I was going through Psalm 110 today (in the NKJV) and thought about the Judaic interpretation of so-called Messianic prophecies. Psalm 110 is oft cited by Christians as telling of Jesus the Christ being told by the LORD GOD ALMIGHTY that HE would share HIS throne. Scholars who practice Judaism, however, refute this claim, saying instead that Psalm 110, titled “A Psalm of David,” is indeed about GOD’s promise to King David (the second “Lord” in the passage).

Based on the “Christianized” translation I was reading (NKJV), I found the Judaic interpretation unsatisfactory.  I have written on this passage before, but focused more on the inconsistencies of the JPS use/translation of “Lord/lord/LORD.” This time, I am more concerned with what the passage says about Melchizedek, whom I will explain below.

Looking at verse 4 of Psalm 110 as translated by the Jewish Publication Society, it seems impossible that the passage is about King David, a man blessed by GOD.

Psalm 110 (JPS):

1 A Psalm of David. The LORD saith to my lord: “Sit at My right hand, while I make your enemies your footstool.”

2The LORD will stretch forth from Zion your mighty scepter; hold sway over your enemies!

4 The LORD hath sworn and will not relent: ‘You are a priest forever, a rightful king by My decree (footnote:  Or “after the manner of Melchizedek.”).’

5 The Lord at your right hand. He crushes kings in the day of His anger.

6 He works judgment upon the nations, heaping up bodies, crushing heads far and wide.

Before going any further, this is the only other reference to Melchizedek in the Bible (Old Testament), as presented in the JPS translation. In Genesis 14, Abram’s nephew Lot was taken captive. When Abram heard about it, he took men and went on a rescue mission. He was successful and was met by Melchizedek on his way back.

Genesis 14

18. And King Melchizedek of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was a priest of God Most High. 19 He blessed him saying, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Creator of heaven and earth. And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your foes into your hand.” And [Abram] gave him a tenth of everything.

In trying to find Judaic commentary on this passage, I’ve come across writings (usually from rabbis) who say that Psalm 110 is about David, as read by one of his servants/a psalmist. They say that one is basically reading this to mean the LORD GOD said unto my lord King David: Sit at My right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.

Honestly, I can accept that interpretation… but then it falls apart with the following verses, especially when it comes to Melchizedek. Some key phrases that jump out at me are: “day of His anger” which is similar to “day of the LORD.” The Bible, especially the prophets, makes many references to a day of the LORD, which I will address after the first and biggest stumbling block to the Judaic interpretation of this passage — the person of Melchizedek.

What Is The Manner Of Melchizedek?

Melchi-zedek, as we learn in Genesis, was the king of Salem (Jerusalem) and “priest of GOD the Most High.” His name, literally translated in Hebrew, means “rightful king” or king of righteousness (Strong’s 4442), based on the two parts of his name.

From this passage in Genesis, we see that king/priest Melchizedek was very respected and honorable based on his exchange with Abram. I have read that king/priest Melchizedek was a Gentile and I’ve read that he was descended from Noah’s son Shem… either way, the Scripture clearly states that not only was he king of Salem (Jerusalem), but that he was priest of GOD the Most High. This was obviously before GOD ordained the Levitical priesthood. King Melchizedek was not a Levite and maybe wasn’t even Jewish, but he served righteously before the LORD as priest and Abram honored him.

How can the LORD be saying to King David in Psalm 110:4Psalm 110:4
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.  

WP-Bible plugin that he will be “a priest forever after the manner of Melchizedek?” Yes, the two kings served righteously before the LORD, but David was not a priest. And the verse says after the manner (or order, according to Strong’s) of Melchizedek. The word choice does not insinuate “like” Melchizedek, but makes it seem as if Melchizedek had served in a kind of office. How could GOD be telling King David he was also a priest, when he was clearly not? This alone makes me doubt Psalm 110 is speaking of or addressing King David.

Whose ‘Day Of Wrath’ – David’s or the LORD’s?

The other stumbling block is the phrase “day of the LORD” a phrase common to the prophets. For example, Isaiah and Zephaniah speak of this special and most terrible day. If one reads the prophecies in full, it is clear that this day of wrath speaks of a prophecy not yet fulfilled, when the LORD will judge ALL upon the earth. The LORD HIMSELF will do the work and it will be obvious to ALL.

Isaiah 13: 9Isaiah 13: 9
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
9 Behold, the day of the LORD cometh, cruel both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate: and he shall destroy the sinners thereof out of it.  

WP-Bible plugin Lo! The day of th LORD is coming with pitiless fury and wrath, to make the earth a desolation, to wipe out the sinners upon it.

Zephaniah 1:7Zephaniah 1:7
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
7 Hold thy peace at the presence of the Lord GOD: for the day of the LORD is at hand: for the LORD hath prepared a sacrifice, he hath bid his guests. bid: Heb. sanctified, or, prepared  

WP-Bible pluginBe silent before my Lord GOD, for the day of the LORD is approaching; for the LORD has prepared a sacrificial feast (footnote: I.e., a slaughter of sinners), has bidden His guests purify themselves. … 14The great day of the LORD is approaching, approaching most swiftly. Hark, th day of the LORD! It is bitter: there a warrior shrieks! 15That day shall be a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress a day of calamity and desolation, a day of darkness and deep gloom, a day of densest clouds, and day of horn blasts and alarms–against the fortified towns and the lofty corner towers.

Psalm 110:5Psalm 110:5
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
5 The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.  

WP-Bible plugin reads “The Lord at your right hand. He crushes kings in the day of His anger.” Who is “the Lord” here? And who is at whose “right hand?” Based on all of Psalm 110, “the Lord” refers to whomever is at GOD’s right hand — and this person will be there in the prophesied day of the LORD when justice is delivered to the nations. This most certianl is not King David. So the LORD GOD is not inviting King David to sit at HIS right hand — that position on HIS throne is being offered to another, a person who will also have priestly qualities.

Who is this priestly king called Lord invited to sit at GOD’s right hand and prophesied to crush kings in the day of His anger, the day of the LORD? The Messiah, King David’s descendant. He will is described in Psalm 110 as both king and priest — one person, not two, as some interpret. A king, because he shares GOD’s throne.

(UPDATE /06/07/2009): I recently came across another passage in the JPS translation of the Tanakh (i.e., Old Testemant) that supports Psalm 110:4Psalm 110:4
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.  

WP-Bible plugin, which reads ‘You are a priest forever, a rightful king by My decree (footnote:  Or “after the manner of Melchizedek.”).’

I have read Jewish scholars insisting that because GOD established a distinct royal office and a priestly order that the two could never be intertwined. That the king and the priest would always be two separate individuals. Psalm 110:4Psalm 110:4
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
4 The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.  

WP-Bible plugin doesn’t support this however, and neither does Zechariah 6, in which Joshua the High Priest is crowned in a prophecy. This passage also speaks of a combined kingly/priestly singular office, which will be occupied by the BRANCH, as Zechariah puts it.

Zechariah 6

11Take silver and gold and make crowns. Place [one] on the head of High Priest Joshua son of Jehozadak, 12and say to him, “Thus said the LORD of Hosts: Behold, a man called the Branch shall branch out from the place where he is, and he shall build the Temple of the LORD. 13He shall build the Temple of the LORD and shall assume majesty, and he shall sit on his throne and rule. And there shall also be a priest seated on his throne (the footnote: Septuagint reads “on his right side”), and harmonious understanding shall prevail between them.”

The Branch is, of course, the Messiah. Zechariah prophesies that he will “assume majesty ” and sit on his throne and rule. He will be a king. Zechariah also says “there shall be a priest seated on his throne” — this king will share his throne with a priest, or, as the Septuagint puts it, the priest will sit at “his right side.” This prophecy indicates that there will be one throne — shared by both the king and priest and they will be on one accord. This appears to be a combined kingly/priestly office as they are both sharing one throne — they rule together harmoniously.

The key phrase here “on his right side” … which we also see in Psalm 110:1Psalm 110:1
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
110 A Psalm of David. ¹ The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.  

WP-Bible plugin – “The LORD said to my lord, “Sit at My right hand while I make your enemies your footstool.”

We read in Psalm 132:17Psalm 132:17
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
17 There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed. lamp: or, candle  

WP-Bible plugin There I will make a horn sprout for David; I have prepared a lamp for My anointed one. 18 I will clothe his enemies in disgrace, while on him his crown shall sparkle.” — This passage echoes Zechariah’s prophecy on the Branch because of the crown of gold and silver. It also echoes Psalm 110 about subduing enemies.

Because of these supporting passages, it appears King David is not the subject of Psalm 110 — he is not the Branch (the Branch is from his own roots, a decendant); he is not a priest (the Brach will clearly have priestly qualities); and he will not be there in that great and terrible day of the LORD — these are all qualities of the Messaih, GOD’s Anointed… the Christ.