The Ancient Word...

Jews addressed the kings descended from David as "lord" (Hebrew adonai, Greek kyrios ) -- the same title used for God Himself.

Apart from "lord" being a common title of respect, Jews called the davidic king "lord" because he exercised power on God's behalf, as God's appointed agent.

To illustrate: Psalm 2, a "royal psalm" used in coronation ceremonies, makes the davidic king ruler of all nations, wielding authority delegated by the Lord of all Creation:

Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possessions. (v. 8, NIV)

Likewise, in Psalm 110, another "royal psalm," the writer declares:

The LORD [God] says to my lord [the davidic king]: "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet." (Psalm 110:1)

The psalmist pictures the king as God's "right hand man," occupying the place of second highest authority in the kingdom. The davidic king rules as God's vicar, God's authoritative representative on earth. (Joseph occupies a similar position in relation to Pharaoh in Genesis 41:40-44.)

As Messiah and the ultimate Davidic King, Jesus also exercises divine authority. For example, he "drives out demons by the finger of God" (Luke 11:20) and forgives sins as only God can (Matthew 9:6). Jesus is "Lord of the Sabbath" law given by God (Mark 2:28), and "greater than the Temple" established by God (Matthew 12:6). "Even the winds and the waves obey him" (Matthew 8:27), for he holds "all authority in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28:18).

Jesus declared, "Before Abraham was born, I AM" (John 8:58), and "anyone who has seen me has seen the Father" (John 14:9).

"Jesus is Lord" (Romans 10:9) not only because he is the agent of God, but also because he is "God with us" (Matthew 1:23).

Jews anticipated that God would work through the Messiah, but they never expected that God would come as His own Messiah! The Lord at God's right hand is God Himself.

... for Today

The right hand place was a position of honor. That's why the mother of James and John requested that, in the new Kingdom, her sons should sit at Christ's right and left (Matthew 20:21). It symbolized privilege and intimacy.

In Matthew 25:31-46 Jesus declares that, when the Son of Man comes in his glory, he will put the sheep (those whom he shepherds) on his right and the goats on the left.

Jesus himself was raised to the right hand of God (see Romans 8:34; Colossians 3:1; and 1 Peter 3:22). However, Paul wants us to know that we too have been raised up with Christ (Colossians 3:1) to share a privileged role in the Kingdom.

Even the Apostle John anticipates a time when the dominion of faithful saints will include "authority over the nations" (Revelation 2:26). Implicit in the text is the privilege of the right hand.

How extraordinary that the promise to the Israelite kings becomes the promise to the Messiah, which he then extends as a promise to us! The begotten Son of God vests his authority in us, so that those who live by faith in Christ become the adopted sons and daughters of God -- princes and princesses in His Kingdom.

What does this mean?

At the very least, it reinforces the grace and generosity of our Father. While we ought to be grateful to secure a back-row seat in the stadium, He calls us forward...alongside Him. And our privilege is not based on merit. We can't earn this honor. He bestows it because the Messiah earned it for us...all of us!

Discuss...

1. How do you feel about the truth that God wants to honor us in His Kingdom?
   
2. How might we live differently as the "right-handers" of the Father? What privileges and responsibilities does such an appointment carry with it?

Chris Davis, PhD & David Timms, PhD
Hope International University
Fullerton, California

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