Psalms 110

The LORD says to my Lord: Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool. Wesley: The Lord—God the Father; Said—decreed from eternity and executed in Christ’s resurrection and ascension; my Lord—the Messiah, David’s son according to the flesh yet his Lord as God blessed forever; Sit—possession of sovereign glory; enemies—ungodly men, sin, death, and the devil as footstool.

Shared messianic christology: both camps, with Jesus’ own reading (Matt 22:44) and the apostles, confess David’s Lord as the risen Christ seated at the Father’s right hand. Arminian readers hear a decree fulfilled in history and sincerely proclaimed.

Calvin: Jehovah says to my Lord, Sit on my right hand—more than ordinary royal authority; one King elevated next to God, a dignity of which David saw only twilight and Christ the meridian. Until I make thine enemies thy footstool—all opposition fails; the throne remains. The particle until does not end the reign but marks the time of conquest; Paul speaks of the manner of the kingdom, not its cessation.

Shared messianic christology: Reformed confession joins Wesley here—Christ’s session, deity, and victory over enemies. The camps agree that David’s Lord is Christ.

The LORD sends the scepter of your strength out of Zion—rule among your enemies. Wesley: The rod—powerful scepter for kingly power; as Christ’s kingdom is spiritual, this scepter is His word; Zion—from Jerusalem.

No dispute here: both camps confess Christ’s rule amid enemies by the word going out from Zion. Arminian pastoral—preach and obey that word; the scepter is not carnal coercion.

Calvin: Jehovah sends out of Zion the scepter of thy power—Christ’s kingdom extended far beyond Israel’s narrow bounds, even when the world leagues against it. Rule in the midst of thine enemies—warfare until the end, under invincible power.

Reformed and Arminian readers alike hear the Gentile mission in the stretching scepter. Christ reigns now in the midst of foes.

Your people offer themselves willingly in the day of your power, arrayed in holiness; dew of youth from the morning’s womb. Wesley: People—subjects offering themselves as living sacrifices and freewill-offerings; day—when He takes the rod and sets up His kingdom; beauties—robes of righteousness and holiness; dew—offspring of the church more numerous than morning dew.

Both affirm: willing people, holiness, innumerable increase. Arminian accent—freewill offerings of self under grace; the day of power enables a glad consecration.

Calvin: a willing people with voluntary offerings at the assembling of the army, in beauty of holiness—prompt obedience without forced constraint; only those who take Christ’s yoke are recognized as His. Dew of youth—innumerable offspring spread over the earth, gathered by the gospel alone despite world opposition.

Both glory in willing subjects and holy beauty. Reformed accent—willingness as the mark of the chosen who hear His voice; increase by the word’s power.

The LORD has sworn, and will not change his mind: You are a priest forever in Melchizedek’s order. Wesley: Sworn—that this priesthood might be sure and irrevocable.

Shared messianic christology: both camps, with Hebrews, confess Christ’s everlasting Melchizedek priesthood—king and priest in one, beyond Levi. Arminian pastoral—our access rests on this sure oath; come boldly because the priesthood will not be revoked.

Calvin: Jehovah hath sworn and will not repent—Thou art a priest forever after Melchizedek. The oath marks something peculiar: crown and priesthood joined; Levi’s temporary order gives way. Our salvation turns on this Mediator; to shut the door is to charge God with untruth. Melchizedek likeness is chiefly perpetuity—no successor, against any mass that would seize reconciliation from Christ.

Reformed and Arminian confession alike receive Hebrews’ reading. The priest forever is Christ; the camps stand together in that confession.

The Lord at your right hand will crush kings in the day of his wrath. Wesley: The Lord—God the Son at the right hand; Strike—destroy obstinate enemy kings.

Messiah’s judicial power in the day of wrath. Both refuse a Christ who never judges. Arminian pastoral—wrath is no empty threat; flee to the Priest while the day of grace holds.

Calvin: the Lord at thy right hand breaks kings in the day of His wrath—power to disperse enemies; endure the cross when fury seems to prevail, for God knows the fit season. Christ keeps distant nations under His sway (cf. Ps 2).

Christ’s session at God’s right hand and his coming wrath belong together. Reformed accent—timing of vengeance is God’s; patience under the cross until that day.

He will judge among the nations, filling them with corpses; shatter chiefs over the wide earth. Wesley: Judge—condemn and punish; dead bodies—of enemies; heads—princes who oppose; not to be understood grossly but spiritually, according to Christ’s kingdom.

Worldwide judgment under the Messiah. Arminian note with Wesley—spiritual reading of the warfare without denying judgment on obstinate rebellion.

Calvin: He shall judge among the heathen, fill with ruins, crush the head over a great country—power over the nations; rebels fall before Him.

The nations come under Christ’s judgment. Reformed pastoral—the wide earth is His field; chiefs who resist are shattered.

He will drink of the brook on the way; therefore he will lift up his head. Wesley: Drink—a large portion of afflictions in the course of life before the honor of the right hand; waters often signify sufferings; Therefore—exalted to great glory and felicity.

Shared passion-to-exaltation pattern: both camps hear suffering then lifted head—cross then crown. Arminian pastoral—the way includes the brook of affliction; exaltation follows.

Calvin: He shall drink of the torrent in the way and therefore elevate His head—like a general who will not stop for luxury but hastily drinks and presses pursuit; prowess that strikes enemies with terror. Meek to His flock, terrible to wolves.

The lifted head after the hard way. Reformed accent—relentless conquest after refreshment in the campaign; do not provoke the wrath of the One who sweetly invites.