Seventh-day Adventist Bible CommentaryPsalms 110

The Lord said unto my Lord. Substituting the Hebrew words for “Lord” we have the following, “Yahweh said unto ’adoni” (see Vol. I, p. 35). According to Jesus’ statement the conversation occurred between God the Father and God the Son. Christ is seated in the place of highest honor in the universe, the right hand of His Father (see Eph. 1:20–23; cf. 1 Cor. 15:24–28). Footstool. See on Ps. 99:5.

Rod of thy strength. A common symbol of authority and power (see Jer. 48:17).

Thy people shall be willing. Literally, “thy people voluntary offerings.” When the king musters his army for the great day when the enemies of Zion will be overthrown, there will be a ready response. The people will yield willing allegiance to their leader. Beauties of holiness. Many Hebrew manuscripts, and Symmachus and Jerome, read, “mountains of holiness.” If this reading is correct, it pictures the mountains of Zion as the rallying point of the armies of Israel. The dew. Perhaps a figure of the vastness of the army (see 2 Sam. 17:11, 12), or of freshness and vigor (see Ps. 133:3; Hosea 14:5).

Repent. He who understands the end from the beginning does not change His purpose (see on 1 Sam. 15:11). Though man’s failure may necessitate a temporary interruption of God’s plan, yet in the end all things will be carried out according to His original purpose. A priest for ever. The strongest possible language is employed to show that Christ is an eternal Priest. He is so by virtue of a promise of God confirmed by an oath (see Heb. 7:21). This settles the decree beyond all question. Order of Melchizedek. In Christ the priesthood and the kingship are united as they were in Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of God (see Gen. 14:18; Heb. 5:6, 10; 6:20; 7:1–3, 11, 15, 17, 24, 28).

Shall strike through kings. Earthly potentates will not be successful in opposing the work of the Lord. The Lord will make His cause to triumph over earthly rulers.

Drink of the brook. A figure probably suggesting refreshment in the midst of an arduous task. Weary armies and their leaders welcomed the opportunity of drinking water from a “brook in the way” (see on Judges 7:5). Lift up the head. Denoting that all traces of weariness are gone, and the leader is ready to go forward with renewed vigor to accomplish the task at hand (see Luke 21:28).