#841 Yahweh to Adonai

The Lord says to my Lord:

“Sit at my right hand,

until I make your enemies your footstool.”

2 The Lord sends forth from Zion

your mighty scepter.

Rule in the midst of your enemies!

3 Your people will offer themselves freely

on the day of your power,

in holy garments;

from the womb of the morning,

the dew of your youth will be yours.

4 The Lord has sworn

and will not change his mind,

“You are a priest forever

after the order of Melchizedek.”

5 The Lord is at your right hand;

he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.

6 He will execute judgment among the nations,

filling them with corpses;

he will shatter chiefs

over the wide earth.

7 He will drink from the brook by the way;

therefore he will lift up his head. Psalm 110 ESV

A Psalm of David about The Priest King.

The Lord says to my Lord - 

- Even before Christ's coming, a prophetic-messianic interpretation of the psalm was well known among Jewish interpreters. - Reformation Study Bible Notes.

The King says to my King, Lord to my Lord, Yahweh to Adonai, God the Father to God the Son. David is the earthly anointed king and from his line will come the king of kings.

- “How condescending on Jehovah’s part to permit a mortal ear to hear, and a human pen to record his secret converse with his co-equal Son! How greatly should we prize the revelation of his private and solemn discourse with the Son, herein made public for the refreshing of his people!” (Spurgeon)

15 Then Balaam lifted up an oracle, saying, “This is the prophecy of Balaam son of Beor, the prophecy of a man whose eyes are open, 16 the prophecy of one who hears the words of God, who has knowledge from the Most High, who sees a vision from the Almighty, who bows down with eyes wide open: 17 I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near. A star will come forth from Jacob, and a scepter will arise from Israel. He will crush the skulls of Moab and strike down all the sons of Sheth.… Numbers 24: 15-17

35 While Jesus was teaching in the temple courts, He asked, “How can the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David?36 Speaking by the Holy Spirit, David himself declared: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand until I put Your enemies under Your feet.”’ 37 David himself calls Him Lord. So how can He be David’s son?” And the large crowd listened to Him with delight.… Mark 12: 35-37

Sit at my right hand - A place of prominence given to the One Who conquers death and the grave. We have an Advocate, Who sits at the right hand of the Father, ever on our behalf.

…34 For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says: ‘The Lord said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand, 35 until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”’ 36 Therefore let all Israel know with certainty that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ!”… Acts 2: 34-36

…19 and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength, 20 which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come.… Ephesians 1: 19-21

1 Therefore, since you have been raised with Christ, strive for the things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. 3 For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.… Colossians 3: 1-3

Until I make Your enemies Your footstool - David is a shadow of Christ, and he fights an earthly, physical battle, against the enemies of Israel. Our battle is not against flesh and blood, but taken up into the realm of the spiritual. We die to self, are buried with Christ in baptism, and raised with Him into a new life. Our warfare is now against that residual wickedness residing in our selves, the flesh that strives against the Spirit, and against the present darkness of this age. We are, in Christ, the light of the world.

…12 You will roll them up like a robe; like a garment they will be changed; but You remain the same, and Your years will never end.” 13 But to which of the angels did God ever say: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet”? 14 Are not the angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?… Hebrews 1: 12-14

…21 And this water symbolizes the baptism that now saves you also—not the removal of dirt from the body, but the pledge of a clear conscience toward God—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ, 22 who has gone into heaven and is at the right hand of God, with angels, authorities, and powers subject to Him.  1 Peter 3: 21-22

Your mighty scepter - For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God unto salvation. The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. The sword of the Spirit which is the word of God. 

Adam Clarke is among those who think the rod of Your strength represents the Gospel: “The Gospel – the doctrine of Christ crucified; which is the powerful sceptre of the Lord that bought us; is quick and powerful, sharper than any two-edged sword; and is the power of God to salvation to all them that believe.” - Enduring Word

Your people will offer themselves freely - They offer up themselves, presenting their bodies here as a living sacrifice. The Spirit makes them willing, the sound of the gospel is like the trumpet before battle, all His soldiers know it, they come alive to it and wherever He leads they will go.

…3 The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep listen for his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. 4 When he has brought out all his own, he goes on ahead of them, and his sheep follow him because they know his voice. 5 But they will never follow a stranger; in fact, they will flee from him because they do not recognize his voice.”… John 10: 3-5

…30 At that time the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and all the tribes of the earth will mourn. They will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven, with power and great glory. 31 And He will send out His angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather His elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other. 32 Now learn this lesson from the fig tree: As soon as its branches become tender and sprout leaves, you know that summer is near.…

…33 So also, when you see all these things, you will know that He is near, right at the door. 34 Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all these things have happened. 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.… Matthew 24: 30-35

“Whensoever the Holy Spirit is supreme in a church there will be a free-will offering of young hearts and lives…. There are no pressed men in our Master’s army – all are volunteers. Offer your will to God; say you are willing to be made willing.” (Meyer)

The Lord has sworn - Providence offers the best vantage to see that what God has said He will do. He promised Messiah in the garden, and He made a covenant with Abraham. He reveals His plan of substitution in the very vivid picture of Abraham offering up his son, yet being stopped in the act and God providing a ram in his stead. 

…11 Now this matter distressed Abraham greatly because it concerned his son Ishmael. 12 But God said to Abraham, “Do not be distressed about the boy and your maidservant. Listen to everything that Sarah tells you, for through Isaac your offspring will be reckoned. 13 But I will also make a nation of the slave woman’s son, because he is your offspring.”… Genesis 21: 11-13

You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek - He is referred to as the King of Salem or King of Righteousness. He holds the office of both King and priest, and being the greater, blesses Abraham, who pays a tithe to Melchizedek. Much like Christ, he is not of the hereditary descent, of the high priests, who come in the lineage of Aaron. 

…18 Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine—since he was priest of God Most High— 19 and he blessed Abram and said: “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth, 20 and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” Then Abram gave Melchizedek a tenth of everything.… Genesis 14: 18-20

…5 So also Christ did not take upon Himself the glory of becoming a high priest, but He was called by the One who said to Him: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father.” 6 And in another passage God says: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.” 7 During the days of Jesus’ earthly life, He offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death, and He was heard because of His reverence.… Hebrews 5: 5-7

…15 And this point is even more clear if another priest like Melchizedek appears, 16 one who has become a priest not by a law of succession, but by the power of an indestructible life. 17 For it is testified: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”… Hebrews 7: 15-17

1 The point of what we are saying is this: We do have such a high priest, who sat down at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven, 2 and who ministers in the sanctuary and TRUE tabernacle set up by the Lord, not by man. 3 And since every high priest is appointed to offer both gifts and sacrifices, it was necessary for this One also to have something to offer.… 

…4 Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest, since there are already priests who offer gifts according to the law. 5 They serve at a copy and shadow of the heavenly sanctuary. That is why Moses was warned when he was about to build the tabernacle, “See to it that you make everything according to the pattern shown you on the mountain.” 6 Now, however, Jesus has received a much more excellent ministry, just as the covenant He mediates is better and is founded on better promises.… Hebrews 8: 1-6

…12 But when this priest had offered for all time one sacrifice for sins, He sat down at the right hand of God. 13 Since that time, He waits for His enemies to be made a footstool for His feet, 14 because by a single offering He has made perfect for all time those who are being sanctified.… Hebrews 10: 12-14

He will execute judgment among the nations - Sin has already been judged, as we know, the wages of sin is death. 

…21 For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom He wishes. 22 Furthermore, the Father judges no one, but has assigned all judgment to the Son, 23 so that all may honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.… John 5: 21-23

- He shall drink of the brook in the way. So swiftly shall he march to conquest that he shall not stay for refreshment, but drink as he hastens on. Like Gideon's men that lapped, he shall throw his heart into the fray and cut it short in righteousness, because a short work will the Lord make in the earth. "Therefore shall he lift up the head." His own head shall be lifted high in victory, and his people, in him, shall be upraised also. When he passed this way before, he was burdened and had stern work laid upon him; but in his second advent he will win an easy victory; aforetime he was the man of sorrows, but when he comes a second time his head will be lifted in triumph. Let his saints rejoice with him. "Lift up your heads, for your redemption draweth nigh." In the latter days we look for terrible conflicts and for a final victory. Long has Jesus borne with our rebellious race, but at length he wilt rise to end the warfare of longsuffering, by the blows of justice. 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 priests 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. - C. H. Spurgeon