THE CALL | Luke 18:16-17 [ESV]
But Jesus called them to him, saying, “Let the children come to me, and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God. Truly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child shall not enter it.”
CONFESSION
Heavenly Father, so often we exalt ourselves in our hearts. Our minds are occupied with things that are too great for us. We seek to comprehend your hidden counsels, when you call us to trust in faith. Forgive us of our pride. Give us child-like trust in you, by your Spirit that cries out in our hearts “Abba, Father!”. Quiet our souls with your steadfast love, as we rest in your wisdom and your power to save, through Jesus Christ our Lord.
ASSURANCE | Isaiah 49:15
[Thus says the Lord:]
“Can a woman forget her nursing child,
that she should have no compassion on the son of her womb?
Even these may forget,
yet I will not forget you.”
SING: Gloria Patri
Glory be to the Father
And to the Son and to the Holy Ghost
As it was in the beginning
Is now and ever shall be world without end
Amen Amen
WORD
Read Psalm 110
110:1-2 “The LORD says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’”
Psalm 110, a “royal psalm,” was no doubt used to celebrate the coronation of kings in Israel for generations after David wrote it some three thousand years ago. Even its author, however, seems to understand that this psalm is speaking of more than just a mere human king. David acknowledges that this king (we’re told he has a scepter in v. 2) will also be a “priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek” (v. 4). Furthermore, this king will exceed all kings that have come before him in terms of the breadth of his kingdom. This includes even David himself, who had conquered the territories that Israel failed to subdue during Israel’s conquest as depicted in the Book of Joshua. The king from this psalm will execute “judgement among the nations” and “shatter chiefs over the wide earth” (v. 6). But this king can’t do it any time he wants to; he must wait for the LORD, and sit at the LORD’s right hand, until the LORD
makes his enemies his footstool (v. 2).
In Mark 12:35-37, Jesus confirms David’s knowledge of this being more than a mere human king when he teaches that David, by the Holy Spirit, understood that God (“The LORD”) was speaking to a human king that would descend from David, yet who was also David’s Lord (“my Lord”). By the 1st century, it seems Israel had long believed that the Christ would come from David, and they got that idea from this psalm (as well as from other Old Testament passages). When Jesus was rejected by many in Israel, they weren’t rejecting the idea in this psalm; they were rejecting that Jesus, who was David’s son by lineage, was the long awaited-Messiah. But not all Israel rejected Jesus as the Messiah. Many embraced Him, and were embraced by Him, and found in great David’s greater Son the redemption they had been so long promised, and so greatly longed for.
To this day, people continue to make decisions about whether Jesus is the Messiah, either accepting or rejecting Him as their true King. This psalm has been fulfilled in the sense that David’s Lord has sat down at God’s right hand. Jesus is ruling and reigning now from this exalted position of supreme authority, but not all His enemies have been placed under His feet just yet (v. 2; cf. 1 Cor. 15:20-28). You have until that Day to decide, but be forewarned, that Day is not a day to make a decision…that Day is a day when decisions will be revealed.
So, have you decided this day to follow Christ? Is He your Lord, as he was David’s? Is He your Priest? Is He your King? If not, might you profess Him this day as your Lord and Savior, and place yourself under the shelter of His mighty wings? May the LORD be pleased to continue to reveal Himself to men and women, boys and girls, to the saving of their souls
for all eternity. (John McCombs)
ABIDING
SING
- Psalm 131 | [recording] [music sheet]
FRIDAY-MEMORIZE | Psalm 131
– Spend time memorizing the words of the Psalm as best you can –
SENDING
Heidelberg Catechism, Question 1:
Q: What is your only comfort in life and death?
A: That I am not my own,
but belong with body and soul,
both in life and in death,
to my faithful Savior Jesus Christ.
He has fully paid for all my sins
with his precious blood,
and has set me free
from all the power of the devil.
He also preserves me in such a way
that without the will of my heavenly Father
not a hair can fall from my head;
indeed, all things must work together
for my salvation.
Therefore, by his Holy Spirit
he also assures me
of eternal life
and makes me heartily willing and ready
from now on to live for him.
1 John 3:2-3 [ESV]
Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.