The Cincinnati Church

(Psalms 110:1) The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.

Our text is the opening verse of the short but patently Messianic 110th Psalm. The Lord Jesus Christ understood this prophecy to be speaking of Messiah and how it showed Messiah to be more than a descendant of David; Messiah would also be David's Lord (MAT 22:41-46). It was at the very least an insinuation of the deity of Christ: He was God manifest in the flesh (1TI 3:16). The Psalm frankly depicts Jesus Christ in His resurrected state upon the Davidic throne of promise. By comparing spiritual things with spiritual things (1CO 2:13), we know that this prophecy is in a present state of fulfillment. Bible-believers do not await an earthly future fulfillment of this prophecy. They know that the throne of David promised to David's Seed was going to be “...established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness IN HEAVEN” (PSA 89:34-37), not in earth. They know that to deny a present fulfillment of this verse would demand also a denial of a present fulfillment of the 4th verse of the Psalm, “...Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek” (PSA 110:4) and thus strip Jesus Christ of His present High Priestly office (HEB 6:20; HEB 7:15-22), leaving sinners without salvation or Intercessor. But the true Messiah is now, as promised, “...a priest upon his throne...” (ZEC 6:12-13); He could not be priest unless He also was a reigning King. Thus, Bible-believers see King Jesus NOW “...crowned with glory and honour...” (HEB 2:9), holding the Royal Sceptre of righteousness in His present kingdom (HEB 1:8). They see Christ as that Davidic King NOW ruling from heaven “...in the MIDST of thine enemies” (PSA 110:2), a curious distinction from the messianic king of the premillennialist's delusion who will swoop down, vanquish his enemies and then rule on earth as king in their ABSENCE. Bible-believers know that Jesus Christ currently has received “...ALL POWER....in heaven and in earth” and, as a result, sent forth His gospel to call His elect of every nation to faith and obedience, the gathering in of the believers being an evident fulfillment of “Thy people shall be willing IN THE DAY OF THY POWER...” (PSA 110:3).

There is something else of interest here: Messiah would be at the right hand of God. Clearly this speaks of His current status where, as a result of His resurrection, He is (as Peter preached), “...by the right hand of God exalted...” (ACT 2:33). Christ died but “...is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us” (ROM 8:34). This is most fitting since the Law which condemned man had once come from that location: “...from his right hand went a fiery law for them” (DEU 33:2). Christ took the law “...out of the way...” (COL 2:14) and rather than a fiery law at the right hand of God, the elect have an Intercessor and Advocate (1JO 2:1-2). He is especially described time and again as being SEATED at the right hand of God in satisfaction of today's text:

MAT 26:64 “... Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power,...”
MAR 16:19 “...he was received up into heaven, and sat on the right hand of God.”
EPH 1:20 “ and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,”
HEB 8:1 “...set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;”
HEB 12:2 “...is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
COL 3:1 “...seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.”
HEB 1:3 “...by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”
HEB 1:13 “...Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool?”

This seated position is significant because it distinguishes His single, perfect priestly sacrifice (of Himself) from the inadequate, continual sacrifices of the Levitical priesthood:

(HEB 10:11) And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:
(HEB 10:12) But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

The work of salvation having been completed, sins having been finally atoned for, our High Priest has, as it were, taken a chair---an article of furniture which speaks of rest that was conspicuously absent in the O.T. tabernacle.

There is, however, one time when the resurrected Jesus Christ was specifically seen standing in glory rather than sitting. Have you ever stood to cheer on a hero to the finish line? Have you ever stood as a gesture of respect to someone who truly deserved it? Have you ever stood with someone who really needed your support? Have you ever stood to welcome a special acquaintance? Consider faithful Stephen's account:

(Acts 7:55) But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
(Acts 7:56) And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.

It ought to be a great comfort to know that Jesus has such interest in the faithful testimony unto death of one of His children that He should arise from His rest, from His seat of power, and stand for the occasion. “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints” (PSA 116:15).