A psalm of David
110
📚The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make
your enemies your footstool”.
110:1 It is impossible to overestimate the importance of this psalm. It is one of the most significant of all the Psalms concerning the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ, and is the one most often quoted or referenced by the writers of the New Testament (Matt 22:41-45; Mark 12:35-37; Luke 20:41-44; Acts 2:34-35; 1 Cor 15:25; Heb 1:13; 5:6; 7:17, 21; 10:13. All references in the New Testament to Christ at God’s right hand are based on the first verse of this psalm – Matt 26:64; Mark 14:62; 16:19; Luke 22:69; Rom 8:34; Eph 1:20; Col 3:1; Heb 1:3; 8:1; 10:12; 12:2; 1 Pet 3:22).
In this psalm we have words of the Most High God spoken to one called David’s Lord. How could David know that God spoke to his Lord, or what He said? See Mark 12:36. God’s Spirit revealed God’s words to David. The Messiah was to be the son of David (2 Sam 7:16; Matt 1:1; 9:27; 12:23; 21:9; 22:42; John 7:42; Rom 1:3; Rev 22:16). How then could He be David’s Lord? The answer is He is far greater than David, being not merely David’s Lord but the Lord of all lords and of all men (Acts 10:36; Rom 14:9; Phil 2:10-11; 1 Tim 6:15; Rev 19:16), the Lord from heaven (1 Cor 15:47). He is David’s son but He is also God’s Son, sharing God’s nature and seated now with God on His throne (Rev 3:21). There He will sit at God’s right hand until the hour strikes for the putting down of all earthly power and His coming to reign openly over the whole earth. See Ps 2:8-9.
A good title for this psalm would be “The victorious King Priest”.⚜
2 📚The LORD will send the rod
of your strength out of Zion.
Rule in the midst of your enemies.
110:2 The first sentence means that God will extend His rule. This verse seems to speak of a time before Christ’s enemies become a footstool for His feet, a time when He rules in their midst, without their destruction. The rule begins from Jerusalem and is extended from there to other places. This suggests the secret rule of Christ now over His church and in the affairs of men, and the spread of His Gospel throughout the world (Matt 28:18-20; Luke 24:46-47; John 17:2; Acts 2:32-33; Rev 1:5).
At present many of Christ’s enemies are still very much in places of authority on earth, but in the midst of them His power is displayed in the conversion of sinners and the protection of His Church, and no one can thwart His purposes or overturn His rule and authority (Ps 2:2-6; Matt 28:18-20; John 17:2). He overturns kingdoms and governments as He will, exalts one man to power and puts down another, even though they may not have the slightest knowledge of this. And in all of this He is working out His great plan.⚜
3 📚Your people will be willing 📖
in the day of your power 📖,
in the beauties of holiness,
from the womb of the morning.
You have the dew of your youth.
4 📚The LORD has sworn,
and will not repent:
“You are a priest forever
according to the order of
Melchizedek”.
110:4 The prophecy concerning Christ in this verse is introduced by very solemn words. God has made a promise, a decree, and there is no possibility of changing it. The decree is this: Christ shall be the priest for His people, not as Aaron was, but as Melchisedek was (see Gen 14:18-20). By this one word, God revealed His plan to lay aside the covenant He made through Moses at Sinai with its priesthood and animal sacrifices – Hebrews chapters 7–10. The priesthood and sacrifices under the law were mere shadows and pictures and types. Christ’s sacrifice of Himself and His eternal priesthood are the reality – Ex 25:9; 28:1; Lev 1:2; Heb 8:2, 5; 10:1. Through Him we can come directly into God’s presence by a new and living way – Heb 10:19-22.⚜
5 📚The Lord is at your
right hand.
He will strike through kings
in the day of his wrath.
110:5 It is difficult to know who is speaking in this verse and to whom he is speaking. Is it the LORD (Jehovah) continuing to speak to Christ? Or is David speaking to Jehovah? Or David speaking to Christ? Perhaps the question does not need an answer. Jehovah and Christ are so completely at one in their purposes and work that anything such as this that can be said of one can also be said of the other. Christ is the incarnation of Jehovah. Certainly the two verses that follow speak of Christ. The day of His wrath is the time of judgment at the end of this age – 2 Thess 1:6-9; Rev 6:15-17; 11:18; 15:1; 16:1; 19:15.⚜
6 📚He will judge 📖 among the nations.
He will fill the places with
dead 📖 bodies.
He will crush the head of
many countries.
7 📚He will drink from the brook
by the wayside 📖;
therefore he will lift up the head.
110:7 The victorious King Priest is here seen pursuing His enemies on the field of battle. He shall not be wearied in the fight until all ungodliness and opposition are put down. Compare Ps 45:3-5.⚜