Psalms 110:2

2 The Lord sends out from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your foes.

Psalms 110:2 Meaning and Commentary

Psalms 110:2

The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion
His royal and powerful sceptre, called the sceptre of righteousness, ( Psalms 45:6 ) and is no other than the Gospel, the power of God unto salvation; and which is mighty through him, for the reducing souls to the obedience of Christ; when it comes with power, and works effectually. This was first preached in Zion, or Jerusalem, and went out from thence into all parts of the world; the first ministers of it had their commission there, and were sent from thence to publish it all over the world; see ( Isaiah 2:3 ) ( Luke 24:47 ) ( Acts 1:4 ) ( 8:4 ) , by means of which the kingdom of Christ was set up and spread in the world; with this rod and sceptre in his hand, he went forth with his ministers, conquering and to conquer, ( Revelation 6:2 ) . The Jews F18 own this rod to be a rod in the hand of the Messiah, which they seem to understand literally; and have a fabulous notion of its being the same that Jacob, Judah, Moses, Aaron, David, and so every king of Judah, had, down to the destruction of the temple: the Targum in the king's Bible is,

``the Word of the Lord shall send''

the essential Word.

Rule thou in the midst of thine enemies;
or, "thou shalt rule", as the Targum and Arabic version; in the hearts of those who, in their unregenerate state, are enemies: but the arrows of his word being sharp in them, they are brought to submit to him; the everlasting doors are caused to open; he enters in, takes possession of their hearts, and rules there. Or this may be understood of his church in the world, which is his kingdom, and lies surrounded with enemies on all hands; but, in spite of them, and all their opposition, he will support his kingdom and interest.


FOOTNOTES:

F18 Jelammedenu apud Yalkut in oc. Bemidbar Rabba, fol. 224. 1. Vid. Bereshit Rabba, fol. 75. 1.

Psalms 110:2 In-Context

1 The Lord says to my lord, "Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool."
2 The Lord sends out from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your foes.
3 Your people will offer themselves willingly on the day you lead your forces on the holy mountains. From the womb of the morning, like dew, your youth will come to you.
4 The Lord has sworn and will not change his mind, "You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek."
5 The Lord is at your right hand; he will shatter kings on the day of his wrath.
New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.