Psalms Reading – 4.13.2022
Psalm 110
Of David. A psalm.
1 The Lord says to my lord:
“Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.”
2 The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying,
“Rule in the midst of your enemies!”
3 Your troops will be willing
on your day of battle.
Arrayed in holy splendor,
your young men will come to you
like dew from the morning’s womb.
4 The Lord has sworn
and will not change his mind:
“You are a priest forever,
in the order of Melchizedek.”
5 The Lord is at your right hand;
he will crush kings on the day of his wrath.
6 He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead
and crushing the rulers of the whole earth.
7 He will drink from a brook along the way,
and so he will lift his head high.
This psalm has more New Testament references than any other psalm. It tells of a Messianic King-Priest who will ultimately and finally accomplish the deliverance that Psalms 107-109 ask and for that which we all hope. Psalm 110 has two main sections that begin with a statement from the Lord (verses 1 and 4). After each statement, there are several images of victory given.
In verse 1, Jesus interprets this reference as “lord” to be Himself, and so it is capitalized in the New Testament, though not here (Matthew 22:42-45). Jesus questioned his adversaries about whom David was speaking because he saw him as his superior. Jesus made it clear that He was David’s “Lord.”
In verse 1, Jesus is contrasted with the other the Jewish high priests because they always stood, but Jesus sat down after offering a perfect sacrifice. His work was done. The right hand is the position of honor and is where Jesus is seated with the Father. The enemies are those who are opposed to God and His kingdom. A footstool for your feet is a metaphor for submission. In the final judgment, Jesus’ enemies will submit to his authority and rule as defeated foes.
In verse 4, we discover this Messianic Warrior is also a priest whose sole mediation for humanity will never end. This prophetic psalm is an amazing picture of what the Messiah will be- a king and a priest. He has all power and authority to bring about the final judgment, and He is the eternal way for salvation for all who believe. The Bible has one continuous saving message through it all.
Memory Verse: Psalm 115:1, Not to us, Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.
Question(s) to Consider: What does this continuous message of the Bible tell you about God? What does it do for your confidence in the message of Scripture?