Psalm 110 is a royal psalm composed originally for the preexilic Davidic kings and was later applied to the Messiah, as the many NT citations make evident (the NT cites this psalm more than any other OT passage). Like Psalm 2, it refers to Yahweh’s installation of the king on Zion and to his promise of military dominion over enemies. Both of these psalms may have been sung at the king’s enthronement (implied by “sit at my right hand”) or annually “in the spring, at the time when kings go off to war” (2 Sam. 11:1). Also like Psalm 2, it includes prophetic oracles. These provide the structure of our psalm: verses 1–3 and 4–7 each consist of a brief introduction, an oracle (in quotations), and its expansion.

110:1–3 In the phrase the LORD says to my Lord, “the LORD” (Hb. Yhwh) is obviously Y…