Psalm 110

 This psalm of David is a messianic psalm, according to my old "The New American Bible". This Roman Catholic Bible from July, 1970 is the one that I read as a lapsed Catholic. Jesus here is presented as the Messiah, the king, appointed by God. Christ is a royal priest, the authors write in a footnote.

Let me quote this Psalm: Lines 1-3: "The Lord said to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand till I make your enemies your footstool.' The scepter of your power the Lord will stretch forth from Zion: 'Rule in the midst of your enemies. yours is a princely power in the day of your birth, in holy splendor; before the daystar, like the dew, I have begotten you.'

My interpretation: God the Father addresses Jesus, inviting him to sit at His right hand until he makes his enemies his footstool. This prince will know victory in the world, a prince ruling in holy splendor. Jesus is God and man at the same time, born to come into this world, forgive our sins, and set up heavenly rule on earth.

Now, David penned this psalm 1,000 years before the birth of Christ. How is that for the power of prophecy? I am a Christian, but do regard Jesus as a divine god, and admire the Christian faith.

 

Note that Jesus is offered by his Father to rule in the midst of his worldly enemies. The enemies of Christ will be a footstool that he has his feet on. How is that for God being nonviolent, and against just war? 

Lines 4-7: "The Lord has sworn and he will not repent: 'You are a priest forever, according to the order of Melchizedek.'

The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his wrath. He will do judgment on the nations, heaping up corpses; he will crush heads over the wide earth. From the brook by the wayside he will drink; therefore he will lift up his head."

Jesus is a just king but he is a warrior king, and he wars against Satan and his follower on earth, heaping up their corpses and crushing kings on the day of his wrath.

My Catholic Bible scholars point out that both Christ and Melchizedek have their priesthood directly from God, not through Aaron and the tribe of Levi. Both offer bread and wine to God. The point here is to highlight that Christ the king is a very special priest.