Today we are going to look at Psalm 110. To explain this Psalm I’m going to pull several quotes from Charles Spurgeon’s Treasury of David. Spurgeon says the subject of the Psalm is, “The Priest King” because none of the kings in Israel were both priest and king. “The Lord said to my Lord “Sit at my right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool”.” (Psalm 110:1) An excerpt from an article by Dr. Joel McDurmon said that God quotes this verse from Himself more than any other verse. He went on to say, “This verse is quoted or alluded to 23 times in the NT. It is quoted in 11 out of 27 NT books, and by 7 of the 9 NT authors.” Jesus will later use this verse in Matthew 22:44 to prove to the Jews that He is greater than King David, the psalmist, because He is the Son of God.
In verse 2 and 3 David talks about how Jesus will rule over His enemies and how the people will be volunteers in His army. Spurgeon says Jesus is not inactive while sitting at the right hand of God in heaven, but “We look for the clearer manifestation of his almighty power in the latter days; but even in these waiting times we rejoice that to the Lord all power is given in heaven and in earth”. Spurgeon explains that the sending forth of the rod of strength is the gospel going forward creating converts and the metaphor of the dew is about new converts “…so these willing armies of converts have a holy excellence and charm about them: and as the dew is the lively emblem of freshness, so are these converts full of vivacity and youthful vigour, and the church is refreshed by them and made to flourish exceedingly”.
David says in verse 4 that “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek”. Melchizedek, king of Salem and a priest of God, was mentioned in Genesis 14:17-24 when he blessed Abraham after Abraham rescued Lot and returned Lot, his people and all their stuff back to Sodom. Spurgeon says, “Melchizedek’s office was exceptional none preceded or succeeded him; he comes upon the page of history mysteriously; no pedigree is given, no date of birth, or mention of death; he blesses Abraham, receives tithe and vanishes from the scene amid honours which show that he was greater than the founder of the chosen nation…Our Lord Jesus, like Melchizedek, stands forth before us as a priest of divine ordaining, not made a priest by fleshly birth, as the sons of Aaron…his order begins and ends in his own person, and in himself it is eternal…”
The remaining verses in the Psalm refer to the last days when Jesus will come back and judge the world. David says, “He shall judge among the nations”. At the end of the Story we will read how He will return. “Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war.” (Revelation 19:11) In conclusion, Spurgeon says, “In the latter days we look for terrible conflict and for final victory…God has fought with men’s sins for their good, but he will not always by his Spirit strive with men; he will cease from that struggle of long suffering love, and begin another which shall soon end in the final destruction of his adversaries. O King priest, we who are, in a minor degree, king priest too, are full of gladness because thou reignest even now, and wilt come ere long to vindicate thy cause and establish thine empire for ever. Even so, come quickly. Amen”. Jesus will first come to die on a cross for us but He is coming back one day to reign as the Priest King! Keep reading.
(Psalm 103, Psalms 108-110, Psalms 122, 124)
Chronological Bible in Layman's Terms 