Psalms 110: The Reign of the Messiah
The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
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.
The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.
He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.
Psalms 110 is a powerful and profound psalm, frequently cited in the New Testament, that speaks of the Messiah's reign, priesthood, and ultimate victory. It offers a glimpse into the divine conversation between God the Father and God the Son, revealing the Messiah's exalted status and the promise of His future kingdom. This psalm, attributed to David, lays a crucial foundation for understanding the Trinity and Jesus' role as both King and Priest.
A Divine Dialogue and the Messiah's Exaltation
Psalms 110:1 opens with a remarkable scene: David overhears a conversation between YHWH (Yahweh), the covenant name of God revealed in Exodus 3:15, and David's "Lord" (Adonai). The term Adonai can mean simply "lord," but here it's used as a reverent term specifically for God, and more specifically, David's Lord, the Messiah. This distinction is important. The Father says to the Son, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool" (Psalms 110:1). To sit at the right hand of a king was a position of privilege and authority. The Father vows to put all of the Son’s enemies under his feet. This is an indicator that the promise spoken in the beginning, in which the seed of the woman would vanquish the serpent—“he will strike your head”—will be fulfilled (Genesis 3:15).
Jesus Himself used this verse to demonstrate that the Messiah was more than just a descendant of David; He was David's Lord (Matthew 22:41-46). The New Testament authors repeatedly apply this verse to Jesus, recognizing its fulfillment in His resurrection, ascension, and session at the right hand of God (Acts 2:34-35; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Ephesians 1:20; Hebrews 1:13).
The Messiah's Millennial Kingdom and Victorious Rule
God vows to grant his Messiah to rule over his enemies in his millennial kingdom (Psalms 110:2). The Messiah’s people will join him in battle against the wicked (Psalms 110:3), and these believers will share in his righteous rule. He will extend His rule from Zion (Jerusalem) to encompass the entire world. This speaks of a future time when the Messiah's people will willingly serve Him. This points to the future millennial kingdom, where Christ will reign supreme.
A Priest Forever in the Order of Melchizedek
Psalms 110:4 introduces another crucial aspect of the Messiah's identity: "The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: 'You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.'" In the Old Covenant, kingship and priesthood were separate offices, held by different tribes. However, the Messiah uniquely combines both roles.
Melchizedek, a mysterious figure from Genesis 14:18-20, was both a king and a priest. He blessed Abraham, and Abraham paid him tithes. The author of Hebrews uses this to demonstrate the superiority of Melchizedek's priesthood over the Levitical priesthood, which descended from Abraham (Hebrews 7:1-10). Jesus, as a priest "in the order of Melchizedek," is superior to the Levitical priests. He has offered a perfect sacrifice to atone for sin, and he lives forever to intercede for us by virtue of his resurrection.
Judgment and Triumph
Psalms 110:5-7 paints a picture of the Messiah's triumphant return and judgment upon the nations. He will crush kings and judge the nations (Psalms 110:5-6). This psalm anticipates the victorious rule of the Messiah with his saints, when he establishes his kingdom on earth. God the Father has granted universal dominion to the one whom he has designated as the messianic Priest-King: the Lord Jesus Christ. He will utterly defeat His enemies, bringing divine judgment to the world. He will emerge victorious and refreshed, ready to establish His eternal kingdom.
Implications for Today
Psalms 110 offers profound implications for believers today. It reminds us of:
- The deity of Christ: This psalm provides strong support for the doctrine of the Trinity and Jesus' divine nature.
- The authority of Christ: Jesus is not only our Savior but also our King, deserving of our complete allegiance and obedience.
- The hope of future glory: We look forward to the day when Christ will return to establish His kingdom and reign in righteousness.
- The priestly ministry of Christ: We can approach God with confidence, knowing that Jesus is our High Priest, interceding for us and providing access to the Father.
As we reflect on Psalms 110, let us be filled with awe and gratitude for the Messiah, who is both our Lord and our Priest, and who will ultimately triumph over all His enemies. May we live in light of His coming kingdom, serving Him faithfully and anticipating the day when we will reign with Him in glory.
The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
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.
The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.
He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.
Psalms 110 is a powerful and profound psalm, frequently cited in the New Testament, that speaks of the Messiah's reign, priesthood, and ultimate victory. It offers a glimpse into the divine conversation between God the Father and God the Son, revealing the Messiah's exalted status and the promise of His future kingdom. This psalm, attributed to David, lays a crucial foundation for understanding the Trinity and Jesus' role as both King and Priest.
A Divine Dialogue and the Messiah's Exaltation
Psalms 110:1 opens with a remarkable scene: David overhears a conversation between YHWH (Yahweh), the covenant name of God revealed in Exodus 3:15, and David's "Lord" (Adonai). The term Adonai can mean simply "lord," but here it's used as a reverent term specifically for God, and more specifically, David's Lord, the Messiah. This distinction is important. The Father says to the Son, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool" (Psalms 110:1). To sit at the right hand of a king was a position of privilege and authority. The Father vows to put all of the Son’s enemies under his feet. This is an indicator that the promise spoken in the beginning, in which the seed of the woman would vanquish the serpent—“he will strike your head”—will be fulfilled (Genesis 3:15).
Jesus Himself used this verse to demonstrate that the Messiah was more than just a descendant of David; He was David's Lord (Matthew 22:41-46). The New Testament authors repeatedly apply this verse to Jesus, recognizing its fulfillment in His resurrection, ascension, and session at the right hand of God (Acts 2:34-35; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Ephesians 1:20; Hebrews 1:13).
The Messiah's Millennial Kingdom and Victorious Rule
God vows to grant his Messiah to rule over his enemies in his millennial kingdom (Psalms 110:2). The Messiah’s people will join him in battle against the wicked (Psalms 110:3), and these believers will share in his righteous rule. He will extend His rule from Zion (Jerusalem) to encompass the entire world. This speaks of a future time when the Messiah's people will willingly serve Him. This points to the future millennial kingdom, where Christ will reign supreme.
A Priest Forever in the Order of Melchizedek
Psalms 110:4 introduces another crucial aspect of the Messiah's identity: "The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: 'You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.'" In the Old Covenant, kingship and priesthood were separate offices, held by different tribes. However, the Messiah uniquely combines both roles.
Melchizedek, a mysterious figure from Genesis 14:18-20, was both a king and a priest. He blessed Abraham, and Abraham paid him tithes. The author of Hebrews uses this to demonstrate the superiority of Melchizedek's priesthood over the Levitical priesthood, which descended from Abraham (Hebrews 7:1-10). Jesus, as a priest "in the order of Melchizedek," is superior to the Levitical priests. He has offered a perfect sacrifice to atone for sin, and he lives forever to intercede for us by virtue of his resurrection.
Judgment and Triumph
Psalms 110:5-7 paints a picture of the Messiah's triumphant return and judgment upon the nations. He will crush kings and judge the nations (Psalms 110:5-6). This psalm anticipates the victorious rule of the Messiah with his saints, when he establishes his kingdom on earth. God the Father has granted universal dominion to the one whom he has designated as the messianic Priest-King: the Lord Jesus Christ. He will utterly defeat His enemies, bringing divine judgment to the world. He will emerge victorious and refreshed, ready to establish His eternal kingdom.
Implications for Today
Psalms 110 offers profound implications for believers today. It reminds us of:
- The deity of Christ: This psalm provides strong support for the doctrine of the Trinity and Jesus' divine nature.
- The authority of Christ: Jesus is not only our Savior but also our King, deserving of our complete allegiance and obedience.
- The hope of future glory: We look forward to the day when Christ will return to establish His kingdom and reign in righteousness.
- The priestly ministry of Christ: We can approach God with confidence, knowing that Jesus is our High Priest, interceding for us and providing access to the Father.
As we reflect on Psalms 110, let us be filled with awe and gratitude for the Messiah, who is both our Lord and our Priest, and who will ultimately triumph over all His enemies. May we live in light of His coming kingdom, serving Him faithfully and anticipating the day when we will reign with Him in glory.