The Christian Creed in One, Short Psalm, Part 1

Puritan Edward Reynolds (1599-1676) referred to Psalm 110 as “’symbolum Davidicum’, the prophet David’s creed” (The Whole Works of Right Reverend Edward Reynolds, Vol. 2). This Psalm is quoted more than any Psalm in the New Testament, and there is some recent scholarship suggesting that Hebrews is a sermon based on this Psalm. In a mere seven verses, we find the Christian confession of faith. Here is a short introduction to Reynolds’ break down of David’s creed, as taught in Psalm 110 (I am quoting from the KJV, as Edwards does in his work): The Doctrine of the Trinity: “The Lord says to my Lord” (v.1). This one is pulled right out of the first line of the Psalm, “The Lord says to my Lord.” Here we have the Father, Jehovah, speaking to the Son, Jesus Christ. Well this is interesting; how does David know about a conversation between the blessed holy Father and the Son? Preacher Charles Spurgeon marvels in The Treasury of David, “How condescending of Jehovah’s part to permit a mortal ear to hear, and a human pen to record his secret converse with his co-equal Son!” It is by his Spirit that this sacred discourse is revealed to David. Reynolds also points out the role of the Holy Spirit consecrating the Son to be David’s Lord. The Incarnation of Christ: “my Lord” (v.1). Also in the first verse of Psalm 110 is the clause “my Lord.” Jesus the Son is not only a Lord, but David can call him my Lord. This is truly amazing. Jesus descended from the line of David. Those boring genealogies that we always want to skip in our Bible reading labor to preserve this history. Matthew 1:1 one begins, “The book of the genealogy of Jesus Christ, son of David, the son of Abraham.” And then we pretend to pay attention until we finally get to verse sixteen about Joseph, Mary, and Jesus. But here we have David calling his son his Lord. Incredibly, the son of David is the Son of God. Jesus, who was born in the line of David, descending from his genealogy, also comes from a much “higher sonship”, as Reynolds calls it. Jesus is both David’s descendant and David’s Lord. Christ affirms this in Matthew 22:41-46. He gives the Pharisees a pop quiz, asking them whose son the Christ is. When they answered that the Christ was the son of David, he presses further by quoting Psalm 110. How could it be that his father David calls him “Lord” while in the Spirit? And how can he be both David’s Lord and his son? Scripture tells us that the Pharisees were done asking questions after Jesus silenced them with that doozy (although Scripture says it in much more eloquent fashion).  The Sufferings of Christ: “a priest” (v.4), “will drink from the brook by the way” (v.7). Christ’s passion as a priest “to offer himself up once for all” was marked by bitterness and suffering. Unlike Gideon’s men who lapped refreshment from a clear brook, our Lord was to drink sorrow, death, and the very wrath of God on the path pressing to the victory. It was our sin that caused his sufferings. His Completed Work and conquest over all his enemies and sufferings; his Resurrection: “he shall lift up his head” (v.7). Jesus Christ is exalted, vindicated, earning victory for not only himself, but all those whom the Father has given him. Not one has he lost. The bridegroom is triumphant for his church. Ascension and Intercession: “Sit thou on my right hand” (v. 1, 5). Unlike the Levitical priest that could never sit because their work was never done, Christ is now with his Father seated in a place of honor. Here he is continually making intercession for his bride. And unlike the Levitical priesthood that was interrupted by death, and continuously needing successors, Christ’s death was part of his priestly duty, whereby he laid down his life and took it up again. He holds his priesthood permanently, and therefore we can draw near to God in him. A Holy Catholic Church and Communion of Saints: The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in thy midst of thine enemies. Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth” (v. 2,3). We, who were once his enemies, have been given eyes to see the irresistible grace of the great and mighty Savior, Jesus Christ. And yet we see that this is not yet a kingdom of glory, but a kingdom of the cross. As we have been freed from the enslavement of the sin, we willingly offer a sacrifice of praise in gracious response to our great King. He has inaugurated a redemptive kingdom and is now bringing in the full number of those the Father has given him. Obviously I’m giving you very brief explanations of each of these great confessions that are so succinctly summed up in David’s creed recorded in Psalm 110. These could each be elaborated on in greater detail. And I still have 5 more confessions that Reynolds pulled out of Psalm 110 to go. So stay tuned for Part 2…