Peace Lutheran Church Sussex, Wisconsin

Congregation at Prayer: March 21, 2021

What the Hearers Owe Their Pastors (Second Half)

CP210321

Catechesis Notes for the Week —Psalm 110—Psalm Announcing the Reign of Christ—Psalm 110 begins with David recounting a “conversation” between the God the Father and God the Son. Both are referred to by David as “Lord”— “the Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’” The passage refers to what will be the consummation of Jesus’ work of trampling the enemies of Satan, sin, and death underfoot. He will sit at the Father’s right hand. On account of the faithful sacrifice of the Son of God (“David’s Lord”), the Lord (God the Father) would place all these enemies under Jesus’ feet. The verse recalls the first promise of the Gospel concerning the “Seed of the Woman” (the Virgin-born Son of Mary) who would “crush the Serpent’s head” with His “heel”. By the redeeming work of His cross, Satan is conquered and the Father places all His enemies under Jesus’ feet. The rest of the psalm depicts the wonderful establishment of Christ’s kingdom as a kingdom of salvation, beauty, and new life for Christians of every tribe and nation. God the Father declared Jesus to be “a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” Melchizedek appeared to Abraham in the Old Testament as a man who seemed to have no earthly lineage and yet Abraham paid tithes to him, indicating the superiority of his priesthood. Melchizedek is a type of Christ. His name means, “King of righteousness” and his office is fulfilled in Christ Jesus, the true King of Righteousness whose kingdom and priesthood would never end.