Psalms 110

Psalms 110:1-7

Our Priest-King at God’ s Right Hand Psalms 110:1-7 Luther describes this psalm as “ the true, high, main psalm of our beloved Lord Jesus Christ.” Our Lord attributed it to David, in the power of the Holy Spirit; and there is no portion of the Old Testament more frequently quoted in the New. See Matthew 22:44; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 1:13; Hebrews 5:6; Hebrews 5:10; Hebrews 7:17; Hebrews 7:21. David speaks of the Messiah as my Lord. The inference as to the deity of our Lord is incontestable. His mighty scepter, the symbol of his rule, reaches from Son to the utmost limits of space and time. He waits till all his enemies are His footstool. Their character is evident in their attire-the beauties of holiness. They are as numerous and refreshing as dewdrops on parched meadows. There is an infinite attractiveness between our Savior and young life-thy youth. The offices of priest and king were jealously kept apart in the old Hebrew monarchy, so the psalmist has to travel into the childhood of the world to find the type of a priesthood. Jesus is King and Priest after a more ancient and abiding order, which, it is testified, is based on a timeless life. Our Lord shall come to the throne from the battlefield. He shall bruise the serpent’ s head, but He needs the refreshment of our love and faith. That is the wayside brook.

Sit Thou at my right hand! Luther calls this Psalm “the true, high, main Psalm of our beloved Lord, Jesus Christ.” Our Lord Himself says that it was written by David in the Holy Ghost. There is no portion of the Old Testament more frequently quoted in the New (Matthew 22:44; 1 Corinthians 15:25; Hebrews 1:8-13; Hebrews 5:6-10; Hebrews 7:17-21).

This Psalm was composed when the seat of government and the ark of the covenant were already on Mount Zion. David had already received the grand promise of 2 Samuel 7:1-29. There rings through the Psalm a grand anticipation of victory over his foes. But do not all these thoughts fade into comparative insignificance as we read into these words conceptions of the glory, perpetuity and ultimate victory of the kingdom of our Lord?

In the Psalms 110:1-2; Psalms 110:4 the Hebrew word JEHOVAH is rendered LORD. Where the second mention of the word “LORD” occurs in Psalms 110:1, and also in the instance of Psa 110:5, the Hebrew word is ADONAI–Master, Ruler, Lord.

Psalms 110:1. Sit Thou at My right hand! This was the welcome of the Ascension Day–the word with which the Father greeted Jesus. And all through the ages He has been engaged in making the foes of Christ the footstool of his feet. This is not accomplished yet, but it is sure.

Psalms 110:2. Out of Zion It is out of Judaism, the seat of which was Zion–from the narrowest nation under heaven–that the Gospel has gone forth, which has a message to the entire race and is destined to enclose the whole world in its embrace.

Psalms 110:3. Thy people shall be willing A striking picture of the soldiers of Christ. Their spirit as free-will offerings. Their attire in the beautiful and glistening robes of holiness. Their numbers, youthful warriors, numerous as the dewdrops besprinkling the morning meadows.

Psalms 110:4. Thou a Priest forever! In Jesus the offices of King and Priest blend (Zechariah 6:12-13). This combination of priesthood and kingship is also the spiritual prerogative of all Christ’s true disciples (1 Peter 2:9; Revelation 1:6; Revelation 5:10; Revelation 20:6). His priesthood, however, is not after the model of Aaron, but according to that of Melchizedek, a more ancient, universal and enduring type, as the Epistle to the Hebrews amply shows (Hebrews 7:1-28).

Psalms 110:5. Shall strike through kings The triumph of our Lord is guaranteed by the omnipotence of God. But, alas for that day of wrath! Nevertheless, He must bruise the serpent’s head (Genesis 3:15).

Psalms 110:6. He shall judge The Gospel of Jesus must be for our blessing or our bane–for salvation or destruction.

Psalms 110:7. He shall drink of the brook in the way As Jonathan in the wood (1 Samuel 14:27) took of the honey and was refreshed, so does our Lord drink of the love and devotion of his people. He goes forward without discouragement to the victory which awaits Him. Have you been as a brook from which He has drunk? Is Jesus refreshed by you?