Straddling the Fence

O. T. #1335 "Straddling the Fence"
Dec. 4, 2018
Psalm 110-Part 2

LET IT GLOW

One can sit on a fence for a while, but if you straddle it, well, that won't last long. It wouldn't take long for your body to hurt, so a decision as to which way to go must be made. Do we jump down on the right side or the left side? And so it is with Jesus, we eventually have to make a decision-He is Savior and Lord of our life or we turn our back on Him and jump down, going our own way.

This psalm is called a "messianic" or "royal psalm" because it is speaking of the coming reign of Jesus Christ as king and priest over all the earth.  The first time He came was with the purpose of being Messiah and Savior. The next time He will rule over us as King and High Priest.

Only King Jesus can lead His people into God's paths of blessing, and because He was sinless, the sacrifice He made for His people's sin-His very own self-keeps them there, in God's presence.  (Sing a New Song by Lydia Brownbeck)

This is the most quoted psalm in the New Testament, as mentioned previously:

• Christ's final and total destruction of the wicked in Rev. 6-9, (verses 1 and 6);
• prophesies Christ's reign on the earth in Rev. 20:1-7, (verse 2);
• tell of Christ's priestly work for His people in Hebrews 5-8, (verses 3-4);
• look forward to the final battle on earth when Christ will overcome the forces of evil in Rev. 19:11-21, (verses 5-6).  (Life Application Study Bible)

Have you noticed that many people only think of Jesus as only a great teacher? They may have a vague belief in God, but that is no option. If the Bible is taken as Truth as the Word of God, there is no denying Jesus as the Messiah who sits at God's right hand and is Lord over all (Acts 2:32-35). They can't straddle the fence. Either Jesus is Lord over all the earth and people or He isn't. He is sovereignly all-powerful or not. So let us help them understand why we celebrate Christmas-the birth of our Savior.

LET IT GROW

I was curious about the meaning of verse 7, He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore He shall lift up the head.

 So I went to Matthew Henry's Commentary, and found:

• Jesus drank the bitter cup which the Father put into His hand.
• The wrath of God, running in the channel of the curse of the law, was the brook in the way.
• He was abased and impoverished, so intent upon His work that Jesus drank puddle-water out of the lake in the highway. The brook was one of suffering as Jesus ran through it for us to have redemption and salvation.
• When He died, Jesus bowed His head (John 19:30), but He soon lifted up the head by His own power in His resurrection, as a conqueror. He humbled Himself, therefore God also highly exalted Him (Phil. 2:9).
• Jesus lifts up the heads of all His faithful followers, who, if they suffer with Him, shall also reign with Him.

If we drink from the cup of salvation that Jesus has to offer us, then we will have our heads lifted up.(Who can drink with their head down? Although, it is because of our sinful state that we come to Him, ashamed, looking down.)
Is there anyone you know that is down and out, looking down and feeling defeated? Let us share the good news of Jesus Christ with them, then they can have their heads lifted up, looking for the Redeemer to come back as King of kings and Lord of lords and High Priest.

LET IT GO

Don't straddle the fence-surrender to Jesus as Lord of my life and in control of everything.
Emanuel, God with us, has come to give you and me abundant life.
Lift up that head toward heaven and proclaim as the only way to heaven.