Psalms 110:1
The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
Psalms 110:1
“The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.” This is a foundational verse for understanding the Davidic-Messianic expectation. The speaker—often identified as David in the superscriptions or as a prophetic figure—speaks of a future/eternal king who sits at God’s right hand, a position of supreme authority. The question of “my Lord” addresses the second person of the Trinity in later Christian interpretation, but in the Old Testament context, it signals a royal figure greater than David. The declaration of authority until enemies are subdued frames the king’s rule as one of victory through divine empowerment.
This verse locates the kingdom of God within an eschatological horizon: a conquering king who defeats opposition through God’s sovereign power. It anticipates the messianic reign where ultimate authority rests with God, with the king acting as His representative. It also deepens the biblical understanding that God’s sovereignty is active in history, bringing order, justice, and peace.
For readers today, this verse strengthens faith in Jesus as the exalted Lord who governs with wisdom and power. It invites trust in God’s timing and assurance that present struggles will yield to God’s decisive victory. Practically, it can encourage perseverance in mission and integrity in leadership, knowing that true authority comes from God and is exercised to bless the vulnerable, defeat oppression, and restore creation. In personal life, you can pray for God to subdue personal “enemies”—habits, fears, or sinful patterns—acknowledging that ultimate victory is found in God’s kingly rule.
Cross-References: Psalm 2:6-9; Daniel 7:13-14; Matthew 22:44; Hebrews 1:13; Acts 2:34-36