Psalm 110 – Is It Messianic?
Categories: Church of Christ Bulletin ArticlesA querist asks, “Is Psalm 110 a Messianic Psalm?
The problem that Jesus posed to the Pharisees in Matthew 22:41-46, gives clear evidence that the Jews accepted Psalms 110 as being Messianic. Jesus was able to use the passage against the Jews, because they accepted David as the father of the Christ in ancestry. But David had called the Messiah, “Lord,” which recognized Him as being superior. They could not answer the dilemma Jesus posed, because of their materialistic concept of The Messiah. During his sermon on Pentecost, Peter quotes from Psalm 110:1, and ties it in with a series of prophetic statements made by David (Acts 2:25-33 (cf. 2 Samuel 7:11-16; Psalm 16:10) to prove that David was not speaking of himself but of Jesus. He claimed, based upon the apostles’ eyewitness testimony, that God had raised up Jesus who had ascended to sit at the right hand of the Father. Reference is also made to the prophecy in Psalm 110:1, by the Hebrew writer (Hebrews 1:13). He had previously established the “God-nature” of Jesus by quoting Psalms 45:6-7, “thy throne O God.”
The three essential concepts of Psalm 110:1 are “position,” “location” and “duration.” In this verse, the term “Sit” is used to describe a relationship of authority — as, “the scribes and Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.” (Matthew 23:2). That is, they sit in his place as they speak for him. The location described as “on my right hand” stands for a position of authority. The mother of James and John requested that her two sons sit, one on the right hand and the other on the left hand, in his kingdom. That is similar to our concept of “second and third in command” though the “right hand” was always noted as the one of greater authority (cf. Matthew 20:20-21). This phrase declares Jesus’ right of rule, which Peter also affirmed by the use of the word “Lord” in Acts 2:36. And authority — the right to command and expect obedience. This is what Christ claimed for himself when he sent out his apostles with the “great commission” (Matthew 28:18-20).
Peter declared to the Jews that the apostles saw Jesus ascend, fulfilling God’s promise to Him to sit at his “right hand” (Acts 2:32-35). The Hebrew writer observes that it was after Jesus had finished his work of purging our sins, that he ascended to heaven and sat down on the right hand of the Father (Hebrews 1:3). Then, Paul speaks of setting our affections on things above (Colossians 3:1), because it is there where Christ sits at the right hand of God. Since He ascended to sit at the right hand of the Father, and currently sits there, He consequently must presently rule. And, if he presently rules as king, that necessarily means that His kingdom was established when He ascended to sit and rule.
The phrase, “Until I make thine enemies thy footstool” (Psalm 110:1b), refers to the duration of His kingship. It was common among ancient kings to place a foot upon the neck of a conquered ruler which symbolized total subjugation. Hence, the expression of making his enemies a “footstool.” We might ask, “Who are these enemies? For one, Satan, with his hosts of demonic servants, was the great adversary of Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11; Revelation 12:9). Paul identifies our adversaries and, consequently, Christ’s enemies as well, as principalities, powers, the rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in the heavenly places (Ephesians 6:12 – NKJV).
In 1 Corinthians 15:25, Paul quotes a part of David’s prophecy in Psalm 110:1b — “for he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.” He then gives the exact time frame reference for the end of Jesus’ reign by saying, “the last enemy that shall be destroyed is death” (1 Corinthians 15:26). Since the time of Satan’s successful attempt to cause men to sin and die, death has been the enemy of man (Genesis 3:1-19). However, when our King returns to raise the dead, corruptible bodies will be made immortal and death will be swallowed up in victory (1 Corinthians 15:51-57).
Then when the last enemy of man is destroyed (death), Jesus shall sit upon the throne of His glory and shall judge all nations (Matthew 25:31). Jesus not only rules among the citizens of His kingdom as both king and priest (Psalm 110:1-7; cf. Zechariah 6:12-13), He is also the Lord of all the earth (Zechariah 6:5). To the saved in His kingdom, He rules in “righteousness and peace” (Isaiah 9:6-7). But to the rebellious, He rules with a “rod of iron” (Isaiah 11:4; Psalms 2:1-12). All men are accountable to Him (Acts 17:30-31). Both the righteous and the unrighteous will stand before the King to receive the things done in the body, “whether it be good or bad” (2 Corinthians 5:10). Jesus presently sits at the “right hand” of the Father and will continue His rule until the resurrection (Colossians 3:4; 1 John 3:2). He seeks to rule in the hearts of all men (2 Peter 3:9), however men must be willing to submit their hearts to Him (Romans 6:17). A choice has been given to each man — “life or death” — “blessing or cursing” (Deuteronomy 30:19). Let us choose “life,” giving glory and honor to Jesus Christ throughout all eternity — the “Lord of lords, and King of kings!” (Revelation 17:14).