Psalms · psalm 110 of 150
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Psalm 110, by David, presents an oracle of the Lord to someone David calls my Lord: sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. This King rules from Zion, has a willing people on the day of his power, is a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek and judges the nations. The New Testament applies it to Jesus Christ.
The title says it is a psalm of David, and it is one of the shortest psalms and at the same time one of the most quoted in the New Testament. It is a royal and messianic psalm: it speaks of a King who is also a priest, something unique in Israel. Jesus used it to ask how the Christ could be the son of David and also his Lord, and the letter to the Hebrews uses it to explain the priesthood of Christ.
The psalm begins with an oracle: the Lord says to my Lord, sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet. David, who is speaking, calls another Lord, whom God invites to take the place of honor. In verse 2 the Lord sends forth from Zion the scepter of his power and tells him to rule in the midst of his enemies.
Verse 3, a difficult text, says his people will offer themselves freely on the day of his power, in holy garments, and speaks of the dew of youth from the womb of the morning. In verse 4 the Lord swears and will not change his mind: you are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. Melchizedek was the king and priest of Salem who blessed Abraham in Genesis 14.
Verses 5-7 describe the King's action: the Lord at his right hand will shatter kings on the day of his wrath, execute judgment among the nations, fill the places with corpses and shatter chiefs over the wide earth. He will drink from the brook by the way, and therefore he will lift up his head.
References follow ESV book names and verse numbers. Read each verse in your Bible before the explanation.
The Lord invites the one David calls my Lord to sit at his right hand until he makes his enemies a footstool for his feet. Jesus quoted this verse in Matthew 22:41-46 to show that the Messiah is more than a son of David.
The Lord sends forth from Zion the King's scepter and commands him to rule in the midst of his enemies. The reign begins in Jerusalem, but its destination is all the nations.
The Lord swears and will not change his mind: this King is a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. Hebrews 5:6 and 7:17 apply this verse to Christ, a king and priest who offers a permanent priesthood.
The Lord at the King's right hand will shatter kings on the day of his wrath and execute judgment among the nations. The psalm does not only say that the King will reign but that he will bring justice on those who oppose God.
6 questions with answers and references, ready for Sunday school, small group or a Bible quiz night.
Answer: To sit at his right hand until he makes his enemies a footstool for his feet. — Psalm 110:1
Answer: From Zion. — Psalm 110:2
Answer: They will offer themselves freely, in holy garments. — Psalm 110:3
Answer: That he is a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek. — Psalm 110:4
Answer: He will shatter kings and execute judgment among the nations. — Psalm 110:5-6
Answer: He will drink from the brook by the way and lift up his head. — Psalm 110:7
Psalm 110 is short, but heavy with significance for Christian faith. In a class or small group it can be studied with Matthew 22:41-46, Acts 2:32-36 and Hebrews 7 to see how the apostles read it: the risen Christ is seated at God's right hand and is our high priest. That gives security to those who doubt whether God reigns over a world that seems out of control.
It also encourages intercession. If our King is also a Priest forever, we have someone who prays for us and brings us near to God. And the picture of a willing people reminds us that following Christ is done with free devotion, not out of obligation.
Psalm 110 ends with the King lifting up his head in victory. Psalm 111 begins a series of praise with hallelujah: the Lord is great in his works, remembers his covenant, and the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.
He was the king of Salem and priest of God Most High who blessed Abraham and received a tenth from him (Genesis 14:18-20). He appears again in this psalm as a model of a royal priesthood. Hebrews 7 explains that Christ is a priest after this order, not after the order of Aaron.
Jesus raised that question to the Pharisees in Matthew 22:41-46: if the Christ is David's son, how does David call him Lord? The Christian answer is that the Messiah is a descendant of David and at the same time his Lord, being the Son of God.
It is the place of honor and authority beside the king. The New Testament says that Christ, after rising and ascending, sat down at God's right hand (Acts 2:33-36; Hebrews 1:3). It expresses his authority and finished work.