Psalm 110 – A Footstool
In Psalm 110 – a footstool, God says he will make the lord’s enemies a footstool for his feet. What does that mean? What is the significance of a footstool?
Psalm 110
Psalm 110 is one of the most quoted passages from the Old Testament in the New Testament, numbering 27 direct and indirect allusions.
The psalm consists of two oracles, each followed by an explanation.
“There is an oracle and then an explanation, then an oracle and an explanation. The first oracle is verse 1. “The Lord says to my Lord …” and then the actual oracle and then a meditation on it in verses 2 and 3. Then the second oracle. “The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind.” Then the oracle itself, “You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” Then a meditation on it in verses 5, 6, and 7.” https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/sermon/psalm-110/
An oracle is a prophecy revealed through the medium of a priest or priestess at the shrine of a god. Or, a message from God. The first oracle states that God will make his enemies a footstool.
“The Lord says to my lord: “Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.” (1)
As one commentator states: “Yahweh (specifically, God the Father) spoke to the Messiah (specifically, God the Son), telling Him to take His enthroned place (Ephesians 1:20, Hebrews 8:1) until the Father provided the victory for the Son.” https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/psalm-110/
The explanation how this will happen follows the oracle:
“The Lord will extend your mighty scepter from Zion, saying, “Rule in the midst of your enemies!”
Your troops will be willing on your day of battle.
Arrayed in holy splendor, your young men will come to you like dew from the morning’s womb.” (2-3)
A Priest Forever
The second oracle follows:
“The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind:
“You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek.” (4)
The Lord swears, “This puts the statement which follows in the most solemn and strong context possible. Yahweh (specifically, God the Father) made an oath that would never be annulled.” https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/psalm-110/
“This oath was so important that the author of Hebrews refers to it five times (Hebrews 5:6, 5:10, 6:20, 7:17, and 7:21).
“His priesthood is not, like that of Aaron, figurative, successive, and transient, but real and effectual, fixed and incommunicable, eternal and unchangeable.” (Horne) https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/psalm-110/
The explanation follows that God will provide the victory for the Messiah.
“The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his wrath.
He will judge the nations, heaping up the dead and crushing the rulers of the whole earth.
He will drink from a brook along the way, and so he will lift his head high.” (5-7)
God delivers victory to this future leader.
Who is Melchizedek?
Central to Psalm 110 is the passage about Melchizedek which has been used for centuries as part of ordination rites for Catholic priests. But who was Melchizedek, and why does he hold such a central place in scripture and tradition?
Melchizedek is mentioned only three times in the Bible, in Gen. 14, Psalm 110, and Hebrews. The first reference was only three verses long.
“And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine. (He was priest of God Most High.) And he blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram by God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, who has delivered your enemies into your hand!” Then Abram gave him a tenth of everything.” (Gen. 14:18-20)
One commentator explains, “After Abraham defeated the confederation of kings who took his nephew Lot captive, Abraham met with a mysterious priest named Melchizedek, whose name means king of righteousness and who was also king over the city of Salem (an ancient name for the city of Jerusalem), which made him the king of peace.” https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/psalm-110/
There is no mention of his ancestry, something unusual for this time. And yet, out of this short mention, comes massive speculation about this mysterious figure.
“He is such a mysterious figure it’s not too surprising that Jewish speculation produced books on him. In the eleventh cave at Qumran, they found a whole scroll which is now sometimes called the Melchizedek Scroll with all kinds of wild speculation regarding Melchizedek.” https://www.thegospelcoalition.org/sermon/psalm-110/
Notable is the fact that Melchizedek was both a king and a priest, something unheard of from the time of Moses when there was a strict separation between priests and kings, with priests coming from the tribe of Levy. Also notable is that he is both a king of righteousness and peace. All pointing to the Messiah.
The Significance of Footstool
A footstool is where you rest your feet when tired. Placing the foot upon the neck or body of defeated enemies was a common practice of Oriental conquerors. It represents complete subjugation to the conqueror.
“Thy slaves and vassals to be put to the meanest and basest services, as this phrase implies, 1 Kings 5:3,Psalms 18:39, 91:13; being taken from the manner of Eastern princes, who used to tread upon the necks of their conquered enemies, as we read, Joshua 10:24.” (Poole) https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/psalm-110/
“Footstool in verse 1 represents “A metaphor for complete subjugation, derived from the practice described in Joshua 10:24. Cp. 1 Kings 5:3; 1 Corinthians 15:25, and for the promise cp. Psalm 2:8-9.” (https://biblehub.com/commentaries/psalms/110-1.htm)
“The enemies shall come to lie under his feet (1 Kings 5:17), his feet tread upon the necks of the vanquished (Joshua 10:24), so that the resistance that is overcome becomes as it were the dark ground upon which the glory of his victorious rule arises. For the history of time ends with the triumph of good over evil, – not, however, with the annihilation of evil, but with its subjugation.” (https://biblehub.com/commentaries/psalms/110-1.htm)
The New Testament frequently quotes Psalm 110, directly applying its prophecies to Jesus’s ascension, his authority, and his ultimate triumph over death and evil.
Psalm 110 – A Footstool
So what does Psalm 110 – a footstool say to us today? While the image of the conquered being a footstool for the victor is not one commonly used today, it still retains relevance.
I like the image of giving God’s feet a place to rest after the long battle to save our world from the forces of evil. Not in abject powerlessness, but as a form of love and devotion to our God who gives us everything. It symbolizes our desire to serve our God even in the smallest way.
Psalm 110 – a footstool, reminds us of who we are and whose we are. We are but a footstool in service to our God, owing everything to God.
How far are you willing to go in service to God? Are you willing to be a footstool?
(For another take on this Psalm, see Psalm 110 – A Priest Forever.)
This post is part of a series of blog posts on the Psalms. Sign up to follow this blog and receive a free copy of Still Dancing, the second book in my Dancing through Life Series. click here to sign up
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