Read 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.
Go Deeper
To understand the importance of this psalm, one needs to grasp its place within the whole context of the Bible. This chapter has so much prophetic value that it actually contains one of the most quoted Old Testament verses in the New Testament. Psalm 115:1 is referenced in Matthew 22:43-45, Mark 12:36-37, Acts 2:34-35, 1 Corinthians 15:25, Hebrews 1:13, and Hebrews 10:13. In each of these instances, Scripture points to the authority and power of Jesus because this is at the very heart of Psalm 110.
David prophetically starts this passage by declaring, “The Lord said to my Lord.” Years before Jesus is physically present on Earth, David speaks of God the Father speaking to God the Son (Jesus). It’s hard to overstate just how incredible it is that one thousand of years before Jesus was born, God announces His Son’s presence! We actually get some brief insight on this passage from Jesus Himself in Matthew 22. While speaking with the Pharisees, Jesus reminds them that David was “speaking by the Spirit” while writing this psalm. Through the Holy Spirit, David writes about the victory found in our Messiah.
It is worthwhile to note that Psalm 110 prophecies that God the Father tells Jesus to sit at his right hand. A posture of sitting displays the certainty of victory. Jesus has finished the work and now sits in victory with God the Father. Verse 4 says that He will serve as “a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” Melchizedek is a priest briefly mentioned in Genesis 14 whose name means “king of righteousness.” Jesus is the supreme King-Priest who faithfully followed God in pure righteousness. But this triumph is not for Jesus alone! Verse 3 states that we have the opportunity to willingly submit and follow Jesus. In serving Christ, we get to take part in His power and victory. Jesus’ flawless righteousness brings us salvation even though we don’t deserve it. When we allow Him to have ultimate authority in our life, we get to watch Him rule in perfect goodness and power.
Questions
- How does the power of Jesus in this passage make you feel?
- What keeps you from willingly surrendering to Jesus?
- How does this prophecy of Jesus strengthen your faith in Jesus?
A Quote
“The choice for every man is, being crushed beneath His foot, or being exalted to sit with Him on His throne. ‘He that overcometh, to him will I give to sit down with Me on My throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with My Father on His throne.’ It is better to sit on His throne than to be His footstool.” —Alexander Maclaren
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3 thoughts on “Messianic Psalms: Psalm 110”
2 Corinthians 5:21, “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.” This is the gospel—God’s riches at Christ’s expense.
1 “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”
For some reason, God doesn’t remove our enemies from our lives, but keeps them around! Likewise, Psalm 23 talks about a table being prepared “before me, in the presence of my enemies”. An important lesson that I don’t fully appreciate yet!
Another “awe” moment of God our Father and our Saviors love and power for us.