For the past three weeks, we’ve been studying the most quoted Psalm in the New Testament, Psalm 110. Two weeks ago, we saw Jesus as the divine king (vs.1-3). Last week, we saw Jesus as the eternal priest (vs. 4). Today, we will see him as the soon-victorious judge (vs.5-7).
Our verses today move from Hebrews to Revelation, directing our attention to what will happen at the end of time. Today, we will see that the end is coming. Jesus is coming soon, and it will be dreadfully glorious when he comes!
If you’ve noticed, we’ve recently changed our benediction on Sundays. Over the years, we’ve wrestled through the best way to end our services each week. And we recently thought, “Why not end our service the same way the Bible ends?”
Revelation 22:20 says, “He who testifies to the things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!”
The purpose of this benediction is to remind us to live in light of the reality that Jesus is coming soon. This isn’t a reality that a theologian made up somewhere; it’s a reality based on the words of Jesus himself. And, as Christians, this should be a reality that is water to our souls! So, as we go out into the world, we cling to the fact that the end is coming soon.
As we saw in Psalm 110:1, after Jesus’ death and resurrection, the Father called him back up to heaven to “sit at his right hand, until the Father makes his enemies his footstool.” We learned that putting an enemy under your foot symbolizes victory— complete dominance, submission, and triumph over your enemies. We also briefly saw where there was an already-not-yet tension to this reality. Jesus is already ruling as king with all things placed under his feet, yet there is a day when the end will come, and his enemies will be defeated once and for all. On this day, Christ will deliver “the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power,” for he must “reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet (1 Cor. 15).” So, although Christ is seated at the Father's right hand, ruling next to him at this very moment, he is also awaiting the day when it’s time to bring swift judgment, defeating every enemy once and for all. The king ruling among his enemies right now will soon defeat his enemies once and for all.
Let’s dive in.
“[5] The Lord is at your right hand;
he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.
[6] He will execute judgment among the nations,
filling them with corpses;
he will shatter chiefs
over the wide earth.
[7] He will drink from the brook by the way;
therefore he will lift up his head.”
In verse 5, we see an interesting shift in language from the language used in verse 1. In verse 1, we see the Messiah at the Father's right hand, and now we see the Father at the right hand of the Messiah. What a profound reality! The thought of almighty God sitting at the right hand of anyone other than someone who is on equal footing with himself is blasphemous. Yet, they sit side by side, ruling and working in harmony.
This further highlights the Messiah's divine nature. Jesus is the fully divine Son of God who is one with the Father. This is yet another glimpse into the doctrine of the trinity, where one God eternally exists in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
TWO OUTCOMES
These verses then present two different outcomes for the future. They promise judgment and peace. For those who remain enemies of God, judgment is coming. The one who came as the humble servant who willingly marched to the cross as the sacrificial lamb will soon return as the conquering king. He will deal swiftly with his enemies. But, all who find refuge in the suffering servant, Jesus, will be met with peace and blessing. They will dwell with him in peace and harmony for all eternity.
So, as we journey through these final verses, I want to ask you, "Which camp are you in?"
These words should be incredibly terrifying to those who reject Christ and are enemies of God. But these verses should be unbelievably hopeful for those who have pleaded for mercy and experienced Christ's cleansing work. However, there's no middle ground. You are either God's enemy or God's friend. You are either a recipient of God’s wrath or God’s mercy. If your allegiance resides in your own kingdom, death is on your horizon. Things may go well for you now, but that prosperity is fleeting. But if your allegiance is to Christ's kingdom, life is on your horizon. Things may be difficult now, but an eternal blessing is on your horizon. So, which camp are you in?
JUDGEMNT IS COMING
In verses 5-6, we see the reality of God’s judgment coming for the wicked. He will “shatter kings on the day of his wrath.” The word for shatter in Hebrew means to smite, pierce, strikethrough, shatter, or wound severely. The word wrath depicts the image of one’s nostrils flaring, alluding to the rapid breathing of passion one feels in one's anger. Judgment implies a punishment for wrongdoing. So, David is beginning to tell us, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, that a day is coming when God’s anger toward sin will culminate, and his wrath will burn bright. On this day, his judgment will be executed swiftly among the nations. The nations will be filled with corpses, signifying total, definitive, and complete judgment. Not a single ounce of wickedness will be overlooked.
Now, there’s an interesting wordplay that some commentators allude to at the end of verse 6. The Hebrew word that the ESV translates as “chiefs” can more literally mean “head.” The Old Testament often uses it to signify chiefs, commanders, or leaders. But it’s also the same word used in Genesis 3:15, where God says to the serpent, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring, he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel.” This could be a subtle reference to God’s words to the serpent in the garden. This promise to the serpent was a promise that was inaugurated at the cross (Jesus’ death and resurrection disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame (Col. 2:15)), continues through the church (In writing to the Church of Rome, Paul says, “The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet (Rom 16:20).” “Resist the devil, and he will flee from you Js 4:7).), and will culminate one day at the second coming of Jesus(he will be thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophet were, and they will be tormented day and night forever (Rev. 20:10)).
In Revelation 19-20, we see Jesus described as the Faithful and True rider on a white horse who comes to judge and make war. He will come and strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the wine press of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. Then, an angel of the Lord appears standing in the sun. With a loud voice, he calls all the birds of the air to “come and gather for the great supper of God, to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great.” Then, the kings of the earth and their armies will gather against Jesus and his army. And all who gather against him will be thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. They will be slain by the sword that came from the mouth of Jesus, and all the birds will gorge their flesh.
Then, at the start of Revelation 20, we see Satan bound and thrown into the bottomless pit, which will be sealed and shut over him so that he might not deceive the nations any longer for 1,000 years. After this, we see a final judgment where Satan will be released from his prison to deceive the nations and set up for a final battle. They will surround the camp of the saints and the beloved city, but fire will come down from heaven and consume them, and the devil will be thrown into the lake of fire and sulfur where the beast and the false prophets were, and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever. Then, the final judgment will come, and the dead will be judged by what they have done. Death and Hades will be thrown into the lake of fire, along with anyone whose name was not written in the Book of Life.
We could have a million conversations here, and the weeds we could get caught in are thick. But I want us to see this: every enemy of God’s will soon be destroyed once and for all. It may seem, at times, that Satan’s seed is winning, but there’s coming a day when his seed will be crushed once and for all. It may seem, at times, like sin is too powerful, but there’s coming a day when it will be done away with once and for all. It may seem, at times,like the wicked are prospering, but there’s coming a day when they will be done away with once and for all. It may seem, at times, like false teachers are swaying the nations, but there’s coming a day when they will be done away with once and for all. It may seem, at times, like death is a cruel oppressor that we cannot defeat, but there is coming a day when he will be defeated once and for all. In the words of James Hamilton, in his commentary on Psalm 110, “Through the agency of the future king from David’s line, God will shatter the kings who prove themselves to be seed of the serpent by their unrepentance (110:5), and he will shatter the head of their father the devil (110:6).” There is coming a day when God’s wrath will be poured out on all of the wicked. On this day, every ounce of wickedness among the nations over the wide earth will be dealt with in totality.
Do you ever feel like the battle against evil is never-ending? Does it ever feel like you’re fighting an uphill battle, like righteousness will never win? Psalm 110 directs our attention to a day where every ounce of wickedness will be dealt with swiftly. God sees it. He hates it. And, at the right time, he will do something about it.
PEACE IS COMING
Then, at the conclusion of this psalm, we see a refreshing imagery of peace— “He will drink from the brook by the way; therefore he will lift up his head.”
Have you ever been tired from a long journey? Perhaps a long run? Or cutting the grass on a hot summer day? Water is intended to refresh us in our weariness. It’s intended to strengthen us. After this final judgment, we find the Messiah drinking water from the brook, which gives him strength to rule over his people for all eternity.
If you remember, Psalm 1 describes the “blessed man” as someone who is like a “tree planted by streams of water” that “yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither.” This is peaceful language of prosperity, blessing, and fruitfulness.
Revelation 21:5-7 says, “[5] And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.” Also he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” [6] And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give from the spring of the water of life without payment. [7] The one who conquers will have this heritage, and I will be his God and he will be my son.”
To all in Christ, we are promised to drink from the spring of the water of life without payment. To all in Christ, we are promised to dwell with our God for all eternity in perfect harmony. To all in Christ, we look ahead to a day when we will no longer wrestle with our own sin. To all who are in Christ, we look ahead to a day when Satan will no longer roam around like a roaring lion. To all who are in Christ, we look ahead to a day when there will no longer be any deception. To all who are in Christ, we look ahead to a day when there will be no more wickedness. To all who are in Christ, we look ahead to a day when there will be no more death. To all who are in Christ, we look ahead to dwelling with God forever in perfect peace.