Psa 110:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto My Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.

A Psalm of David. This psalm was written by king David – a visual/auditory prophet - who also wrote many other psalms and prophecies in the Bible (Acts 2:29-31).

The LORD said unto My Lord. When you see the uppercased style “LORD” (Yehovah or Jehovah) used in the OT it refers to the Divine Name of God. This name is so sacred to Jews, it isn’t spoken out loud, but referred to as “YHVH” instead (also known as the “four letters” or “Tetragrammaton”).

H3068. Yehovah, yeh-ho-vaw’; from H1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jeho-vah, Jewish national name of God:–Jehovah, the Lord. Compare H3050, H3069.

The second, normal cased style “Lord” is used for many different Hebrew words in the Old Testament. In Psa 110:1, the Hebrew word “‘Adown” is used and it describes rulers who have a sovereign, controlling type of rule (both human AND Divine). 

H113. ‘adown, aw-done’, or (shortened) ‘adon, aw-done’; from an unused root (mean to rule); sovereign, i.e. controller (human or divine):–lord, master, owner. Compare also names beginning with “Adoni-”.

Now, Jesus pointed to Psa 110:1 in Mk 12:36 when He asked the Pharisees why the scribes insisted Christ (the Messiah) was the son of David, since David had called Him “Lord” (2 Sam 7:11a-16; Mat 22:41-46; Lk 20:41-44).

Mk 12:35-37 And Jesus answered and said, while He taught in the temple, How say the scribes that Christ is the son of David? 36 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. 37 David therefore himself calleth Him Lord; and whence is He then his son? And the common people heard Him gladly.

Thus, Jesus pointed out since David wouldn’t call his own son “Lord,” Psa 110:1 showed 2 Sam 7:14 was not about David’s son, but God’s (Psa 2:7).

2 Sam 7:14 I will be His Father, and He shall be My Son. If he commit iniquity, I will chasten Him with the rod of men, and with the stripes of the children of men.

Psa 110:1 A Psalm of David. The LORD said unto My Lord, Sit Thou at My right hand, until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool.

Sit on My right hand. Sitting on the right hand of the Father is a position of great honor and power, but in order for Jesus to get TO the Father SO that He COULD sit at His right hand, Christ had to die, be resurrected, and ascend to the throne (Mk 16:6; Lk 24:51; Acts 1:9).

The Apostle Peter pointed this out in Acts 3:34-35 when he tied Psa 110:1 in with David’s prophecy of Psa 16:7-10 and used it to explain the necessity of the resurrection of Christ (Jn 20:9; Acts 2:29-36).

Acts 2:34-35 For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit Thou on My right hand, 35 Until I make Thy foes Thy footstool.

You see, in Psa 16:7-10 God promised David He wouldn’t leave the Messiah in hell, nor suffer His Holy One to see corruption.

Psa 16:10 For Thou wilt not leave My soul in hell; neither wilt thou suffer Thine Holy One to see corruption.

Peter pointed out that since David had died and hadn’t risen from the dead, then Psa 16:7-10 couldn’t have been about David, but instead was a prophecy about the resurrection of Christ (Jn 20:9; Acts 13:33-37; Rom 1:3-4).

Acts 2:29-31 Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. 30 Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, He would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; 31 He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that His soul was not left in hell, neither His flesh did see corruption.

So, “sit on My right hand” points to Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension to the right hand of God.

Until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool. The word “until” points to a definite time span taking place where Jesus is in heaven, sitting next to the Father, waiting for His enemies to be made His footstool (see He shall “strike” in Psa 110:5; Psa 110:2-4).

Of course, as long as He is with the Father, Jesus is not upon the face of the earth (Mat 24:23-31).

Now, there are two things referred to in scripture as the Lord’s “footstool:” the earth (Heb “‘erets“) and the “house” of the Lord, which is the Tabernacle (Isa 66:1-2; 1 Chr 28:2-9; 2 Cor 5:1; Heb 8:1-2; Heb 9:11).

Both of these still speak of the place where the Lord’s feet “Rest.”

There are no enemies IN this “footstool,” because the Tabernacle and everything belonging to the Lord readily bows to Him (Phil 2:10-11). However, in the last days there ARE enemies OUT in the courtyard of the Tabernacle for forty-two months (Rev 11:2-3; Rev 12:6; Lk 19:27).

Notice in 1 Chr 28:2-9 how David calls the “House” he wanted to build for the Lord a “House of Rest” for the “footstool” of our God.

1 Chr 28:2 Then David the king stood up upon his feet, and said, Hear me, my brethren, and my people: As for me, I had in mine heart to build an House of Rest for the ark of the covenant of the LORD, and for the footstool of our God, and had made ready for the building.

Compare this with Isa 66:1-2 and Psa 132:13-14.

Isa 66:1-2 Thus saith the LORD, The heaven is My throne, and the earth (‘erets) is My footstool: where is the House that ye build unto me? And where is the place of My Rest?

Psa 132:13-14 For the LORD hath chosen Zion; He hath desired it for His habitation. 14 This is My Rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.

Then compare these with 2 Sam 7:13 where God says His Son will build a House for Him.

2 Sam 7:12-13 And when thy days be fulfilled, and thou shalt sleep with thy fathers, I will set up thy seed after thee, which shall proceed out of thy bowels, and I will establish His kingdom. 13 He shall build an House for My name, and I will stablish the throne of His kingdom for ever.

And lastly, compare all these with Heb 3:6 where we’re told ”we” are His House.

Heb 3:6 But Christ as a Son over His own House; whose House are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

Therefore the “House” Jesus builds IS the “House of Rest” (1 Chr 28:2-9; Isa 66:1-2; Psa 132:13-14).

Also, entering this “house of Rest” is the same as entering God’s “Rest,” which many could not do because they didn’t want to cease from their own works as Jesus did from His (Gen 2:1-2; Jn 5:30; Jn 8:39; Lk 22:42; Heb 10:7; Heb 3:7-19; Heb 4:1-11). So, when you hear about the “Rest,” understand you are hearing about the Last Days Tabernacle, Zion, New Jerusalem, His Body, etc. (Heb 3:1-4:13).

“Until I make Thine enemies Thy footstool,” then, represents two things: a waiting “until” 1) the “toppling” of Jesus’ enemies takes place, and 2) for those who were not in the “Rest” to move within the “Rest.”

Now, at the time of this writing I’m still expounding on Heb 1:13 of the Hebrews Study. Obviously I’ve yet to cover Heb 3:16-6:20 (which expounds on Psa 110:2-3), so because of that, I need to point out a couple things about that section before we can move forward here.

Notice how Heb 2:13 points to (Isaiah) Esaias 8:17-18 of the Greek Septuagint.

Heb 2:13 And again, I will put My trust in Him. And again, Behold I and the children which God hath given Me. (KJV)

Esaias 8:17-18 And One shall say, “I will wait for God, who has turned away His face from the house of Iakob, and I will trust in Him. 18 Here am I and the children whom God has given Me, and they shall become signs and portents in Israel from the Lord Sabaoth, who dwells on Mount Sion.” (NETS)

Because Isa 8:17-18 was referenced, we have to take a look at the whole chapter. In doing so we can’t help but notice that “Immanuel” (Heb ‘Immanuw’el) or “God is with us” is there (Isa 8:8 and Isa 8:10). This we immediately connect with the “Immanuel” in Isa 7:14, just a few verses before it (Mat 1:23).

Isa 7:14 Therefore the Lord Himself shall give you a sign; Behold, a virgin shall conceive, and bear a Son, and shall call His name Immanuel (‘Immanuw’el).

Next, still within the Psa 110:2-3 section, Heb 6:13-14 references the “promise” God made to Abraham after He rescued Isaac from being sacrificed (Gen 22:9-14; Gen 22:15-18).

Heb 6:13-14 For when God made promise to Abraham, because He could swear by no greater, He sware by Himself, 14 Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee.

Now, Heb 6:13-14 is referencing Gen 22:17-18, which is speaking about the birth of Isaac (referred to in Gal 4:28 as the Child of Promise; Heb 6:13-20).

Gal 4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the Children of Promise.

So then, Heb 3:16-6:20 (the section in Hebrews which points to Psa 110:2-3) speaks of the fulfillment of the Children of Promise (which is Christ in you the hope of glory) coming about in the Last Days (Col 1:27-28).

 Psa 110:2-3 The LORD shall send the rod of Thy strength out of Zion: rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies. 3 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.

The LORD shall send the rod of Thy strength out of Zion. If we look at Rev 12:1-5 we see a woman travailing, then giving birth to a “man child” who is to rule all nations with a “rod” of iron.

Rev 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to His throne.

The woman giving birth to the “man child” (the “Child of Promise”) represents “Zion” (otherwise referred to as New Jerusalem), which is the mother of us all (Isa 33:20; Isa 54:1-17; Gal 4:26).

Gal 4:26-28 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all. 27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband. 28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.

The Child of Promise is also Immanuel, or Christ in you, the hope of glory (Isa 8:17; Lk 17:21; Jn 8:39; 1 Cor 3:16-17; Rev 11:1-3).

Col 1:27-28 To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory: 28 Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus.

And, the Lord sending “the rod of Thy strength out of Zion” represents Christ’s “strength” manifesting through the “man child” (which represents those who have entered into God’s Rest; Heb 2:13).

Heb 2:13 And again, I will put My trust in Him. And again, Behold I and the Children which God hath given Me.

rule Thou in the midst of Thine enemies. Ruling in the midst of one’s enemies implies that though ones enemies are still around, they’re on their way out. We see this happening in Rev 12:9-10 where Satan is cast out of heaven and where the Two Witnesses perform signs and wonders on God’s behalf (Rev 11:1-3; Rev 12:12).

Psa 110:3 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.

Thy people shall be willing in the day of Thy power. In Rev 12:11, we see the “man child” overcomes Satan (Rev 12:9-10) “by the blood of the Lamb,” “by the Word of their testimony,” and because “they loved not their lives unto the death.” In other words, these are “willing” in the day of God’s power to cease from their own works as Jesus did from His (Gen 2:1-2; Jn 5:30; Jn 8:39; Lk 9:24; Lk 22:42; Heb 10:7; Heb 3:7-19; Heb 4:1-11).

Rev 12:11 And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

The beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning. Again, this describes the “man child” birthed by New Jerusalem, who is the mother of us all (Isa 33:20; Isa 54:1-17; Mat 1:23; Gal 4:26-28; Col 1:27-28; Rev 12:5).

And, in speaking about the Child of Promise, Heb 6:13-20 finishes by saying the Child of Promise is our hope, sure and steadfast, of whom Jesus is a forerunner for us, being made a High Priest even after the order of Melchisedec.

Heb 6:18-20 That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us: 19 Which hope we have as an anchor of the soul, both sure and stedfast, and which entereth into that within the veil; 20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an High Priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

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

The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent. The LORD is great and can swear by nothing greater than Himself (Heb 6:13). The word “repent” is the Hebrew word “nacham” and means the Lord will not feel sorry about this or console anyone about His decision.

Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek. Now, Melchizedek was high priest during the time of Abraham. He appears after Lot was taken captive (Gen 14:1-12) and Abraham had recovered him (Gen 14:14-16). Then, Melchizedek went to Abraham, bringing bread and wine, and blessed him (Heb 7:1-3).

Gen 14:18-20 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God. 19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the Most High God, possessor of heaven and earth: 20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

Abraham responds by giving Melchizedek “tithes of all” (Gen 14:20) and in doing so he recognizes Melchizedek as high priest of the Most High God.

Melchizedek (Heb “Malkiy-Tsedeq“) was called “king of right” or righteousness, and also “king of Salem” (Heb “Shalem“). This means he was king of the same city which later came to known as Jerusalem.

H8004. Shalem, shaw-lame’; the same as H8003; peaceful; Shalem, an early name of Jerusalem:–Salem.

Heb 7:3 tells us he was “…without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life.” This means Melchizedek was not Hebrew, nor was he from any other line of descent, because he wasn’t born and he didn’t die. In other words, one day he appeared on this earth because God brought him here, and one day God also took him away (Heb 7:1-17).

Heb 7:3 also tells us Melchizedek was “made like unto the Son of God; (he) abideth continually.” This means God gave him eternal life.

Heb 7:3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

After Melchizedek’s disappearance, the name of “Salem” eventually changed to “Jebus” or “Jerusalem” (Judg 19:10) and a man named ”Adonizedek” ruled as king over Jerusalem. But Adonizedek didn’t act on behalf of the Most High God, because he fought against Joshua, and God had him killed because of it (Josh 10:1-26).

Nor did Jerusalem (Jebus) continue in righteousness after Melchizedek left, because when David went up to take it, the people there taunted him (1 Chr 11:3-7; 2 Sam 5:4-7).

2 Sam 5:6 And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.

So, though Jerusalem’s beginnings were with Melchizedek, after God took him, nothing close to what he represented ever came around again until Jesus Christ.

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

Now, in Psa 110:1 Jesus “sits” at God’s right hand “until” His enemies are made His footstool, but in Psa 110:5, Jesus “shall strike.” Therefore, what lies in between (Psa 110:2-4) tells us what has to happen before the Lord “shall strike.”

We know Jesus is already the great High “Priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek,” but Heb 6:20 tells us Jesus has become a “forerunner” for us.

It is this “forerunner for us” issue that remains. That is, Christ in you, the Child of Promise (Isa 8:8; Isa 8:10; Isa 54:1-17; Gal 4:26-28; Col 1:27-28; Rev 12:5).

Heb 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

You see, Psa 110:4 is two-fold, because 1) it not only speaks of Jesus as the One True High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, but 2) it also speaks of how Melchizedek (an ordinary human being) was created by God to fulfill a special purpose. He appears suddenly upon the face of this earth, fully graced by God with the ability to represent and serve the Most High God. He also suddenly disappears from the earth to live an eternal life, just like the Child of Promise will also do in the Rapture in the Last days.

1 Th 4:16-17 For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

He is, therefore, a representation of type Children of Promise taken up in the last days.

You see, Melchisedec did not in any way earn the position God gave to him. On the contrary, it was he who brought bread and wine to Abraham to nourish him as a servant. Neither did he grow or mature into his righteousness. Instead, like every believer, he received the righteousness that is of Christ as a gift.

Moreover, it’s clear Melchisedec was devoted to serving the Most High God in righteousness and holiness every day of His life. He fully believed in this, because God had placed him precisely in position to do just that.

You see, the real issue is not about who Melchisedec (the man) was or did, but about who Jesus Christ is and does. It’s all about Jesus.

Moreover, like Melchisedec, for believers, it’s not about us, what we can do, achieve, or our own abilities, but it’s about what Christ gives us, can do in us, with us, and has promised He will do to us in the Last days as the Children of Promise.

So, Melchisedec represents what Christ can and will do in believers as Children of Promise. Furthermore, there is no question of His ability to do this, for He already did it in Melchisedec.

Psa 76:2 In Salem also is His tabernacle, and His dwelling place in Zion.

You see, in the earthly tabernacle made after the pattern of the heavenly one (Heb 8:5), many priests served on a rotational basis (Lk 1:8-9), but there was still only one true high priest. In our heavenly Tabernacle, we also have only one true King and High Priest (Jesus Christ), yet our Lord has also made us all priests to serve there (Psa 110:3; Rev 1:5-6; Rev 5:10; Rev 20:6).

Rev 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

Now, as I’ve pointed out, Psa 110:5-6 speaks of when Jesus “shall strike.” Therefore, the following verses focus primarily on the Lord’s return (Rev 19:11-21).

Psa 110:5-6 The Lord at Thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of His wrath. 6 He shall judge among the heathen, He shall fill the places with the dead bodies; He shall wound the heads over many countries.

The Lord at Thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of His wrath. The Day of the Lord’s Wrath is described in the book of Revelations in Rev 6:15-17 as the great day of His wrath (Isa 2:19; Hos 10:8; Lk 23:30).

Rev 6:15-17 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; 16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb: 17 For the great day of His wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

He shall judge among the heathen. In Rev 11:11-19, after the Two Witnesses have been called up to heaven, a tenth part of the city where they had previously lain dead, falls, and over seven thousand men die. This is the beginning of the judgment of the heathen.

Rev 11:18 And the nations were angry, and Thy wrath is come, and the time of the dead, that they should be judged, and that Thou shouldest give reward unto Thy servants the prophets, and to the saints, and them that fear Thy name, small and great; and shouldest destroy them which destroy the earth.

He shall wound the heads over many countries. Here we find Rev 19:19 says the beast, all the kings of the earth and their armies will gather together to war against Jesus (Rev 19:11-21).

Rev 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him that sat on the horse, and against His army.

Psa 110:7 He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall He lift up the head.

He shall drink of the brook in the way. This verse is the last of Psa 110 and speaks of the Lord Jesus drinking from a brook. The Hebrew word for “brook” is the Hebrew word “nachal“ which speaks of a water way. This speaks of the Lord’s nourishment and pleasure in the streams of God pouring forth from His children (Psa 46:4-5; Zec 14:8; Zec 14:1-9).

Psa 46:4-5 There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the Holy place of the Tabernacles of the Most High. 5 God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early.

Therefore shall He lift up the head. This speaks of the Lord’s return (Psa 3:3-4; Psa 27:5-6).

Lk 21:28 And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh.

Thus, Psa 110 finishes with many wondrous things prophesied to take place, the timing of which lays only in the hands of the Father. I pray God will enable us all to enter into His Rest, for what is impossible for mankind to do, is not impossible for God to do, at all (Mat 19:26).

Jn 1:12-13 But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: 13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

Peace out!
Loris Anne James

All quotations marked NETS are taken from A New English Translation of the Septuagint ©2007 by the International Organization of Septuagint and Cognate Studies, Inc. Used by permission of Oxford University Press. All rights reserved. (NETS)