Tag: Psalm 110

Struggling to Change

The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." Psalm 110:1
Isaiah 10-12
Psalm 110
Revelation 6

-Devotion by Daniel Smead (MN)

I found it difficult to produce a devotion for Psalm 110. I realized that it is hard, anymore, for me to look at this text without considering its uses in the New Testament, and in theology (accurate and inaccurate), and start working out its links with other Old Testament passages, and so on, and on. That may be nothing like your experience. (O.k., I hope for you that it isn’t like your experience.) But it is mine, at least it is at this point in my life. I find that having studied theology a fair bit is helpful in some situations, and not as much in some others, like when I find it difficult to see a text as a “whole” piece of thought.

I could produce several paragraphs on the psalm’s heavy use in the New Testament (most quoted verse, here is how it was used by Jesus, Peter, Hebrews, etc.). I used up over an hour (o.k., maybe two) tracking down Hebrew word usage because I wasn’t sure if it would lead me anywhere helpful. (I found some interesting things about the “day of wrath” I may use for something sometime, but not today.)

I did try reading a commentary that covered the text. It was Derek Kidner’s, Psalms 73-150, published in the Tyndale Commentaries series in 1975. I went on out to the garage and pulled it from “Box 45” of my books. (Yeah, I’m not kidding. I’m fortunate to now have a list showing which box has which books; a year ago I didn’t.) It’s not bad. Kidner makes an interesting suggestion about verse 7, that it pictures the psalm’s king-priest in similar terms to Gideon (Judges 8:4), after a victory, but having continued in a pursuit of his enemies and just pausing at the stream. I like the image, but I’m not sure it is accurate. And did it inspire me with devotional ideas? No.

Eventually I recognized that in all my notes I didn’t have a devotional. Not even an outline for one. May as well dump it all.

Blank.

PRAYER

Lord, please help me to see this text anew. Please free me from the blinders on my eyes, or mind, or wherever they are, that sometimes prevent me from viewing your scripture with emotion, be it joy or conviction, resolution or guilt, pride or shame. Soften my heart, Lord, if that is what is needed, and let me see within your scripture more than words.

Let me try again.

The people of Israel knew things about the Torah, and the kings in David’s line, that you or I will never even attempt to know. And all too often they were locked-in to perspectives on what their knowledge meant about God’s intentions, and which options were available. Dozens of places in the Hebrew Scriptures align with general expectations: kings and priests were separate. They died and needed to be replaced. And quite often kings and priests didn’t serve God well, but because of God’s mercy the system kept going.

In a few places, like Psalm 110 for instance, God let people know that the general expectations were not enough. Things were not going to stay as they had been. I don’t know how many people put these facts together before Jesus came on the scene, and how many of those then acted on what they understood.

Is anything ever guaranteed to stay as it has been? Not the business you work at, or the school you attend. Not the country you live in. Not me. Not you. God is permanent; some things God has decided on we know won’t change, either. Jesus interceding for us with God is a “forever” thing. Please, figure out the things God intends to last, and put more care into them than some of the other stuff. You may end up more prepared for when things change.

I wish you well.

REFLECTION QUESTIONS

  1. Have you been unable to connect with a passage of scripture (due to over-intellectualizing; comprehension – language, background, etc.; inattention)? Were you able to overcome the issue?
  2. Do you see yourself as mainly expecting what you experience to remain as it is, or are you expecting changes? How does that expectation relate to efforts you are making to preserve and/or change things around you?
  3. If you could lock-in one thing about yourself to remain the same throughout your life – an attitude, perhaps a personality trait or a passion – would you? And, if so, what would you choose?
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At the LORD’s Right Hand

OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 57 & 58

POETRY: Psalm 110

NEW TESTAMENT: James 5

Isaiah 58:6-7 (LEB):

“Is this not the fast I choose: to release the bonds of injustice,

to untie the ropes of the yoke,

and to let the oppressed go free,

and tear every yoke to pieces?

Is it not to break your bread for the hungry?

You must bring home the poor, the homeless.

When you see the naked, you must cover him,

and you must not hide yourself from your relatives.”

Psalm 110:1-2 (LEB):

“Yahweh declares to my lord,

‘Sit at my right hand

until I make your enemies your footstool.’

Yahweh will send out your mighty scepter from Zion;

rule in the midst of your enemies.”

James 5:8-9 (LEB):

“You also be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the coming of the Lord is near. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing at the doors!”

Isaiah 57 highlights the wickedness of the people, contrasting their idolatrous practices with the righteousness God desires. The chapter serves as a warning against superficial worship and the danger of following our own desires. However, Isaiah 58 provides a blueprint for what true righteousness looks like. God calls His people to a life of justice, mercy, and compassion—acts of righteousness that reflect His heart.

The fast that God desires is not one of mere ritual, but one of active love and justice. Releasing the oppressed, feeding the hungry, housing the homeless, and clothing the naked are the tangible expressions of worship that please God. These acts of mercy demonstrate a heart aligned with God’s purposes, as opposed to empty religious practices that neglect the needs of others.

Psalm 110 speaks prophetically about the Messiah’s reign. It describes a vision of the Lord’s anointed seated at the right hand of God, with His enemies made a footstool beneath His feet. This psalm points to Jesus Christ as the exalted King and Priest, who rules with power and authority.

As we reflect on the reign of Christ, we are reminded that no matter what challenges or opposition we face, Jesus is given all authority, and his victory is assured. He rules in the midst of his enemies, and God’s people are called to trust in the ultimate triumph achieved through Christ. Psalm 110 provides a powerful reminder that Christ’s kingdom is both now and not yet—he reigns even as we wait for the fullness of his victory to be revealed.

James calls believers to patience as they await the coming of the Lord. He uses the example of the farmer who waits for the precious crop, trusting that the rains will come in their time. In the same way, we are to strengthen our hearts and remain steadfast in the face of trials, knowing that the Lord is near.

James also warns against grumbling and impatience with others, encouraging believers to live in unity and peace. The passage reminds us that we will be held accountable for our actions and words, and that God, the righteous Judge, is always watching. We are called to endure suffering with patience, just as the prophets and Job did, trusting in God’s faithfulness through it all.

This week, let Isaiah 58 challenge you to live out true righteousness by pursuing justice and compassion. Trust in Christ’s sovereign reign as declared in Psalm 110, and ask God to strengthen your heart as you patiently endure trials, knowing that the Lord is near. Let your life reflect the love, unity, and hope that comes from living in light of his victory and imminent return.

-Jeff Ransom

Reflection Questions:

How can you actively live out the righteousness described in Isaiah 58 in your daily life?

In what areas of your life do you need to trust in Christ’s reign, knowing that he is seated at the right hand of God with all authority?

How can you strengthen your heart in times of trial, and what does it mean for you to patiently endure as James encourages?

Are there relationships or situations where you are tempted to grumble or grow impatient? How can you bring those before God and seek His peace and patience?

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Do you Know the Son of the Vineyard Owner?

Theme Week: 1 God, 1 Messiah – Mark 12

Old Testament Reading: Deuteronomy 5 & 6

Psalms Reading: Psalm 79

In Mark 12 Jesus hinted at his identity as God’s son, starting in the parable of the tenants. For a listener to have recognized Jesus in the parable may have depended on recognizing the tenants as his opponents, the current leaders of the nation – but they recognized themselves in the parable. The parable is quite different from how Nehemiah 9 presented the history of the nation. The whole of the land is pictured as a vineyard, carefully prepared by God. The emphasis is on the great lengths God went to in His mercy despite the repeated failings of the tenants. Jesus’ parable focuses on the last stage of the story, the current leadership which betrayed the trust they had been given. No parable conveys the real life situation exactly, and the image in the parable of the tenants seeking to take the inheritance for themselves by killing the heir cannot be precise – the leaders were not going to acknowledge Jesus’ identity. But they did arrange his death out of a mix of reasons that included avoiding having their positions disrupted.

     Jesus hinted at his identity again when he discussed Psalm 110:1, the Old Testament verse most often quoted in the New Testament. In the Hebrew the phrase “the Lord said to my Lord” uses God’s name (as revealed to Moses) and sets up a conversation between God and someone David (the psalmist) calls “my Lord”. Jesus asks the reasonable question why, since it was understood that the “Lord” in this text was David’s own descendant, that David would write of his descendant as his own “Lord”. The crowd may only have seen this as an interesting puzzle, but we can recognize he was showing that one of the sons of David was going to be something more significant than that one role could involve.

     In various ways Jesus came “at the right time”, fulfilling prophecies and meeting needs, including by arriving when he would be rejected. If he was not rejected, the plan could not go forward as God intended. Yet Jesus was recognizable, in a number of ways. Even in this chapter he showed his insight more than once. He showed it when he declared that holding to the one God above all, and loving your neighbor, are the height of wisdom. Anyone who set out to follow those commands would see in Jesus a fellow servant of God. But those who valued something else were still able to turn against him.

     The fact that idolatry was no longer accepted in Jewish society did not make the nation righteous, and it did not mean that the people all gained a clear grasp of God. “Idolater” may once have seemed like a good shorthand for describing a sinful character. Why, after all, would someone who did not wish to serve God choose to worship at His altar, when there were so many options to choose from? But with idolatry uncommon the “sinners” mingled with the “purer” of the flock. And sinners wished to masquerade as righteous. Some perhaps even tried to fool themselves. As Jeremiah once said, “the heart is more deceitful than all else” (17:9, NASB); God can understand all human hearts, but we can have difficulty understanding even our own. The sort of person who in the past might have knelt at a family idol of silver, while mocking his neighbor’s wooden idol, could easily fit in with some niches of Israel’s new religious elite. The scene described at the end of the chapter, with the wealthy dropping off tiny portions of their riches to great acclaim while a poor widow gave all she had, screams that the system needed reform. Yes, the donations might achieve some purpose in terms of charity or service work. But it seems like a system with fewer risks for the givers could be developed.

Lord, thank you for giving your son for me. Allow me to grow in love for you each day, and to grow in my understanding of love so that I can share it with others as well. You are a great God, and greatly to be praised. Your son, who allowed himself to die for me, is a remarkably trusting and loving man and I want to grow in my ability to be like him. Thank you, Lord. In Jesus’ name, amen.

-Daniel Smead

Reflection Questions:

  1. What do you think are some things that God wants people to understand about Him?
  2. Having created your list from the first question, based on whatever standards, now try to think about what practical benefits might exist for people to know those things. There may be cases where you trust God wants a thing known, because of scripture for example, but you aren’t actually sure why.
  3. What are characteristics you think are true of both God and His son, and what are some characteristics that are different between them? How about characteristics that are specific to only Jesus, and no one else?
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