The King and Priest Forever: A Devotional on Psalm 110

Psalm 110

PSALMDAILY DEVOTIONALS

9/3/20263 min read

Psalm 110 is a breathtaking, prophetic glimpse into the eternal reign of God's Messiah. Titled "A psalm of David," it holds the distinction of being the most frequently quoted or referenced Old Testament passage in the entire New Testament.

Jesus Himself used this psalm to challenge the religious leaders of His day (Matthew 22:41–46), and the author of Hebrews wove its promises into the very fabric of gospel doctrine. It is a devotional about ultimate authority, divine victory, and the profound comfort of knowing that the One who rules the cosmos is also our eternal High Priest.

The Scripture

1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.”

2 The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of your enemies.” 3 Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy majesty, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb.

4 The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.”

5 The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his wrath... 7 He will drink from a brook along the way, and so lift up his head.

— Psalm 110 (NIV)

Enthroned Above the Noise

The psalm opens with a remarkable conversation within the Godhead that David was given grace to overhear:

"The Lord [Yahweh] says to my Lord [Adonai]: 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.'" (v. 1)

David, the supreme king of Israel, refers to someone else as "my Lord." This King above King David is none other than Jesus Christ.

Notice the posture commanded here: "Sit at my right hand." Sitting down signifies a finished work and absolute confidence. When world events feel chaotic, when cultural values shift, or when personal trials threaten to overwhelm you, Psalm 110 pulls back the curtain of heaven to reveal the ultimate reality: Jesus is seated.

He is not pacing heaven's corridors in anxiety over human decisions or worldly unrest. He sits in serene, supreme authority at the right hand of God the Father, while history unfolds according to His sovereign timeline.

Ruling in the Midst of Enemies

In verse 2, the psalm gives us a realistic expectation for our present lives:

"The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, 'Rule in the midst of your enemies.'"

Notice that Christ's reign does not wait until every enemy is completely eradicated before it begins. He rules in the midst of enemies.

We often pray for God to completely remove every source of friction, hardship, or spiritual opposition from our lives before we feel we can serve Him with joy. But Psalm 110 reminds us that Kingdom authority operates right in the middle of hostile territory. You don't need a smooth, trouble-free environment to walk in God's peace and power today. You can thrive precisely because Christ reigns in the middle of your challenges.

A Priest Forever

In verse 4, God makes an unshakeable, sworn oath that changes everything for us:

"The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind: 'You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.'"

In ancient Israel, kingship and priesthood were strictly kept separate—kings came from the tribe of Judah, and priests came from Levi. But in the mysterious figure of Melchizedek (Genesis 14), both offices met in one person.

Jesus is our King who defends us with all power, and our High Priest who intercedes for us with all tenderness (Hebrews 7:25). As our Priest, He offers us complete forgiveness, bridges the gap between our weakness and God's holiness, and continually prays for us.

The psalm ends in verse 7 with a quiet, beautiful image of the Messiah: "He will drink from a brook along the way, and so lift up his head." Refreshed by the living waters of the Father, our King moves steadily forward to final victory—and He invites us to walk in that same victory with Him.

Reflection & Application

Resting in His Sitting Posture: What situation in your life feels out of control right now? Picture King Jesus sitting serenely at the Father's right hand over that exact issue, and yield your anxiety to His authority.
Thriving in the Midst: Instead of waiting for your environment to become stress-free, ask the Lord: "How can I honor Your reign right in the middle of my current challenge today?"
Approaching Your High Priest: Take comfort in verse 4. Come boldly before Jesus today with your weaknesses, errors, and needs, trusting that as your eternal High Priest, He greets you with endless grace.

Prayer

Thank You Jesus for being seated at the right hand of the Father, far above every earthly power, fear, and worry. Forgive me for looking at the noise of the world instead of fixing my eyes on Your throne. Thank You for being my eternal High Priest who intercedes for me and surrounds me with grace. Help me to walk confidently in Your strength today, ruling over anxiety in the midst of every trial. Amen.

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