Establish my footsteps in Your Word ~ Psalm 119:133

Summary Statement
God’s Priest and King will execute judgment on the world in His absolute dominion and power. His enemies will be crushed and the Lord will be exalted.

Outline
l. The Ruling Power of the King (v.1-3)
ll. The Eternal Nature of the Priest (v.4)
lll. The Judgment of the Nations (v.5-6)
lV. The Exaltation of the Lord (v.7)

Genre
This Psalm is classified as a Royal Psalm.

Interpretation
We must see this Psalm in its fullest context by considering the testimony of the New Testament writers. At least eight New Testament passages reference this Psalm directly:

• Matthew 22:44 – Who’s Son is the Christ? (Psalm 110:1)
• Mark 12:36 – How is Christ the Son of David? (Psalm 110:1)
• Luke 20:42-43 – How is Christ David’s Son? (Psalm 110:1)
• Acts 2:34 – It wasn’t David that ascended to heaven (Psalm 110:1)
• Hebrews 1:13 – Have the angels ever been told “sit at my right hand”? (Psalm 110:1)
• Hebrews 5:6,10 – Jesus is a priest according to the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4)
• Hebrews 7:17,21 – Jesus is a priest according to the order of Melchizedek (Psalm 110:4)
• Hebrews 10:12-13 – Jesus sat down at the right hand of God; enemies a footstool (Psalm 110:1)

The Ruling Power of the King (v.1-3)

Verse 1
LORD – Yahweh – the covenant God – all that He is – The great I Am.
Seated at the right hand (sitting is a sign of honor and majesty):

Strength
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand” (Isaiah 41:10).

Authority
“He raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come” (Eph 1:20-21).

Blessing
“Israel stretched out his right hand and laid it on the head of Ephraim, who was the younger, and his left hand on the head of Manasseh, crossing his hands (for Manasseh was the firstborn)” (Gen 48:14).

The last phrase in the verse indicates that the Lord will defeat His enemies – completely forced into submission.

Verse 2

The scepter indicates a demonstration of authority or declaration of a sovereign decree. Think of the staff of Moses as he stretched it out over the Red Sea.

Zion – the capital city, the administrative center of the kingdom; came to represent the center of the king’s reign

The king will rule in the midst of His enemies.

Verse 3

A group of people will offer themselves willingly to the service of the Lord.
Youth as dew is a metaphor for abundance, fresh and innumerable. Dawn of a new day.

The Eternal Nature of the Priest (v.4)

Who Is Melchizedek?
malki-sedeq
malki – king/royalty
sedeq – righteousness; what is right and just; straightness; weights and measures

King of righteousness
King of Salem
Priest of the Most High
Genealogy is unknown. No record of ancestors.

No priest could be a king, no king could be a priest. There had to be separation of duties; check and balances.

Priests sacrifices were inadequate and incomplete.

The Judgment of the Nations (v.5-6)

The victory will be very convincing.
Shatter – to deliver a fatal blow which will completely disarm and incapacitate His enemies.

Shatter the chief men – “crush the head” – a singular main leader of the opposition; one antagonistic leader (see Genesis 3:15)

The Exaltation of the Lord (v.7)

The victorious King will be refreshed – streams will flow with great abundance.
The victorious King will be restored – or exalted to the position of honor and dignity in the kingdom.