Until . . .

Read: Psalm 110

The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit in the place of honor at my right hand until I humble your enemies, making them a footstool under your feet.” Psalm 110:1

IN WORD

Which Old Testament verse is quoted more than any other in the New Testament? Not a prophecy about the coming of the Messiah, not a prophecy about the Cross and Resurrection, and not even a recap of the greatest commandment to love God wholeheartedly. No, the most quoted verse is this one from a psalm of David about the Lord sitting at God’s right hand until His enemies are His footstool. Jesus used it to prove a point about Himself, Peter quoted it on the Day of Pentecost, and Paul and the writer of Hebrews referred to it in their writings. That means that the position of Jesus, as well as the timing of His return, was a major emphasis in the early church and to the Spirit who inspired our Scripture.

It’s easy to understand why this prophecy is significant. What it means is another matter, with each New Testament writer using it for a slightly different purpose. But one thing is clear: It strongly implies that Jesus isn’t coming back until His enemies are overcome.

Jesus’ enemies have already been defeated, of course, but they haven’t been rendered inactive. They are still rather influential in the world around us, and we battle spiritual opposition daily. So why doesn’t He come back and deal with them? Because as this verse says, He is waiting for another victory to come. Apparently His people have a role in putting His enemies down.

IN DEED

That would not be possible by our own devices. But God is the active agent in this passage; He is the one who puts the enemies under the feet of His Son, at which time the Son will no longer sit. But until then, we are to be busy opposing the kingdom of darkness. Filled with the light of God, we warriors of the footstool are to enforce the victories He has won.

ADDITIONAL READING: Acts 2:32-35

Fight the good fight with all thy might; Christ is thy strength, and Christ thy right.

J. S. B. MONSELL