Psalm 110:4

Psalm 110:4

The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.

a. ASV: Jehovah hath sworn, and will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever After the order of Melchizedek. [Thomas Nelson & Sons first published the American Standard Version in 1901. This translation of the Bible is in the public domain.]

b. YLT: Jehovah hath sworn, and doth not repent, 'Thou art a priest to the age, According to the order of Melchizedek.' [The Young's Literal Translation was translated by Robert Young, who believed in a strictly literal translation of God's word. This version of the Bible is in the public domain.]

c. Amplified Bible Classic: The Lord has sworn and will not revoke or change it: You are a priest forever, after the manner and order of Melchizedek.  [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

d. Septuagint Septuagint [Psalm 110:4 in our Bible is Psalm 109:4 in the Septuagint]: The Lord sware, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchisedec.

e. Tehillim/Psalms: HASHEM has sworn and will not relent: “You shall be a priest forever, in accord with Melchizedek’s word.” [THE ARTSCROLL TANACH SERIES TEHILLIM / PSALMS PERSONAL SIZE EDITION VOL.1 Ⓒ Copyright 1977, 1985, 1996 by MESORAH PUBLICATIONS, Ltd.]

1. “The Lord hath sworn, and will not repent…”

a. [The] LORD [Strong: 3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw' from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord.]

b. [hath] sworn [Strong: 7650 shaba` shaw-bah' a primitive root; propr. to be complete, but used only as a denominative from 7651; to seven oneself, i.e. swear (as if by repeating a declaration seven times):--adjure, charge (by an oath, with an oath), feed to the full (by mistake for 7646), take an oath, X straitly, (cause to, make to) swear.]

c. [and will] not 3808 lo' lo or lowi {lo}; or loh (Deut. 3:11) {lo}; a primitive particle; not (the simple or abs. negation); by implication, no; often used with other particles (as follows):--X before, + or else, ere, + except, ig(-norant), much, less, nay, neither, never, no((-ne), -r, (-thing)), (X as though...,(can-), for) not (out of), of nought, otherwise, out of, + surely, + as truly as, + of a truth, + verily, for want, + whether, without.]

d. repent [Strong: 5162 nacham naw-kham' a primitive root; properly, to sigh, i.e. breathe strongly; by implication, to be sorry, i.e. (in a favorable sense) to pity, console or (reflexively) rue; or (unfavorably) to avenge (oneself):--comfort (self), ease (one's self), repent(-er,-ing, self).]

1). Here it is recorded that God swore, Almighty God took an oath, He swore that the Messiah would be a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek. The inspired writer of Hebrews declares that because of this oath, it makes this priesthood higher than the Aaronic priesthood.

a). Hebrews 7:19-22 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

7:20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

7:21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

7:22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

2). Arthur Pink, in his commentary of the Book of Hebrews writes a very powerful paragraph concerning the fact that God swore, taking an oath. 

a). Exposition of Hebrews, Arthur Pink, Baker Book House, 1986, p. 341. “The assurance which was given to Abraham was the greatest that Heaven itself could afford: a promise and an oath. We say the greatest, for in v. 16, the Apostle declares that amongst men an “oath” is an end of strife; how much more when the great God Himself takes one! Moreover, observe He sware “by Himself”: He staked Himself; it was as though He had said, I will cease to be God if I do not perform this. The Lord pledged His veracity, declared the event should be as certain as His existence.”

2. “…Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.”

a. Thou [art] [Strong: 859 'attah at-taw' or (shortened); aatta {at-taw'}; or wath {ath}; feminine (irregular) sometimes nattiy {at-tee'}; plural masculine attem {at- tem'}; feminine atten {at-ten'}; or oattenah {at-tay'naw}; or fattennah {at-tane'-naw}; a primitive pronoun of the second person; thou and thee, or (plural) ye and you:--thee, thou, ye, you.]

b. [a] priest [Strong: 3548 kohen ko-hane' active participle of 3547; literally, one officiating, a priest; also (by courtesy) an acting priest (although a layman):--chief ruler, X own, priest, prince, principal officer.]

c. forever [Strong: 5769 `owlam o-lawm' or lolam {o-lawm'}; from 5956; properly, concealed, i.e. the vanishing point; generally, time out of mind (past or future), i.e. (practically) eternity; frequentatively, adverbial (especially with prepositional prefix) always:--alway(-s), ancient (time), any more, continuance, eternal, (for, (n-))ever(-lasting, -more, of old), lasting, long (time), (of) old (time), perpetual, at any time, (beginning of the) world (+ without end).]

d. after [Strong: 5921 `al al properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications (as follow):--above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, X with.]

e. [the] order [Strong: 1700 dibrah dib-raw' feminine of 1697; a reason, suit or style:--cause, end, estate, order, regard.]

f. [of] Melchizedek [Strong: 4442 Malkiy-Tsedeq mal-kee-tseh'-dek from 4428 and 6664; king of right; Malki-Tsedek, an early king in Palestine:--Melchizedek.]

1). Thomas Scott brings out a revelation concerning the two incompatible offices of King and Priest in the same person. It is clear from Psalm 110:1 that the Messiah would be King, yet three verses later He was sworn by God that He would be Priest also.

a). Thomas Scott, Commentary On The Whole Bible:  But it should be carefully noted, that the two offices of king and priest were incompatible according to the Mosaic law, at least after the appointment of David and his family to the kingdom; and the Jews must have known, if they had not been blinded by prejudice, that a new order and constitution must take place at the coming of the Messiah, who was to be “a Priest upon his throne;” Zechariah 6:12-13 a Priest, not after Aaron’s order, which as David’s son he could not be, but after the order of Melchizedek.

2). This verse is quoted 5 times in the book of Hebrews.

a). Hebrews 5:6 As he saith also in another place, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

b). Hebrews 5:10 Called of God an high priest after the order of Melchisedec.

c). Hebrews 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

d). Hebrews 7:17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

e). Hebrews 7:21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

3). The treatment of the High Priesthood of Christ covers a lot of material in the book of Hebrews. It begins in Hebrews 4:12 and it is interrupted after Hebrews 5:10, with a strong warning to the Jewish believers. It is again picked up in Hebrews 6:20 and covers the entire 7th chapter of Hebrews. The passage that leads us into the Biblical discussion is found in Hebrews 4.

a). Hebrews 4:12-16 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

4:13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.

4:14 Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession.

4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

4:16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.

  

4). Historically there are some intriguing schools of thought regarding Melchizedek, who he was and where he came from. I will try to let Scripture interpret Scripture as best as I can. The Scriptures describing his place in the Biblical record add up to only three verses.

a). Genesis 14:18-20 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought forth bread and wine: and he was the priest of the most high God.

14:19 And he blessed him, and said, Blessed be Abram of the most high God, possessor of heaven and earth:

14:20 And blessed be the most high God, which hath delivered thine enemies into thy hand. And he gave him tithes of all.

5). One school of thought teaches that Melchizedek was a theophany of Christ, a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ. Although there are theophanies in the Old Testament, I don’t believe this is one of them. Another theory teaches that Melchizedek was the patriarch Shem. He would certainly be alive at this time and no doubt the most famous of the patriarchs, but there is no mention of him after Genesis 11:11 other than just references. He basically falls off the Biblical landscape and I believe there is reason for that fact, and for the fact it is Abraham that rises to the top of God’s attention and not Shem. See notes on Genesis 14. Abram went to war with the direct descendants of Shem, quite possibly Shem’s grandchildren while Shem was still alive. The possible reason that Shem falls off the Biblical landscape is because he began to be on the wrong side of what God was doing. As intriguing as this is, it is just speculation. Regardless, to get back to our text I want to cite the whole chapter of Hebrews 7 that answers a lot of questions of why Jesus is a High Priest after the order of Melchizedek.

a). Hebrews 7:1-28 For this Melchisedec, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;

7:2 To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;

7:3 Without father, without mother, without descent, having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually.

7:4 Now consider how great this man was, unto whom even the patriarch Abraham gave the tenth of the spoils.

7:5 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:

7:6 But he whose descent is not counted from them received tithes of Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

7:7 And without all contradiction the less is blessed of the better.

7:8 And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth them, of whom it is witnessed that he liveth.

7:9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.

7:10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.

7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedec, and not be called after the order of Aaron?

7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law.

7:13 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.

7:14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.

7:15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,

7:16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.

7:17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

7:18 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.

7:19 For the law made nothing perfect, but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

7:20 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

7:21 (For those priests were made without an oath; but this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec:)

7:22 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.

7:23 And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death:

7:24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood.

7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.

7:26 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;

7:27 Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people's: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.

7:28 For the law maketh men high priests which have infirmity; but the word of the oath, which was since the law, maketh the Son, who is consecrated for evermore.

6). The fact that Psalm 110:4 designates the Messiah King of Psalm 110:1 as the High Priest after the order of Melchizedek, it affirms the context as New Covenant.

7). ICR 8/15/14  The importance of this intriguing verse is indicated both by the fact that it is the central verse of a great Messianic Psalm (quoted at least 12 times in the New Testament) and also because this one verse constitutes one of the main themes of chapters 5–7 of Hebrews, where it is quoted no fewer than five times (Hebrews 5:6, 10; 6:20; 7:17, 21), and where Melchizedek himself is mentioned nine times. It refers to the fascinating personage glimpsed briefly in Genesis 14:18-20. Melchizedek (meaning “King of Righteousness”) is said to have been “King of Salem” (or “Peace”), but there is no record, either in secular history or elsewhere in the Bible, that there ever was such a city or earthly king. He was also called the “priest of the most high God” (Hebrews 7:1), and he suddenly appeared, then disappeared as suddenly as he had come. Commentators mostly have assumed that Melchizedek was the chieftain of a small settlement of which we have no record, but this hardly does justice to the exalted descriptions of him in Scripture. He was obviously greater than Abraham (Hebrews 7:4), as well as Aaron, the founder of the Levitical priesthood. Furthermore, he was “without father, without mother, . . . having neither beginning of days, nor end of life; but made like unto the Son of God; abideth a priest continually” (Hebrews 7:3). Such language is hardly appropriate merely because no genealogy is recorded. If one takes the Bible literally, such statements could be true only of God Himself, appearing briefly in the preincarnate state of the Second Person, as King of all peace and righteousness. Now this same divine Person, “because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him” (Hebrews 7:24-25). HMM