An interpreter rightly says, this psalm is because of the compact manner of writing, the word-usage, the unusual images, the deviating old translations, and the manner in which it relates to the New Testament.¹ Indeed, one can pose various pointed questions, such as: Who is meant by my Lord in Psalm 110:1? Why does Melchizedek suddenly appear in Psalm 110:4? Of what or who are we to think with the bloody ending in Psalm 110:5–7? And what is the reason that especially this Psalm is so often quoted in the New Testament?

The last-mentioned question shows us that we are dealing here with a song that is of great importance for all times. Jesus quoted Psalm 110:1 once during a debate he had with the scribes: “David himself, in the Holy Spirit, declared, ‘“The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at my right hand,
until I put your enemies under your feet’” (Mark 12:36; compare with Matthew 22:44; Luke 20:42–43). Right after this, Jesus says, David himself calls him Lord. So how is he his son? (Mark 12:37). This addition sheds a light on the way in which we are to interpret this verse.

The Lord points to one higher in rank than David, that is, someone with a higher status than man. J. van Bruggen can therefore write about this, “When Scripture calls David’s son his Lord, then David’s son must have entered David’s line in a wondrous and godly manner.”² So, in this whole psalm we receive a view of the magnificent work of the Lord Jesus. He is enthroned at God’s right hand. He has duly received this place of honour after the work he accomplished at Golgotha. This is exactly what Peter says in Jerusalem about Jesus on that special day of Pentecost, the outpouring of the Holy Spirit: Being therefore exalted at the right hand of God (Acts 2:33; see also Acts 2:34; compare with 1 Corinthians 15:25; Hebrews 1:13, Hebrews 10:12).

It is very special that the Lord made this known to David, already centuries before. What a beautiful unity is being shown in the Scriptures here.