SOAP 09/14/2014; Psalm 110:2

Today's reading: Ezekiel 36, 37; Psalm 110; Revelation 19

S) "² The Lord will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying,
'Rule in the midst of Your enemies.'"

Psalm 110:2 (NASB)

O) The first thing to know, is that this chapter is a prophetic song, written by King David, about Jesus Christ, the LORD's Messiah. It cannot be taken out of context, to be claimed as some kind of promise to any believer. However, I does show some characteristics about God, and there are some things that really stood out too me. First, it is the LORD who stretches the scepter, not the Messiah King. This really clarifies that when the Messiah came, it was never going to be a matter of a man, however anointed, who would exercise some kind of military prowess to overthrow governments. The second thing that stood out to me, was the command to rule. In fact, I had to re-read the verse, because my brain expected (and I misread) this as "[You will] rule..." which is not what it says, at all. There is a striking difference. The way I sort of, expected, to read that, would have been more along the lines of a simple prophecy. The way God spoke it, it was clearly a command. It was a task, an order, it was something that must be done. The last part, the really intriguing part, was that the ruling was to be done in the midst of His enemies. That certainly stirs up a concept of coinciding, or covert existence, doesn't it? Ruling in the midst of enemies seems to mean that the enemies have not been vanquished. The enemies must continue to exist, if He is to rule in their midst. This is remarkable, in view of the Kingdom Jesus actually established (as opposed to the more political or military kingdom that some expected their Messiah to begin).

A) That last command is a flashing red light, an eye-catching reminder, that God's ways are not our ways, and that the LORD wants me to be involved in my future. While He will certainly do things on my behalf (like stretching the scepter), He also commands my involvement (like the command to rule). Furthermore, my expectations, and the way the world does things, can be pretty far off base. It is important that I am allowing the LORD to be the commander of my life, because using any other source as instruction, is little better than a guessing game.

P) Father, You are sovereign, and everything in my life is Yours to command. You have done countless things for me, out of sheer grace, and I am humbled and thankful. I never want to become complacent, Father, thinking or expecting that You will do something for me, when You are actually commanding me to take action in it. Open my eyes and ears, to know Your command, to follow Your directions, to obey what You would have me do. Let Your will be done, to be glorified in my life. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.