“Thy People Shall Be Willing”

 Psalm 110:1-3

            This is a coronation Psalm. It describes the coronation of the Lord Jesus Christ as our King. Having accomplished our redemption by the sacrifice of himself, having finished the work which his Father gave him to do as our Mediator, having fulfilled all the Father’s will as our Surety, "The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool”. This coronation of Christ as King of kings and Lord of lords has nothing to do with his divinity. As God, he is Lord and King of the universe by divine right, always has been and always will be. This coronation is the exaltation and dominion which our Savior earned as our Mediator. This is the reward of his faithful obedience and finished work as the God-man (John 17:2; Rom. 14:9; Phil. 2:8-11; Heb. 1:1-3; 10:10-14).

            Once our Lord Jesus was crowned as the omnipotent Prince and King of the universe, the scepter of righteousness was put in his hands, he was given power, dominion, and authority over all flesh for the saving of his people, with this blessed promise - “The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies”. The triune God has turned over the dominion of the universe to the man Christ Jesus. He who died to redeem his people at Calvary now reigns over all things (Even in the midst of his enemies!) to save those sinners purchased with his blood.

            But where are his people? A king without subjects is no king at all. The title of “King” is a mockery if there are no people, no subjects to the king. Where, then, shall the Christ of God find subjects who shall at last fill up the fulness of him that filleth all in all? The Scripture promises “A seed shall serve him” (Ps. 22:30); but who are they? Where are they?

            Sometimes we fear that God is saving no one, that our labor is in vain. We preach the gospel to hard hearted, obstinate sinners, to proud, dead, self-righteous religionists, to a valley full of dead, dry bones. Frequently, we almost despair, wondering, “Where shall we find subjects for this great King, our God and Savior and King? Where shall we find men and women willing to bow to the Son of God?” Then, when we read Psalm 110:3, our fears are silenced and laid to rest. “Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth."

            Blessed be the name of our great God! Nothing is in jeopardy. There is no danger of failure with him. There is a people in this world who belong to the Lord Jesus Christ. They are God’s elect, a people given to him, put into his hands as the Surety of the covenant before the world was made. They were his people before he came to save them and shall be his people forever. As surely as the Father gave them to him in eternity the Spirit shall hive them to him in time by his almighty, effectual, irresistible, saving grace in time (Matt. 1:21; John 6:37-40). His people are safe and secure in his hands from eternity (John 10:27-30). They shall never perish! Be sure you get the meaning of this promise. It is this - Our all glorious Christ, our great King shall never lack for a people to serve him, because all his people are made willing in the day of his power to be his subjects forever.

Don Fortner