“In the second century, Jewish teachers applied it to Hezekiah (Justin Martry, Dialogue with Trypho, 33, 83)” Lewis, Matthew 14-28; 108.

110:1 seems quoted or alluded to in Matt. 26:63-64; Mark 16:19; Acts 2:34-35; 5:30-32; 7:55-56; Rom. 8:34; I Cor. 15:25; Eph. 1:20; Col. 3:1; Heb. 1:3, 13; 8:1; 10:12-13; 12:2; I Peter 3:22.

Lessons from this section Mark 12:35-37 paralleled by Matthew 21:41-46; Luke 20:41-44

“Psalm 110 is the psalm most frequently quoted and alluded to in the New Testament. See also Matt. 22:44; 26:64; Mark 14:62; (16:19); Luke 20:42-43; 22:69; Acts 2:34-45; Romans 2:5; 8:34; 11:29; I Cor. 15:25; Eph. 1:20; Col. 3:1; Heb. 1:3; 5:6, 10; 6:20; 7:3, 11, 15, 17, 21; 8:1; 10:12-13; 12:2” Brooks, Mark, 200. Psalm 110:1 is quoted 14 times in the NT- NICOT, Psalms, 838.

What are we told about Psalm 110, from Mark 12:35-37; Matt. 22:41-46; Luke 20:41-44?

1. David is the author of Psalm 110- Jesus affirms this in Mark 12:36, 37- αυτος Δανιδ- David himself. The same point is made in Matt. 22:43 and Luke 20:42. “Jesus first affirmed the Davidic authorship of Ps. 110, something that is usually denied by modern scholarship” Brooks, Mark, 200. 

2. David speaks by inspiration- In Mark 12:36 εν τω πνευματι τω αγιω- in the Holy Spirit. Matt 22:43 says, “in the Spirit.”

These are not simply David’s words but God’s words. The same point is made about David and the Psalms in Acts 1:16; 4:25-26. “Jesus attributes a statement of Psalm 110:1 to David, inspired by the Spirit (cf. II Sam. 23:2)” Lewis, Matthew, 107.

3. Psalm 110 speaks of the Messiah- David himself calls Him- Mark 12:37; also see Matt. 22:43; Luke 20:44.

This interpretation of Psalm 110 is assumed as common ground between Jesus and the scribes- Mark 12:35; and Pharisees- Matt. 22:41. 

Acts 2:33-35 quotes Psalm 110:1 and stresses that is not David who ascended into heaven but that this is fulfilled in the Messiah/ the Christ. 

4. The Messiah is David’s Lord- David himself calls Him “Lord”- Mark 12:37; see also Matt. 22:44; Luke 20:44.

The OT gives abundant evidence that the Messiah will be of the line of David- II Sam. 7:11-16; 22:51; Psalm 18:50; Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:1-9; 16:5; Jer. 23:5-6; 30:8-9; 33:15, 17, 22; Ezek. 34:23-24; 37:24; Hosea 3:5; Amos 9:11. The gospel of Matthew especially emphasizes Jesus as the Son of David- Matthew 1:1; 9:27; 12:23; 15:22; 20:30-31; 21:9, 15. 

The point is not to deny that the Messiah is the “son of David” but to state that answer is incomplete. He is both David’s son and David’s Lord. “The startling fact that David spoke of a king as ‘my lord’ was pointed out by Christ, who left His hearers to think out its implications, and His apostles to spell them out” Kidner, 393. 

“The first Lord is God; the second is the Messiah. In Greek speech the slave described his master as my lord: the underling described his superior in the same way. The king, however, is at the top of the ladder. Whom could he describe in the phrase? A father does not address his son as ‘my Lord.’ The figure David addressed must be his superior; how then is He David’s son? None could answer. Nor is there an answer short of a knowledge of the divine nature of the Messiah of which they know nothing” Lewis, 107-108. 

5. Psalm 110 expresses the relationship between the LORD/God and the Messiah/Christ 

The Messiah is a distinct “person” from the LORD- Mark 12:36; Psalm 110:1 “The LORD- YHWH- said to m

The Psalm is based on the two decrees in vs. 1 and vs. 4.

Every word of vs. 1 will prove important and two different words for Lord are used.

Notice the use of "right hand" in vs. 1 and vs. 5.

Melchizedek only appears in the OT elsewhere in Genesis 14:18-20.
Melchizedek is king and priest. 
He blessed Abram.
Abram paid tithes to him.

The psalm gives different words to refer to the foes or enemies.
It shows us the victory over these foes is complete.
The victory is because of the LORD. 

Some have described this as the longest sustained imprecatory prayer.

A Psalm of David

109:1-5 He describes his mistreatment at the hands of others
They spoke against him constantly- vs. 2, 3, 4. They lied about him- vs. 2. They spoke words of hatred- vs. 3. He did good to them, but they did evil to him- vs. 5.

109:6-20 He prays that judgment may fall on them.
Notice how many of these judgments he requests tie to the concept of lex talionis, the punishment fitting the crime.
vs. 6 accuser- They acted as his accusers (vs. 4) so may an accuser stand at his right hand.
vs. 7 guilty- This word is translated wicked (vs. 2, 6). Since they are wicked, may they be found to be wicked (guilty).  
vs. 9 prays for his death but he has put others to death (vs. 16). This is what God warned would happen in Exodus 22:22-24; Prov. 22:22-23.
vs. 12 Let none show lovingkindness to him because he did not remember to show it to others (vs. 16).
vs. 17 "He also loved cursing, so it came to him; and he did not delight in blessing, so it was far from him."
The fact we see so many instances of this, lead us to think that the curses called down upon this wicked are the same things he inflicted upon others.

109:21-31 God's intervention changes everything
vs. 21 But You, O God, the LORD
vs. 22 David acknowledges he is afflicted and needy and desperately in need of God's help.
 vs. 27 He prays for God to deliver him in such a way that all know that it is God's work.
vs. 30-31 He promises to praise God, who stands at the right hand of the needy. See right hand in Pss. 109:6 and 110:1.

This Psalm combines sections of Psalm 57:7-11 and Psalm 60:5-12.

Psalm 57 and Psalm 60 are in their titles tied to specific circumstances in the life of David. There are some 13 Psalms that do this and these are two of them.

This Psalm stresses
108:3 Giving thanks to the LORD
108:4 God's lovingkindness and faithfulness
108:7-9 God's complete sovereignty over Israel and their neighbors
108:11-13 God alone is responsible for victory. Trust in men is vain- Jer. 17:5-8.

The Psalm foreshadows the salvation Jesus gives
108:8 Judah the leader- Heb. 7:14
108:5 Be exalted- John 3:14; 8:28; 12:32-33
108:4 The cross is the ultimate display of His lovingkindness and faithfulness.

Give thanks to the LORD for He is good for HIs lovingkindness is everlasting.

107:1-3 is an answer to Ps. 106:47

107:4-32 Four stanzas that follow a standard procedure. The 2 and 4 lines are refrains in this Psalm. 

1. There is a statement of a specific problem (107:4-5, 10-12, 17-18, 23-27).

2.Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, He delivered them out of their distress (107:6, 13, 19, 28).

3. A specific act of deliverance from the specific problem mentioned (107:7, 14, 20, 29-30).

4. Let them give thanks to the LORD for His lovingkindnesses and for His wonders to the sons of man (107:8, 15, 21, 31).

The congregation is called to thank and praise God for His deliverances (107:9, 16, 22, 32).

“Jesus does the same kind of things that God does in the four narrative illustrations: feeding the hungry  in the wilderness (Mark 6:30-44; 8:1-10; Luke 1:53), liberating those bound by demonic powers (Mark 1:21-28; 3:20-27; Luke 4:16-21), healing and forgiving the sick (Mark 2:1-12), stilling storms at sea (Matt. 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41)” McCann, 1119. 

107:4-9 “Lostness, hunger, thirst and exhaustion are all figures which our Lord was to employ in relation to His self-offer as the Way, the Bread and Water of life and Giver of rest. The scene in this stanza unites all aspects of salvation and crown them with that of a city to dwell in; a climax without which the rescue, at either level of meaning, would be little more than first aid. The New Testament is full of it: cf., e.g., Eph. 2:11ff; Heb. 12:22ff; Revelation 21 and 22” Kidner, 384

Vs. 9 satisfied in the Greek is used in the feeding of the 5000 (Mark 6:42; Luke 9:17; John 6:26) and the feeding of the 4000 (Matt. 15:33, 37; Mark 8:4, 8) with John 6:35

Filled in vs. 9 is used in John 6:12 in the feeding of the 5000. 

107:10-16 “Jesus applies the Isaianic passages to the his own role of setting men free from the prison house of sin (Lk. 4:18-21; Isa. 61:1-2)” Miller, 362. 

Prisoners released in Acts (5:17-26; 12:1-11; 16:25-34) are a picture of those who are freed from the prison of sin. 

107:10, 14 shadow of death- Lk. 1:79

107:17-22 Raising up the sick from their bed

107:20 He sent His word- Matt. 8:8

Vs. 29 with Mark 4:35-41; Matt. 8:23-27; Luke 8:22-25

107:23-32 Matt. 8:23-27; Mark 4:35-41

107:30 brought to their desired haven- John 6:21 

107:33-38 The God of reversals

107:43 The psalm ends on a note of wisdom

This episode of Psalm 106 begins with verse 24.

Nine portions of Israel's history and Israel's Scriptures  are used to stress Israel's unfaithfulness and God's mercy in spite of their sin.

106:6-12 The events in Egypt and at the Red Sea- Exodus 14-15

106:13-15 The lusting or craving for quail in the wilderness- Numbers 11

106:16-18 The rebellion of Dathan and Abiram- Numbers 16

106:19-23 The worship of the calf at Mt. Horeb- Exodus 32

106:24-27 The spies discourage the  people from taking the land- Num. 13-14

106:28-31 The idols of Baal-peor- Num. 25

106:32-33 The rebellion at the waters of Meribah- Num. 20:2-13

106:34-39 The failure of Israel to drive out the Canaanites- Josh. 15:63; 16:10; 17:12-13; Judges 1:27-36

106:40-46 The time of the Judges where the people sink down into sin yet God deliveres them time after time- Judges 3:7-16:31.

This psalm is a twin to Psalm 105 but a fraternal twin and not an identical one.

The emphasis on Psalm 105 is on God's goodness and mercy to Israel. The emphasis in Psalm 106 is on the wickedness and sinfulness of Israel.  God's grace is even more amazing in light of Israel's sin and Israel's sin looks even more hideous against the background of God's lovinigkindness.

Praise the LORD is an inclusion in vs. 1 and vs. 48.  How can a psalm that stresses Israel's sin be a reason for praise. The thought of the gracious and merciful God  underlines every section whether it is mentioned specifically or not because it is the reason that God does not give up on the people.

Nine portions of Israel's history and Israel's Scriptures  are used to stress Israel's unfaithfulness and God's mercy in spite of their sin.

106:6-12 The events in Egypt and at the Red Sea- Exodus 14-15

106:13-15 The lusting or craving for quail in the wilderness- Numbers 11

106:16-18 The rebellion of Dathan and Abiram- Numbers 16

106:19-23 The worship of the calf at Mt. Horeb- Exodus 32

106:24-27 The spies discourage the  people from taking the land- Num. 13-14

106:28-31 The idols of Baal-peor- Num. 25

106:32-33 The rebellion at the waters of Meribah- Num. 20:2-13

106:34-39 The failure of Israel to drive out the Canaanites- Josh. 15:63; 16:10; 17:12-13; Judges 1:27-36

106:40-46 The time of the Judges where the people sink down into sin yet God deliveres them time after time- Judges 3:7-16:31.

This is a historical Psalm. We studied Psalm 78 previously and it has two points. God's goodness to Israel and Israel's sin against God.

This psalm emphasizes only God's goodness to Israel.  Psalm 106 will emphasize Israel's sin against God. Israel's sin looks all the more evil in contrast to God's goodness and God's grace to Israel looks all the more amazing against Israel's sin.

105:1-7 A call to Israel to praise God.
vs. 5 calls Israel to remember God's miracles or marvels. This is little to ask since God remembers Israel in vs. 8, 42.

105:8-15 God's promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob

105:16-22 God sent Joseph ahead to prepare for the famine

105:23-25 From Joseph's death until Israel's slavery

105:26-38 God sending Moses and Aaron and the plagues on Egypt as acts of God's mercy to Israel.

105:39-45 God guides Israel throughout the wilderness to the promised land.
God kept His covenant and gave Israel the land (105:11, 44).
vs. 45 All of this should lead Israel to obey God and praise His name.

God's promises to Abraham have their ultimate fulfillment in Abraham- Matt. 1:1; Acts 3:25-26; Gal. 3:26-29.

The Psalm, as the one before it, begins and ends with "Bless the LORD,  O my soul!" 104:1, 35.

The Psalm speaks of God's work in creation and nature. All of this is to motivate us to praise God.

The idea of pantheism is that God is to be equated with the forces of nature.  This psalm speaks of a God who is transcendent, who is far greater than the world He has made.
He is clothed in "splendor and majesty" in 104:1. He is covered in light- 104:2; I Tim. 6:15.
He created the moon and the sun- 104:19. The sun and moon are not worthy of worship, but are held in the hand of the God who made them.

The idea of deism is that God created the world but is not intimately involved with man and the rest of Creation. This psalm presents a God who is deeply involved in creation. He sends forth springs in the valleys (104:10); He causes the grass to grow (104:14); He plants the trees (104:16). Even the mightiest of beasts depends upon Him for sustenance  (104:21, 26-27).

All of this leads us to praise God- 104:1, 24, 33, 34, 35

This psalm is an inclusio, beginning and ending with the same words- 103:1, 22.

It is a David's call to himself to bless the LORD with all that is within Him.

Vs. 3-5 describes God's benefits
1. He forgives all your sins
2. He heals all your diseases
3. He redeems your life from the pit
4. He crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion
5. He satisfies you with good things

vs. 9-10 Tell us what His love means by telling us what it will not do
1. He will not always contend
2. He will not keep His anger forever
3. He does not deal with us according to our sins
4. He does not reward us according to our iniquities.

vs. 11-13 Three ways to describe the richness of God's love and forgiveness
1. Veritical- as high as heavens are above the earth
2. Horizontal- as far as the East is from the West
3, Relational- Just as a father has compassion on His children

How does Jesus fulfill Psalm 103?
1. He forgives our sins and heals our diseases- 103;3; Mark 2:1-12
2. He redeems our life from the pit- 103:4 resurrection
3. The cross is the ultimate illustration of the love of God described in vs. 8-13
4. The LORD's love is from everlasting (Eph. 1:4) to everlasting (I Thess. 4:17).