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Illustration for Psalm 110: The Victorious King

Psalm 110

The Victorious King

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This short but famous psalm is quoted more often in the New Testament than any other psalm. God invites the Messiah to sit at His right hand — the place of greatest honor and power. Jesus is both a King and a Priest forever, after the order of Melchizedek.

  1. 1The LORD said to my Lord: "Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet."
  2. 2The LORD will extend Your mighty scepter from Zion: "Rule in the midst of Your enemies."
  3. 3Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy majesty, from the womb of the dawn You will receive the dew of Your youth.
  4. 4The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind: "You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek."
  5. 5The Lord is at Your right hand; He will crush kings on the day of His wrath.
  6. 6He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth.
  7. 7He will drink from a brook along the way, and so He will lift up His head.

What it means

Long before Jesus was born, this psalm told of a King who would sit at God's right hand. The New Testament quotes it more than any other verse and says that King is Jesus — who is reigning right now.

A little prayer

Lord Jesus, this psalm was written about You — the King at God's right hand. I'm so glad You are reigning, and that one day everything will be made right. Amen.

Memory verse

“The LORD said to my Lord: "Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet."”

Psalm 110:1 (BSB)

The most-quoted verse in the New Testament, and the reason this short psalm matters so much.

Talk about it

Questions with no single right answer — for a family table or a Sunday-school circle.

  1. This is the psalm the New Testament quotes most. Why might that be?
  2. It pictures a king who is also a priest — a leader who also prays for people. Which job is harder?
  3. It says people will offer themselves willingly. What is the difference between being made to and choosing to?
  4. Who leads you well?

Try this

Two jobs

Write KING and PRIEST on two cards and list what each one does. Then look for anyone who does both. Read verse 4.

You will need: Two cards and a pen.

Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible (BSB)