Sharper Iron — The Psalter: The Wounded Victor is King and Priest

Rev. Dr. Reed Lessing, Professor of Theology and Ministry, Director of the Pre-Seminary Program, and Director of the Center for Biblical Studies at Concordia University in St. Paul, MN, and associate pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Eagan, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Psalm 110.

Psalm 110 is the most-quoted and referenced psalm in the New Testament. In Psalm 110, David writes prophetically concerning the Messiah. First, the conversation between the Father and the Son shows that the Messiah truly is God who reigns over all. Second, the Father’s oath to the Messiah shows that the Messiah is a priest who serves forever and makes intercession for us sinners. Third, the Messiah is the wounded victor who has fulfilled the Gospel promise to crush the evil foe. In this way, Psalm 110 points us clearly to Jesus as our crucified, risen, ascended, and returning Savior.

Join Sharper Iron during the month of July to study several Psalms. In the Psalter, God speaks His Word to us and teaches us how to speak back to Him in prayer. Even in the great variety of the Psalms, each one points us to our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Sharper Iron, hosted by Rev. Timothy Appel, looks at the text of Holy Scripture both in its broad context and its narrow detail, all for the sake of proclaiming Christ crucified and risen for sinners. Two pastors engage with God’s Word to sharpen not only their own faith and knowledge, but the faith and knowledge of all who listen.

Sharper Iron is underwritten by Lutheran Church Extension Fund, where your investments help support the work of The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod. Visit lcef.org.

Psalm 110

Sit at My Right Hand

A Psalm of David.

110 The Lord says to my Lord:
“Sit at my right hand,
until I make your enemies your footstool.”

²The Lord sends forth from Zion
    your mighty scepter.
    Rule in the midst of your enemies!
³Your people will offer themselves freely
    on the day of your power,^[a]
    in holy garments;^[b]
from the womb of the morning,
    the dew of your youth will be yours.^[c]
⁴The Lord has sworn
    and will not change his mind,
“You are a priest forever
    after the order of Melchizedek.”

⁵The Lord is at your right hand;
    he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.
⁶He will execute judgment among the nations,
    filling them with corpses;
he will shatter chiefs^[d]
    over the wide earth.
⁷He will drink from the brook by the way;
    therefore he will lift up his head.

Footnotes

Psalm 110:3 Or on the day you lead your forces
Psalm 110:3 Masoretic Text; some Hebrew manuscripts and Jerome on the holy mountains
Psalm 110:3 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain
Psalm 110:6 Or the head

Rev. Timothy Appel

Although a mathematics degree may not be incredibly helpful to (proudly born-and-raised Texan) Rev. Timothy Appel while hosting Sharper Iron, his love of CFW Walther and the season of Easter will come in handy. His Call is shepherding the flock at Faith Lutheran Church in Godfrey, Illinois, and he’s also husband to wife Kristin and dad to their growing basketball team of children. When he’s not carrying out pastoral duties, you may find him reading “The Lord of the Rings,” snacking on Reese’s peanut butter cups, playing dominoes with his boys, or studying up on Texas history (including Sam Houston, of course).