Many of the psalms are deemed “royal psalms.” Whether they are psalms that declare God is king (such as Psalms 93–99) or ones that feature David’s kingship (Psalms 2, 18, 20, 21, 45, 72, 101, 110, 132, 144), quite a few are categorized this way. Yet perhaps the psalm most royal is Psalm 110, for it is the psalm most often quoted in the New Testament to substantiate the kingship of Jesus Christ.

No wonder. The very first line is, “The Lord says to my Lord: ‘Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.’” Here we have a clear indication of the relationship between the first and second persons of the Trinity, as the formatting of the words translated “Lord” indicate. The Lord (Hebrew: Yahweh) promises to my Lord (Hebrew: Adonai) that He can sit at His right hand. In other words, our covenant-keeping heavenly Father is telling His beloved, obedient Son that He is His “right-hand man.” Indeed, Jesus Christ now holds a position that belongs to no one else. By virtue of His perfect obedience that led to His sacrificial death, all authority in heaven and earth has been granted to Him.

This truth causes the author of Hebrews to ask, “To which of the angels has He ever said, ‘Sit at My right hand, until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet’?” (Heb. 1:13). Clearly the answer is none of them, for that position belongs to the King of the angels. Peter preached to the Jewish people at Pentecost, “It was not David who ascended into heaven, for he himself says, ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”’ Therefore, let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified” (Acts 2:34–35).

Sadly, this glorious truth is lost on much of the modern church. Many Christians show their con-fusion when they say, “I made Jesus Lord of my life.” Think of what that is saying! Jesus is God incarnate who tamed winds, drove out demons, and healed the sick. Then He died for His people’s sins and—as death could not hold Him—was raised to life, ascended into heaven, and is now seat-ed at the right hand of His Father. That’s why Peter said, “God made him Lord.” That is His prerogative!

Imagine the folly of a private in the army who wants to show honor to the general who is coming to visit the camp. The four-star general arrives, and the private runs up to him and says, “I’m going to make you the general over me.” Would not this commander rightly bark, “Make me general? Fall back in line, soldier!”

We have a scene much like this one in the Bible. Before the battle for Jericho, Israel’s leader, Joshua, was on a reconnaissance mission when he encountered a soldier with his sword drawn. Joshua asked him, “Are you for us or our adversaries?” What was the response Joshua received to his question? “No, rather I am the captain of the host of the Lord.” At that point, Joshua did the proper salute: “Joshua fell on his face to the earth and worshiped and said to him, ‘What does my lord say to his servant?’” (Josh. 5:14).

One day, I was talking on a cell phone to a student who is a sergeant major in the National Guard. He was on a short break while overseeing field training exercises. Suddenly, he said to me, “I have to go. The colonel is here!” and hung up. That was the right response!

The royal psalms, and especially this one most royal of all, remind us of our basic Christian duty. We are to be a people who “offer themselves freely on the day of your power in holy garments” (Ps. 110:3). For, as William Symington reminds us in Messiah the Prince, “Earthly kings ask the subjects to die for him, but we have a king who died for us.” In honor of this truth, do you con-fess Jesus as the Lord the Father has seated? Do you recognize that you owe complete allegiance to Him? And does your life reflect His—a daily offering in willing obedience to the one who gave Himself for you?