For those who may wish to ‘study’ this chapter, the following simple resources are provided for you. Each passage has a four-Part approach to help you take in and think further about what you have read.

Passage: Psalm 110

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 sceptre from Zion, saying,
    ‘Rule in the midst of your enemies!’
3 Your troops will be willing
    on your day of battle.
Arrayed in holy splendour,
    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 for ever,
    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 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.

A. Find Out:

1. God tells David’s lord to do what until when? v.1
2. What will he do and why? v.2
3. Who will he lead? v.3
4. What has he been designated? v.4
5. What will he do? v.5,6
6. How will he be refreshed to be able to do what? v.7

B. Think:

1. Who are the TWO people referred to in verse 1?
2. What twofold role does God give the one being spoken about?

C. Comment:

  This is a clear Messianic psalm. Note the different ways that the word ‘Lord’ is printed in verse one. Capital letters in the Bible means the “I AM” (see Ex 3), i.e. God. So God speaks to one who David calls Lord. Jesus used this passage to point out that the Christ was more than just the son of David (Mt 22:43 -45) and Peter made the same point on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2:34 -36) and the writer to the Hebrews also picked it up (Heb 1:13 , 5:6-10). There is, therefore, little doubt that this is prophetically speaking of Jesus.

  He is portrayed first as a ruling King. He sits at God’s right hand (v.1), ruling in the midst of his enemies (v.2) preparing an army (v.3) for a day of battle (see Rev 19:11 -16). He is holy and majestic (v.3b) and his rule will continue until God has granted that all his enemies will be put beneath his feet (v.1), i.e. have been brought to total submission. Paul caught something of this in his writings (e.g. Phil 2:9-11). This is Jesus who is Lord and King.

  But he is also portrayed as a Kingly Priest (v.4). The writer to the Hebrews opens this up in Heb 5 & 7. This is the picture of a priest who is also a superior ruler. He will terminate or finalise his rule on the one great day referred to above (v.5) when he will judge the nations (v.6). Even in the day of battle there will be refreshment for him and he will be sustained (v.7). He is secure in his rule and in the end of it.

D. Application:

1. Jesus is our Lord. Bow before him and worship.
2. Jesus is our priest. Let him lead us to the Father.