Overcoming 2: Life Lessons From the PsalmsSample

Triumphant

Psalm 110: 1 – 3 (NIV84): “The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion; you will rule in the midst of your enemies. Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy majesty, from the womb of the dawn you will receive the dew of your youth.”

Imagine sitting in your home, meditating on Scripture, and praying. At some point, you pick up a pen and begin to journal your thoughts. Powerful words pour out of you and onto your paper. Words that are full of destiny and purpose. Words that will live for a few thousand years. When you finish journaling, you re-read what you wrote. You are amazed and sobered by what just happened. I believe this was the experience of the Psalmist. While he knew this Psalm was special, and it pointed to the future, he could not have known the profound prophetic reality in the words he wrote.

As only the Scriptures can do, this Psalm prophetically points to the most important redemptive events in human history in just seven verses. Within fifty-eight Hebrew words, the story of God’s grace and the eventual restoration of his creation is foretold. Psalm 110 is a prophetic revelation of the coming of the Messiah, Jesus Christ, and His ultimate triumph over all evil. It is a declaration of the Sovereignty and Supremacy of the child that will be born in Bethlehem. The Gospel writers Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John reference this Psalm. So did Jesus, Paul, and Peter. It was written for you.

For you and me, it is a song of triumph. It is a declaration of victory. Jesus, our Savior and Lord, the one spoken of in Psalm 110, ruled in the midst of his enemies and will do so in a final act of triumph. Having lived a sinless life, he offered himself to be crucified on a cross as the atonement for the sins of mankind (1 John 4:10). He was buried, resurrected from the dead, and ascended into heaven as the Living Savior. He sat down at the right hand of God to intercede for us (Romans 8:34; Ephesians 1: 20 – 21).

“…make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”

In ancient days, engraved on the sides of a king’s footstool were the images of the enemies he had defeated. When the king sat down on his throne, he would rest his feet on his footstool. The footstool became a symbol of triumph and dominion. Now, re-read verse one! God the Father sent His only Son, Jesus Christ, to defeat Satan and thereby made Satan the footstool of the triumphant Messiah! When Jesus returns, he will bring a mighty army and destroy all dominion, authority, power, and death (1 Corinthians 15: 24 - 26).

“your mighty scepter from Zion…”

A scepter was an ornamental staff carried by rulers as a symbol of sovereignty. This is a poetic phrase that represents the supreme authority of the Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 3:22).

Reading Psalm 110 is like reading the end of a book before you finish reading the first chapter. The story of God’s plan to redeem his creation from Satan and his evil kingdom is leaked to the followers of God -- thousands of years before it happens. Psalm 110 is the headline on the front page of the Daily News Journal of Heaven in advance of the day it speaks of. In the very moments this Psalm was written, the entire kingdom of darkness must have shuddered. With the information in these seven verses, Satan was put on notice. His final day of judgment is coming. While you may struggle with the poetic nature of these verses or the historical references, Satan does not. He clearly understands he is doomed. For generations, he has witnessed and experienced the reality of Psalm 110 unfolding before his very eyes. Psalm 110 is the heavenly warrant for his arrest and final judgment.

Therefore, the followers of God should read Psalm 110 with a triumphant spirit within them. Because of the great love God the Father has for us, we can begin to live into the victory of these verses. Verse three speaks of a day yet to happen. It will be a glorious day. Jesus will return with a mighty army to defeat Satan and his evil kingdom. Until then, we have the opportunity and privilege to experience wonderful measures of victory and peace. Romans 8:37 shouts a big amen to Psalm 110. It states, “No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.”

Let us always remember sin, death, and the entire kingdom of darkness were defeated by the death, burial, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. He delegated to us, his troops on the ground, the authority (his mighty scepter) to be more than conquerors.

I pray Psalm 110 puts a skip in your step today. As you prayerfully read each verse, allow each phrase and each statement to lift your eyes heavenward to the Triumphant Lord. You do not need to understand the ancient poetry or symbolism of the Psalmist to know the nearness of your Lord. He will make Himself known to those who seek Him (Proverbs 8:17). May the reading of God’s eternal and powerful Word strengthen you to overcome the trials and troubles you face. You are the child of the Risen King. You are a member of the family of God. Psalm 110 was written for you. The Spirit of God wants to encourage you to live today in the strength and the power of the Triumphant Lord.