A Prophecy Of Christ’s Coming

Psalm 110:1-7

A Psalm of David.

“The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool. “ (Psalm 110:1)

Matthew, Mark, and Luke all record Jesus as saying this psalm was a prophecy of him as the Messiah.  Mark 12:35-37 gives the details of this first verse.   “And Jesus answered and said, while he taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David?  For David himself said by the Holy Ghost, The LORD said to my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, till I make thine enemies thy footstool.  David therefore himself calleth him Lord; and whence is he then his son?”  

Hebrews 1 and 10 refer to this first verse in stressing the pivotal role Christ plays in our salvation, but the entire psalm is about him.  It was written over a thousand years before Christ came.

“The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.   Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.” (Psalm 110:2-3)

When Christ came every effort was made to kill him and prevent his accomplishing God’s purpose.   Since his ascension into heaven, he has been seated at the right hand of the throne waiting until he is given his kingdom.   In the mean time, his people count it a privilege to serve him, glorying in the peace, joy, and freedom they find.   

“The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.” (Psalm 110:4)

Genesis 15:6 tells us, Abraham “… believed in the LORD; and he counted it to him for righteousness.”  God went on to establish his covenant with Abraham.  At the time, Melchizedec was God’s high priest, and effectively responsible for seeing the contract was followed much like the inspectors we hire to today to see that the terms of the contract are met. 

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Some six hundred and fifty years later, God gave the law to Israel and established the Levitical priest hood.  As Paul points out in Galatians 3:15:15-22, The Levitical law did not any change God’s covenant with Israel.  “Brethren, I speak after the manner of men; Though it be but a man's covenant, yet if it be confirmed, no man disannulleth, or addeth thereto.   Now to Abraham and his seed were the promises made. He saith not, And to seeds, as of many; but as of one, And to thy seed, which is Christ.  And this I say, that the covenant, that was confirmed before of God in Christ, the law, which was four hundred and thirty years after, cannot disannul, that it should make the promise of none effect.  For if the inheritance be of the law, it is no more of promise: but God gave it to Abraham by promise.  Wherefore then serveth the law? It was added because of transgressions, till the seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was ordained by angels in the hand of a mediator.  Now a mediator is not a mediator of one, but God is one.  Is the law then against the promises of God? God forbid: for if there had been a law given which could have given life, verily righteousness should have been by the law.  But the scripture hath concluded all under sin, that the promise by faith of Jesus Christ might be given to them that believe.” 

As Paul pointed out, the Law was a separate contract that in no way changed the original covenant because it was written long after the original contract went into effect.  The scripture stated that Israel had spent four hundred thirty years in Egypt before the Law was given and that alone was enough to prove it could not be part of the original contract, without calculating the rest of the time involved.  Pauls statement in no way contradicts the Genesis and Exodus records.  In modern English, we would have added the words ‘more than’ to prevent confusion, but Paul was not writing in English. 

As a priest after the order of Melchizedec, Christ enforces or administers the original contract with Abraham, rather than the later contract or covenant with Israel.  Hebrews 6-9 explain this in detail, Making this verse quite important.    

“The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.  He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.” Psalm 110:5-6)

When he returns, at the end of the seven years of Tribulation, Christ will wipe out the armies of the world, and it will take months to bury all the bodies of those who will be slain.  All the countries of the world will surrender to him, and he will make Jerusalem his capital, ruling with a rod of iron, severely punishing any who violates his law.  During his reign crime and disease will be almost unknown. 

“He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.” (Psalm 110:7)

Because he has experienced the life on earth as a human being, literally drinking the water from the brook like other people, he will be able to understand forgive in a way those who have not experience ti cannot.  Hebrews 4:14-5:10 explains the importance of this prophecy. 

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.  For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.  Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. For every high priest taken from among men is ordained for men in things pertaining to God, that he may offer both gifts and sacrifices for sins: Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them that are out of the way; for that he himself also is compassed with infirmity.

And by reason hereof he ought, as for the people, so also for himself, to offer for sins.  And no man taketh this honour unto himself, but he that is called of God, as was Aaron.  So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.  As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.  

Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared;  Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him; Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.” (Hebrews 4:14-5:10)