Reflections on Psalms 110

 Psalms 110(Contemporary English Version)

1. (A psalm by David.) The LORD said to my Lord, "Sit at my right side, until I make your enemies into a footstool for you."
   
2. The LORD will let your power reach out from Zion, and you will rule over your enemies.
   
3. Your glorious power will be seen on the day you begin to rule. You will wear the sacred robes and shine like the morning sun in all of your strength.
   
4. The LORD has made a promise that will never be broken: "You will be a priest forever, just like Melchizedek."
   
5. My Lord is at your right side, and when he gets angry he will crush the other kings.
   
6. He will judge the nations and crack their skulls, leaving piles of dead bodies all over the earth.
   
7. He will drink from any stream that he chooses, while winning victory after victory.

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Psalms 110 is clearly a Messianic psalm written by David. Many psalms are questionably considered to be Messianic, but Jesus spoke of this psalm as referring to Himself, the Messiah. Teaching in the temple complex one day, Jesus asked, "How can the scribes say that the Messiah is the Son of David?" (Mark 12:35) Then He referred to verse 1 of Psalms 110 saying, "David himself says by the Holy Spirit: The Lord declared to my Lord, 'Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet.'" (Mark 12:36)

So under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit David foresaw the coming Messiah as one who was not only his son, or descendant, but also His Lord. One who would be greater than himself as both king and priest. Verse 1 says, "The Lord declared to my Lord." That is, "The Lord," Yahweh who is God the Father, "declared to my Lord," a?d?o?nay who is the Messiah. So God the Father said to the Messiah, "Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies Your footstool."

Thus, one day the Messiah will rule all people. There will be those who willingly submit to His rule and those who God will make His "footstool," that is, those who are forced into submission. Those who willingly submit to His rule will volunteer to make up His army to bring all other people into submission. Those who rule in their own might will be crushed and their followers will turn to follow the Messiah. The Messiah will then rule over all people forever as both priest and king.