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"Sit Thou at my Right Hand…"
The messianic nature of David’s statement in Psalms 110:1, cannot be clearly understood without
the specific applications made by both Jesus and inspired writers (Matthew 22:43-45; Acts 2:34-36;
1 Corinthians 15:25-26; Hebrews 1:13). That the Jews accepted Psalms 110 as messianic is evident
from Jesus’ posed problem for them in Matthew 22:43-45. Jesus was able to use the passage against
the Jews, because they accepted David as the father of the Christ in ancestry but David had called
the Messiah, “Lord” which recognized him as being superior. They could not answer the dilemma
Jesus posed, because of their materialistic concept of The Messiah.
Later, Peter quoted Psalms 110:1, and tied it in with a series of prophetic statements made by
David (Acts 2:25-33, from 2 Samuel 7:11-16 and Psalms 16:10) to prove that David was not speaking
of himself but of Jesus. He claimed, based upon the apostles’ eyewitness testimony, that God had
raised up Jesus who had ascended to sit at the right hand of The Father. Reference is also made to
the prophecy in Psalms 110:1, by the Hebrew writer (1:13). He had previously established the
“God-nature” of Jesus by quoting Psalms 45:6-7 – “…thy throne O God…”, (v. 8).
The three essential concepts of Psalms 110:1, are “position,” “location” and “duration.”
“Sit” is used of a posture in a geographical location (Mark 15:35). But it is also used to
describe a relationship of authority – “the scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat…” (Matthew 23:2),
that is, they sit in his place as they speak for him.
The location described as “on my right hand” stands for a position of authority. The mother of
James and John requested that her two sons sit, one on the right hand and the other on the left
hand, in his kingdom. That is similar to our concept of “second and third in command” -- though
the right hand was always noted as the one of greater authority (Matthew 20:20-21). “On my right
hand” declares Jesus’ right of rule, which Peter also affirmed by the use of the word “Lord” (Acts
2:36). And authority, “the right to command and expect obedience,” is that which Christ claimed
for himself when he sent out his apostles with the “great commission” (Matthew 28:18).
Peter declared to the Jews that the apostles saw him ascend and that this fulfilled God’s
promise to him to sit at his right hand (Acts 2:32-35). The Hebrew writer observes that it was after
Jesus had finished his work of purging our sins, that he ascended to heaven and sat down on the
right hand of the father (Hebrews 1:3). Then, Paul speaks of setting our affections on things above,
because it is there that Christ sits at the right hand of God (Colossians 3:1). Since he ascended
to sit, then sat down at the right hand of the Father and currently sits there, he must presently
rule. And, if he rules as king, that necessarily means that his kingdom was established when he
ascended to sit and rule.
“Till I make thine enemies thy footstool,” involves the duration of his kingship. It was common
among ancient kings to place a foot upon the neck of a conquered ruler which symbolized total
subjugation; hence, the expression of making him a “footstool.”
Who are these enemies? Satan, with his hosts of demonic servants, was the great adversary of
Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11; Revelation 12:9). Paul identifies our adversaries and, consequently,
Christ’s enemies as well, as principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world and
spiritual wickedness in the heavenlies (Ephesians 6:10). In 1 Corinthians 15:25, Paul quotes a part of
David’s prophecy in Psalms 110:1b – “for he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his
feet.” Then, he gives the exact time frame reference for the end of Jesus’ reign by saying, “the last
enemy that shall be destroyed is death,” (v. 26). Since the time of Satan’s successful attempt to
cause men to sin and die, death has been the enemy of man (Genesis 3:1-19). When the King Jesus
returns to raise the dead, corruptible bodies will be made immortal and death will be swallowed up
in victory (1 Corinthians 15:51-57).
Then, when death, the last enemy, is destroyed, Jesus shall sit upon the throne of his glory and
shall judge all nations (Matthew 25:31). Jesus does not just rule among his kingdom people now,
he is also The Lord of all the earth – to his kingdom people he rules in righteousness and peace
(Isaiah 9:6-7) but to the rebellious he rules with a rod of iron (Isaiah 11:4; Psalms 2:1-12). All
men are accountable to him (Acts 17:30-31) – the righteous and the unrighteous will, alike, stand
before the King to receive the things done in the body, (2 Corinthians 5:10).
Jesus now sits at the right hand of The Father and will continue his rule until the
resurrection. He seeks to rule all the hearts of men but men must be willing to submit. The choice is each
man’s – peace or destruction. Let us give glory and honor to Jesus Christ – Lord of all Lords and
King of all Kings. – Jim R. Everett
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