Psalms 110 & 111 - It's All About Jesus

by Becky

LINK: Psalm 110

This psalm jumps up and shouts, “Jesus!”

BACKGROUND

Psalm 110 celebrates the coronation of a king, but its prophetic purpose overshadows the literal meaning.

King David wrote this to celebrate his priest king – the Messiah. There is no doubt that this psalm refers to Jesus. Jesus refers it to Himself in Mark 12:35-37, using this psalm to show that the Messiah (himself) is greater than David. Peter uses this psalm to point to the resurrection rule of Christ in Acts 2: 29-39. Both those passages defend the deity of Jesus.

We’ve met Melchizedek before, in Genesis 14: 18-20. He was the priest king of Salem who seemingly springs from nowhere and just as quickly disappears from Abraham’s life. He blesses Abraham, and is “better” than Abraham, because Abraham tithed to him. Melchizedek is also mentioned in the New Testament, in Hebrews 5 – 7. In fact, this psalm is quoted in Hebrews 5: 6; 7:17. The author of Hebrews uses Melchizedek to demonstrate how Jesus is our priest king and to show why Jesus couldn’t be a descendent of Levi (of the Jewish priestly line) and is, in fact, greater than the Aaronic line of priests.

REFLECTION AND APPLICATION

Jesus is pictured here as victorious king and conquerer, among other things. Look at what is said about the Lord Jesus in this psalm. Meditate on all Jesus is. What is your response?

LINK: Psalm 111

BACKGROUND

An acrostic psalm, Psalm 111 ends on what could be called the theme of Proverbs. (An acrostic psalm is one in which each half-line begins with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet.)

REFLECTION

This psalm begins with “Hallelujah”!

Do you delight in what God has done, how He reveals HImself? If you do, you will “study” His works. Studying what God has done will result in praise to Him – that’s what “hallelujah” means!

“Great are the works of the LORD;

They are studied by all who delight in them.”

There is a link here between pausing to think about what God’s actions say about Him – between studying His works – and wisdom. Praise, understanding, obedience, and wisdom are linked together in this psalm.

It’s fitting that this psalm ends with praise!

APPLICATION

Read through Psalm 111 and list what it says God’s actions reveal about Him What do we learn about God’s attributes from this psalm?

List them. Can you add anything?

PRAYER

We thank You, LORD, for the unity of Your Word. We praise You that Jesus is our priest king – a conquerer who intercedes for us. Help us to delight in and study Your works. Make us wise servants, please. Thank you that You are trustworthy, that You in Your mercy ransomed us. Help us to follow You, to obey You faithfully. Hallelujah!