ADVOCATE (Psalm 110)

Years ago someone gave us a "Christmas cactus"

which faithfully blooms in the winter and summer. The

mix of red and white flowers are appropriate reminders

of sacrifice and holiness--two standards of

the sacrificial system that Christ fulfilled.

A series on the 48 psalms commended for study during times of depression, from David Seamand’s book, Healing for Damaged Emotions.

The last few years I’ve been blessed by someone who declared, “I’ve got your back,” as I went through trying times with some relational issues. It meant so much to have somebody praying for me and offering counsel for that situation. As I came to Psalm 110 with its enigmatic references to a man with a tongue-twister name (“Melchizedek”), I thought about how this is how Christ “has my back.”

MELCHIZZY-WHO?

A little background on this strange-named fellow is imperative. He’s part of a war story told in Genesis 14. Abraham had just come from a battle to free his nephew Lot from enemy kings. On the way home, Abraham stopped at a town called Jerusalem, whose king, Melchizedek, served as both political and spiritual leader (priest). Many generations later, when God set up through Moses the priesthood descended from Aaron, no priest would serve as king. Though neither his birth or death are recorded, Melchizedek was indeed a real-life human being of considerable wealth and influence.  Somehow, he was a believer in the true God.

This psalm is a big deal in the Bible, quoted more than any other psalm in the New Testament. Jesus used the two titles in verse 1 (one God’s holiest, never-spoken-aloud name, and the other denoting “Messiah”)  to silence the Pharisees’ complaints about His claim to deity (Matt. 22:41-46). Hebrews 6 thoroughly discusses how the real-life, old-time king was a “type” or symbol of Jesus Christ. Jesus had an earthly virgin mother and an earthly stepdad, but in His deity, He was established as One from past eternity to future eternity. The Old Testament king’s name meant “King of righteousness” or “king of peace,” both of which describe Christ.

OUR KING AND PRIEST

As king, Jesus is ultimate victor over all our enemies. We may feel dragged down in continuing battles against others’ wrongdoings against us, but His death on the cross has evil on a predetermined path to extinction. As priest, Jesus is our Advocate, the One who knows how it feels to be rejected, demeaned and even killed.

Psalm 110 is actually part of a path that winds through Gethsemane, where Jesus agonized over His impending death, realizing this is why He came to earth.  Hebrews 5:7 says He “offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death.” Yet Jesus knew He had to go through this awful death to be a Savior.

Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him.(v. 8)

And guess what follows that:

[He] was designated by God to be high priest in the order of Melchizedek. (v. 9)

He was—IS—our King and our Priest, the never-has-sinned representative who intercedes to the Father on our behalf (Hebrews 7:25).

I admit, this is some pretty heady theology. It’s hard for me to wrap my mind around it. But the simple fact is that Jesus loves us and defends us. He is our Advocate. And when I feel under spiritual attack, I know I have a Defender—and a Friend—in the Lord Jesus. He may bring affirming and wise friends into my life, but in the end, He has my back!