The family tree of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob is woven together with the land Yahweh provided them by covenant. Even while the people were in exile, the land covenant was never revoked. In fact, God promised to restore them to the land because the land was provided as an everlasting covenant.
And I will establish my covenant between me and you and your offspring after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your offspring after you. And I will give to you and to your offspring after you the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession, and I will be their God.”
Genesis 17:7-8
Kingdom Elements: Land and People
I contend that the foundation of the coming kingdom is based on a covenant. God established a covenant with the patriarchs and their descendants for the land. He also brought forth the Messiah through the same people and established a covenant for the salvation of mankind for those who believe and trust in Jesus the Messiah. God never revoked either of these two covenants. He certainly disciplines people, but he did not revoke the covenants given to them.
Now we have come to the kingdom. That is a loaded word! And one we will continue unpacking as we move forward in our series. Two thousand years ago, during Jesus’s trial, the discussion before Pontius Pilate centered on kings and kingdoms. And here, two millennia later, we are still discussing similar questions.
So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose, I was born, and for this purpose I have come into the world–to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”
John 18:33-38
We have been laying the foundation for two overarching themes. The coming kingdom is based on a family relationship to the king and on the geography from which it operates. Above, Jesus tells Pilate that his kingdom is heavenly or spiritual. We know from other passages that the heavenly kingdom will, in fullness, come into the world, but how will this happen? Psalm 110 provides some insight.
The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
The LORD sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies! Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours. The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”
The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. He will execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses; he will shatter chiefs over the wide earth. He will drink from the brook by the way; therefore, he will lift up his head.
Psalm 110
If you have not read this Psalm before, you might be shocked by the Lord’s vengeance against his foes. But keep in mind that he has been patient and long-suffering for thousands of years; at some point, evil and wickedness must be dealt with, as they cannot be allowed to corrupt his coming glorious kingdom.
Psalm 110 – Breaking it Down
Let us look at some of the Biblical ideas referenced in Psalm 110.
Relationally: Since David is the author of the Psalm, it appears he is eavesdropping on a conversation between God the Father and God the Son.
The LORD says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
Geographically: It identifies God’s earthly dwelling place as Zion.
The LORD sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies!
Considering the People of God: Like glistening dew at daybreak, the Lord’s people will be at full strength like young warriors in their prime.
Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power, in holy garments; from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours…
Concerning Timing: It is in “the day of his power” or “the day of the Lord.” We know from many passages in both the Old and New Testaments that “day of the Lord” language refers to the time of the end.
Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power…
Regarding Melchizedek: Melchizedek was both a priest and king without a genealogical record. This had never happened before, one person serving both roles. Having no genealogical record speaks to his eternal quality. Featuring Melchizedek in the Psalm recalls Abram’s vengeance against the invading kings in Genesis 14. In the same way Abram defeated the invading armies, so will Jesus, with his army, conquer his enemies and lead us into his eternal kingdom.
The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”
Restoring Zion
Finally, interwoven throughout the Psalm is the Lord’s purpose, something that has been in his heart from the beginning. That purpose speaks to the establishment of an eternal kingdom from Zion with people who love and willingly serve him throughout the ages. This will require the crushing defeat of his enemies – those who work at cross purposes to the Lord’s.
Observe the words and phrases from the psalm.
“I make your enemies your footstool,” “mighty scepter,” “rule in midst of enemies,” “day of your power,” “shatter kings on day of wrath,” “execute judgment among the nations,” “filling them with corpses,” “shatter chiefs over the wide earth.”
It should be easy to see that the overarching theme is God’s judgment, power, rulership, and the establishment of his kingdom from Zion/Jerusalem. The passage goes on to establish this warring king as one following the pattern of Melchizedek, who blessed Abram after a tremendous military victory in Genesis 14. And finally, we see his people fully committed to his cause, offering themselves freely in his service.
Making Connections: Linking Melchizedek, David, God, and Jesus
Jesus picks up the storyline of Psalm 110 in the synoptic gospels to help us connect the dots. In Mathew, Mark, and Luke, while talking with the Pharisees, Jesus identified himself as the Messianic figure of Psalm 110.
Now, while the Pharisees were gathered together, Jesus asked them a question, saying, “What do you think about the Christ? Whose son, is he?” They said to him, “The son of David.” He said to them, “How is it then that David, in the Spirit, calls him Lord, saying, “‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I put your enemies under your feet”’? If then David calls him Lord, how is he, his son?” And no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
Mathew 22:41-46
The bold portion is from Psalm 110
While debating with the Pharisees, Jesus says that not only is he the Christ and the Son of David, but also the Lord to whom David referred. And that Lord is a priest and king, as was Melchizedek, who blessed Abram with a significant land grant in Genesis. In the same way Abram exercised his authority in the land, taking vengeance on the invading kings and their armies, so will the Messiah execute his authority in the land on the day of his power.
By referring to Psalm 110, Jesus was pointing the religious leaders to himself as prophesied by David. Had they been able to comprehend and accept the connections he was making, perhaps things could have turned out differently, but that was not to be.
After he asked the question based on Psalm 110, I think their brains blew a fuse.
And for that reason,…
… no one was able to answer him a word, nor from that day did anyone dare to ask him any more questions.
Mathew 22:46
“ I imagine not.”
Beginning to Understand Kingdom
As mentioned earlier, we are laying a brief foundation for a “last days study.” Hopefully, by this time, we are beginning to understand some specifics of God’s plan of redemption. He first chose a man (family); he then connected that family to the land. Further, he gave his people sovereign authority in the land and chose a city for himself where he could live with his family. This is the foundation of his eternal kingdom. In this post, we saw that enemies have invaded and taken his land, and that they must be vanquished on the “day of his power.”
In the next installment, we will turn our attention to timing. When will the day of his power/wrath occur?