Matthew Poole and continuators on Psalms 110:1

1 THE LORD said unto my LORD , Sit thou at my right hand , until I make thine enemies thy footstool .

God the Father, the first Person in the Trinity, to whom accordingly the Original of all things, and especially of the work of mans Redemption by Christ is ascribed.

Decreed or appointed it from Eternity, and in due time published this Decree, as is noted Psal. 2. 7. and actually executed it; which he did when he raised up Christ from the dead, and brought him into his heavenly mansion.

Unto his Son the Messias, whom David designedly calls his Lord, to admonish the Jews and the whole Church, that although he was his Son according to the flesh or his humane nature, Act. 2. 30. Rom. 1. 3. yet he had an higher Nature and Original, and was also his Lord, as being by Nature God blessed for ever, and consequently Lord of all things, as he is called Act. 10. 36. and by Office as he was God-man, the Lord and King of the whole Church, and of all the World for the Churches sake. And this was a necessary provision to prevent that scandal which the Holy Ghost foresaw the Jews and others would be apt to take at the meanness of Christs appearance in the flesh. The Hebrew word Adon is one of Gods Titles, signifying his Power and Authority or Lordship over all things, and therefore is most fitly given to the Messias, to whom God hath delegated all his Power in the World, Mat. 28. 18.

Thou who hast for many years been veiled with infirm and mortal flesh, despised and rejected and trampled upon by men, and persecuted unto the death, do thou now take to thy self thy great and just power; thou hast done thy work upon earth, now take thy rest and the possession of that Soveraign Kingdom and Glory, which by right belongeth to thee; do thou rule with me with equal Power and Majesty as thou art God, and with an Authority and Honour far above all creatures, such as is next to mine, as thou art man; as this phrase is expounded in other places. See Mark 16. 19. Luke 22. 69. 1 Cor. 15. 25. Heb. 1. 3, 13. & 8. 1. & 10. 12, 13. Eph. 1. 20, &c. It is a Metaphor from the custom of earthly Princes, who place those persons whom they honour most at their right hand: of which see 1 Kings 2. 19. Psal. 45. 10. Mat. 20. 21. Sitting is put for reigning, 1 Kings 3. 6. comp. with 2 Chron. 1. 8. and withal notes the continuance of the Reign, 1 Cor. 15. 25.

Which word doth not necessarily note the end or expiration of his Kingdom at that time; for in other places it notes only the continuance of things till such time, without excluding the time following, as is evident from Gen. 28. 15. Psal. 112. 8. Mat. 1. ult. So here it may signifie that his kingdom should continue so long, even in the midst of his enemies, and in spight of all their power and malice, which was the only thing which was liable to any doubt; for that he should continue to reign after the conquest and utter ruine of all his enemies, was out of all question. And yet this is a word of limitation, in regard of the mediatorial kingdom of Christ, in respect of which Christ rules with a delegated power, as his Fathers Vice-roy, and with the use of outward means and instruments and ordinances, &c. for that manner of Administration shall cease: which also seems to be intimated by this word, as it is expounded 1 Cor. 15. 25.

By my Almighty power communicated to thee as God by eternal generation, and vouchsafed to thee as Mediator, to enable thee to the full discharge of thine Office.

Which also are the enemies of thy Church, all persecutors and ungodly men, who will not have Christ to rule over them, Luke 19. 14. sin and death and the Devil, 1 Cor. 15. 26.

Thy slaves and vassals to be put to the meanest and basest services, as this phrase implies, 1 Kings 5. 3. Psal. 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 Ios. 10. 24. Iudg. 1. 7. And long after those times Sapores the Persian Emperor trod upon Valerian Emperor of the Romans, and Tamerlan used to tread upon Bajazet the Turkish Emperor, whom he kept in an iron cage for that purpose.

Marginal references: [illegible: 1 word]. 22. 44. [illegible: 1 word]. 12. 36. [illegible: 1 word] 20. 42. [illegible: 1 word] 2. 34. [illegible: 1 word] Cor. 15 25. [illegible: 1 word] 1. 13.