Judah, not from the tribe of Levi. However, He is our perfect, eternal High Priest, according to the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 5:5-7; 7:11-28). In ancient Israel no one held the office of both king and priest simultaneously. However, that title would be given to Jesus. He is both king and high priest. Jesus is the King of Righteousness and King of Peace. Melchizedek had no successor, and neither does Jesus. Jesus has an unchangeable priesthood.
After the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Day of Pentecost, Peter preached his first sermon to the crowds of people in Jerusalem that day. At this time the Apostle used this psalm to show that Jesus is the Messiah, that He is seated at God’s right hand, and is Lord over all (Acts 2:32-35).
As we read in the closing verses of our psalm, and also in the words of the prophet Isaiah (Isaiah 2:2-4), we see that Jesus will be exalted over the nations of the world. Jesus will be the only ruler, and He will rule in righteousness, holiness, and judgment.
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