Psalms of Christmas
You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek. Psalm 110: 4b
Yesterday, we saw how Christ is the ultimate King, ruling over heaven and earth. Christ’s Kingship and divinity are also emphasized at the beginning of this psalm: “The LORD said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’” (Psalm 110:1) Jesus Himself references this passage as evidence of His deity (Matthew 22:44).
Not only is the Christ a descendant of David and a king, but He is also a priest “according to the order of Melchizidek.” Melchizidek was a true priest of the Most High God. He is a prototype of the Messiah, who is a priest, not being a descendant of Aaron, but by divine decree. Christ, though, is the ultimate High Priest because He fulfilled God’s Law in our place and now He intercedes, He speaks for us, with His Heavenly Father.
The last section of Psalm 110 portrays Christ as both a powerful King and Judge: “He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath. He shall judge among the nations’” (Psalm 110:5b-6a) While such an image may strike fear into our sinful hearts, we can take great comfort and look forward to Christ’s Second Coming, for through Christ’s death and resurrection, we stand innocent in God’s eyes.
What a miracle we have at Christmas, as we worship Christ as true man – a humble baby – and true God and ultimate King, Priest, and Judge, as prophesied in the Old Testament.
Jesus, my great High Priest, Offered His blood and died;
My guilty conscience seeks No sacrifice beside.
His pow’rful blood did once atone, And not it pleads before the throne.
The Lutheran Hymnal 220:1