Realizing Christ’s Promised Reign (LD 19; Psalm 110)
Introduction
We confess that Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father, but we might ask, “What difference does that make today?”After all, we cannot see him. We still live in a world filled with evil, persecution, and injustice. At times, we might think that Christ has left us as orphans.
Psalm 110 answers those doubts. David shows us that Christ's ascension was not his retreat from the world but his glorious enthronement. Our risen Lord now reigns as our King, represents us as our perfect High Priest, and will one day return as righteous Judge. His throne is the church's comfort because his work is complete. So, how do we know this is true?
Christ Reigns as Our Enthroned King
Psalm 110 begins with the Father inviting the Son to sit at his right hand. Christ’s sitting communicates that this work is 100% complete. Christ has finished his humbling earthly work of redemption and now reigns with all authority.
His reign does not mean the world immediately becomes peaceful or enters a golden age. Psalm 110 reminds us that Christ rules in the midst of his enemies. Evil still opposes the gospel and seeks to challenge Christ. The church still faces hostility. History continues to ebb and flow between seasons of ease and seasons of persecution.
Nevertheless, none of this threatens Christ's kingdom that is ministered through his church. Even when his enemies rage, they do so only under his sovereign rule. He continues to gather his church, preserve his people, and govern history according to his perfect wisdom. His heavenly throne assures us that appearances of evil, sin, and persecution never overrule Christ’s enthronement. Christ truly reigns in the midst of his enemies.
Christ Represents Us as Our Eternal Priest
We can say, “Christ is in heaven? He is absent from us! How can you say that he represents us when he is removed from us?” We are asking the wrong questions! We are assured that the ascended Christ is present with his people. He continues his ministry on our behalf in the heavenly sanctuary. He is not like a mere mortal who can only be in one place at a time. He can be in heaven, and still dwell in us and with us.
Psalm 110 tells us that Christ is in the order of Melchizedek. He is a priest who ministered in Jerusalem when Abraham triumphed over Lot’s captors. Genesis compiles a genealogy for each significant person. However, Melchizedek breaks this trend. He has no genealogy to communicate his birth. He has no record of his death. He is a priest without beginning or end.
Christ is a priest in this order. Christ never grows weary interceding on our behalf. Christ never grows weary of protecting us and leading us by his Spirit. In the Holy Spirit, he unites us to himself, strengthens his church, and equips his people to serve him faithfully.
Psalm 110 reminds us that God's promise concerning this Priest-King will never change. Unlike the temporary priests of the Old Testament, Christ's priesthood is everlasting. His sacrifice is complete. His intercession never ceases. His protection will never expire.
Our acceptance before God rests entirely upon the finished work of Christ. His heavenly enthronement testifies to us that his work is truly complete.
Christ Will Return as Our Judge
The same Christ who now reigns in the midst of his enemies will one day return to judge the living and the dead. His invisible reign will be very visible on the day of his wrath. We realize the day of the Lord after Christ’s enthronement, but not the full physical blessings of the day. We already have the guarantee because Christ is enthroned, giving us his Spirit. However, we wait for the fullness. Christ will bring the conclusion to the day of the Lord in the day of his wrath. (Gospel Coalition: “Day of the Lord” is worth a read)
For unbelievers, that day will be a day of wrath. Every rebellion against God's King will finally be brought to an end. Christ will address every injustice that has been done. In fact, every knee will bow to Christ. It is better to bow the knee now and take Christ’s yoke upon yourself rather than to bow the knee as Christ’s enemy on the day of his wrath.
When we bow the knee today and take Christ’s yoke upon us, we will be comforted by his return. It is on that day when we realize the full physical blessings of the day of the Lord that we will be taken into our rest. Our king will visibly rule us because his eternal priesthood guarantees it. His sitting in glory testifies to the successful completion of his mission. He will bring his people into the full glory of his rest. Ruling in the midst of his enemies is only between his first coming and his second coming.
Until that day, we may grow weary. We face suffering, disappointment, and spiritual battles. Yet Psalm 110 closes with the image of refreshment, reminding us that Christ himself sustains his people as they journey toward glory. His people drink from the river of life as they are united to their glorified priest-king. The One who conquered through suffering now supplies his church with the living water that enables us to persevere. He will preserve his people as they persevere in him.
Conclusion
Christ's ascension is not the story of a Savior who left his people behind. It is the declaration that the work of redemption is finished and that the victorious King now reigns from heaven.
He rules over his church in the midst of his enemies. He continually represents us as our faithful High Priest. And he will return to judge the world in perfect righteousness.
Therefore, when the struggles of this age tempt us to lose heart, Psalm 110 calls us to lift our eyes to the throne of Christ. Our Priest-King reigns. His kingdom cannot fail. His Spirit sustains his people. And the day is coming when every enemy will publicly bow before him.
Until then, let us continue to drink deeply from the river of life. This is the life that he freely gives. Let us rest confidently in our ascended Savior. He unites us to him, we taste his goodness in his Spirit, and he will visibly come to bring us to glory. Let us long for the day when he brings us into the full physical blessings of his kingdom. Today, he rules in the midst of his enemies, but he will bring us to glory on the day of his wrath. Let us drink deeply of the river of life as we walk in his Spirit. He will bring this creation to its glorified goal because his enthronement guarantees it.
(John Murray wrote an excellent article titled, “What Is Amillennialism?” You can read the article online if you would like to know more about end-time, Millennial, theology.)