At His Right Hand

One line of an old song turns up in the mouth of Jesus, in Peter's first sermon, and twice in the letter to the Hebrews. It is this one, and it runs to nineteen words.

Start with what the line says, because English Bibles carry a distinction here that a reader can miss at speed. The LORD said unto my Lord. Two different words: the first is the divine name, printed in capitals by long convention, the second an ordinary word for a master. David the king is quoting somebody speaking to a person David calls his own lord. Of the ten English versions on this device, every one keeps the two apart, by capitals, by Jehovah, or by Yahweh.

Jesus took the puzzle to the Pharisees and left it with them. What think ye of Christ? whose son is he? They say unto him, The son of David. Then the line, then the question: If David then call him Lord, how is he his son? And no man was able to answer him a word. Peter answered at Pentecost by pointing at an occupied grave: David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord. Hebrews puts it to the angels and gets nothing back: to which of the angels said he at any time, Sit on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool? And it puts him in a chair, which is where the psalm had him from the first line.

That leaves the word until, which is where the psalm stops and where we still are. From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. Nobody puts a date on it, and nothing here tells you what this year will cost you. The question Jesus asked in the temple is still lying on the table. You are welcome to try it, and welcome to give the answer Peter gave.

Daily Manna runs on a two-year cycle. The year one reading for day 321 is Ask, Seek, Knock (Matthew 7:7).

All 365 readings in Daily Manna, Year Two