If the LORD has sworn, He will not change His mind, You are a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.” Psalm 110:4 ESV
Continuing in Psalm 110 with my reflections, to Whom did Yahweh swear a Divine Oath? This second message from Yahweh is to His Son. Once it takes effect, it cannot be revoked.1 David has the pleasure of recording this divine oracle for my instruction, understanding, and blessing.
What does it mean that God’s Son is a Priest forever after the order of Melchizedek? From Genesis I learn Melchizedek, which means righteousness, is the Gentile king of Salem. Salem means peace and is the future site of Jerusalem.1,2 He is also a priest, making him the only priest-king in the Old Testament. He appears for three verses in Genesis, is referred to in this Psalm by David, and then the writer of Hebrews makes much of him. There is no mention of his parents, birth or death. So in Rabbinic theology, he is a priest forever.3 The LORD is saying His Son is the ultimate Priest-King and His reign as such is permanent.1,4 A major theme of Hebrews is that because our Priest-King is forever, He alone clinches the assurance of eternal salvation.3
The Ultimate Priest-King
(My response to verse 4)
The Levitical priesthood was instituted by God but was not promised forever. It was a picture of the promise of better things to come. David is from the kingly tribe of Judah, as is his ‘Adonay. The Lord is the Davidic Messiah who arose as a Priest forever after the order (in the likeness) of Melchizedek by the power of an indestructible life, indicated by His resurrection. Only Jesus Christ, in true Priestly fashion, could accomplish the redemption of God’s people once and for all with the perfect sacrifice of His own sinless life, and then victoriously reign forever as her King. No one else perfectly merges both offices. He knows me fully and yet shows compassion as my Priest when He intercedes on my behalf before the Throne of God. I trust Him to reign with perfect justice and mercy as my King. Jesus Christ is the ultimate Priest-King and my Lord forever!
The Priest-King is a Warrior
As I move to verses 5-7, I see the ultimate Priest-King as a Warrior who will be victorious over His enemies. Who are His enemies? They are those that refuse to bow to Him as Lord, choosing some other lesser thing as lord instead. But bow they will and the battle is fierce but swift. With Yahweh and His King fighting as One, no foe can stand against Them. This is not the final battle, however. The Priest-King’s enthronement sets up His Millennial Reign and is a prelude to world conquest.2,5
Do I have the courage to follow?
(My response to verses 5-7)
I do not necessarily enjoy reading about such complete crushing and shattering, filling valleys with corpses all across the earth. It is overwhelming punishment that fulfills God’s promise to Abraham in Genesis 12.5 God’s promises can seem so slow to be fulfilled. But it is because He is so longsuffering, right up until the day His wrath spills over in judgment. As I keep growing in my understanding of His character, I am still somewhat conflicted by how mercy and justice co-exist. And yet, they do so perfectly in our God. This is what He expects of me as well when He records in Micah 6:8 to seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God.1
The Psalm ends with the Victorious King pausing to take a drink from the brook and then lifting His head triumphantly, beckoning His followers to keep following as He pursues until the rout is complete.2
May I have the courage to do just that, follow my Priest-King to the ends of the earth, no matter what. My desire is to reign and rule with Him forever.
A Psalm of David.
110 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”
2 The Lord sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your enemies! 3 Your people will offer themselves freely on the day of your power,[a] in holy garments;[b] from the womb of the morning, the dew of your youth will be yours.[c] 4 The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek.”
5 The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath. 6 He will execute judgment among the nations, filling them with corpses; he will shatter chiefs[d] over the wide earth. 7 He will drink from the brook by the way; therefore he will lift up his head.
Derek Kidner, Tyndale Old Testament Commentaries, Volume 16, Psalm 73-150: An Introduction and Commentary. London: Intervarsity Press, 1975.
Bob Utley, Study Guide Commentary Series New Testament, Vol. 10, The Superiority of the New Covenant: Hebrews. Marshall, TX: Bible Lessons International, 1999.
