PSALM 110 - "THE BROOK IN THE WAY"
PSALM 110 – “THE BROOK IN THE WAY”
Preached by: Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Psalm 110:1 is the most unique verse in the New Testament in that it is quoted seven (7) times in the New Testament for a total of eight times in the Bible. Verse (4) is quoted three times in the New Testament for a total of five (5) times. This one Psalm is quote 13 times in the Bible.
Why would I give you these facts?
If it is the most quoted Old Testament scripture, then we need to take heed to this sure Word of prophecy. As the New Testament explains the Old, so the Old Testament confirms the New, and Jesus Christ is the Alpha and Omega of both. Almost all of the articles of the Christian faith are found in this Psalm.
The Psalm is pure gospel, concerning Christ, the Messiah. Jesus used verse one to silence the Pharisees in Matthew 22:41-46: “While the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them, Saying, What do you think of Christ whose son is He? They say to Him, the Son of David. He says to them, how then does David who was in the Spirit call Him Lord, saying, The Lord said to My Lord, sit on My right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool? If David then calls Him Lord, how is He his son? No man was able to answer Him a word; neither dare any man from that day forth ask Him any more questions.”
Glorious things are here spoken of Christ:
Verses 1-3 reveal the Messiah as King.
Verse 4 reveals Him as a priest. In our study of the Book of Hebrews, we discover Hebrews is the only book of the New Testament with the revelation of Jesus as our High Priest.
Verses 5-7 reveal the Messiah as a warrior.
This Psalm teaches the second coming of King Jesus is not any minute, but “UNTIL”. (110:1)
Acts 3:20-21: “He shall send Jesus Christ which before was preached to you; Whom the heaven must receive UNTIL the times of restitution of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began”
James 5:7: “Be patient brethren unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waits for the precious fruit of the earth, and has long patience for it, UNTIL he receives the early and latter rain.
By the counsel and decree of God himself, the Messiah is constituted as sovereign Lord. The Lord Jehovah said unto him, Sit as a king. (1 Pet. 1:17) “For he received from God the Father honor and glory, when there came a voice to him from the excellent glory. This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.”
Foreign enemies will always exploit the new reign of an inexperienced king, but he is encouraged by a promise of divine aid.
(Vs. 2) “The Lord will send forth from Zion, the scepter of Your strength; rule, then in the midst of Your foes.” (Amplified) The scepter with which the king has been awarded is destined to journey far. From this royal and religious capital of Zion, God will extend his dominion and make it radiate out against all the enemies of Christ UNTIL He make his enemies His footstool.
The king is assured he will have the loyal backing of the troops. They will enthusiastically identify themselves with their royal commander. (Verse 3) “Your people will offer themselves willingly in the day of Your power, in the beauty of holiness and in holy array out of the womb of the morning; to You (will spring forth) Your young men, who are as the dew.” (Amplified) These are they which have been redeemed.
Rev. 5:9b “We have been redeemed to God by your blood out of every kindred, tongue, people and nation.”
One translation reads, “in the day of your armies” instead of “in the day of your power.” Rev. 19:14: “And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.”
These shall be admitted by him into the beauty of holiness, as spiritual priests to minister in his sanctuary in the beautiful attire or ornaments of grace and sanctification. Christ’s soldiers will be clothed in these garments.
The dew of youth is prophetic of the number of young people who will be flocking to Christ at the time of Harvest. The womb of the morning will be the new day.
He will not only be a king, but also a priest. Our Lord Jesus Christ is God’s minister to us, and our advocate with God, and so is a Mediator between us and God. He has eternal dominion. “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” God spoke out of his “excellent glory” of the “More Excellent Ministry” of Jesus Christ. I have a teaching on the Melchisedec Priesthood, if anyone wants to pursue that study. The point today is the permanent nature of the divine investiture is stressed. God will have no second thoughts. Unlike the Jebusite dynasty, the Davidic one will never be superseded.
As I was studying this, I did some research on the Jebusite dynasty. The Jebusites were sons of Cain and resided in Jerusalem. The Israelites were told to defeat the Jebusites time and again. However, until David’s conquest of Jerusalem they still had a strong hold in the city. This would be interesting to study in view of the present spiritual battle over Jerusalem.
We are assured in this Psalm the Lord’s continuing help and total triumph over all opposition to his kingdom.
In verse 1, the right hand of the Lord refers to divine honor. Here is verse five (5), it symbolizes divine protection.
110: 5: “The Lord at Your right hand shall strike through kings in the day of His wrath. He shall judge among the heathen. He shall fill the places with the dead bodies; He shall wound the heads over many countries.”
There is a set time for this great victory. “It is the day of His wrath.” When the measure of their iniquities are full, and then will be their ruin. The Lord is much more long suffering and patient than we are.
Satan is the prince of this world. Kings will make war with the Lamb. They shall be brought down and broken. This is not a military execution. It is a judicial one. It shall be a complete and utter ruin of all his enemies. He shall wound their heads, (bruise the serpent’s head-(Gen. 3:15).
110:7: “He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall He lift up the head.”
There are many lovely interpretations of “the brook in the way”. However, one is given by Leslie C. Allen that suits me. “There was known to be a royal ceremony at the spring of Gihon near the temple, during which the king ritually drank from the sacred fountain and symbolically received the vital resources necessary for his reign. Thus strengthened, thereafter he would enjoy an abundance of life. While his foes were doomed to lie prostrate, his destiny was a life of triumph.”
This would be the “fountain of living water, the Lord Jesus Christ” (Jer. 2:13; Jer, 17:13 ;) “the fountain of life”;
John 4:13-14: “Whosoever drinks of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.”
Rev. 21:6 “And he said unto me, it is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is thirsty of the fountain of the water of life freely.”
Rev. 22:1 “And He showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding out of the throne of God and of the Lamb.”
Rev. 22:17: “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. Let him that hear say, Come. Let him that is thirsty come. Whosoever will let him take the water of life freely.”
John 7:38: “He that believes in me, as the scripture has said, out of his belly, shall flow rivers of living water.”
Pastor Carolyn Sissom
Eastgate Ministries, Inc.
Scripture from K.J.V. unless otherwise noted. Quotation from Leslie C. Allen as noted from F. F. Bruce Bible Commentary.