Single lesson
Psalm 110: God’s Faithful Messiah
Psalms 110:1–7
Psalm 110 is a short but powerful poem that begins with Yahweh speaking and then moves through royal, priestly and battle images. Students will trace who is speaking, what images are used, and how the poem builds its message.
Before you teach
In these seven verses, Yahweh speaks to “my Lord” and gives him a place at his right hand, a strong rule from Zion, and a lasting priesthood. The poem then describes power, willing people, judgement among nations, and a final lifted head. The language is poetic and includes severe judgement imagery.
Students will identify the speakers, key images and movement of Psalm 110 and explain how the poem presents Yahweh giving authority, priesthood and victory to “my Lord”.
Welcome: Listen for who speaks
5 minRead Psalm 110 aloud twice. Ask students to listen for changes in speaker and action. Point out that verse 1 begins, “Yahweh says to my Lord”, so the poem opens by reporting Yahweh’s words to another figure called “my Lord”. Students jot down every command or promise they hear.
Psalms 110:1
Read and explain: Right hand, rule and willing people
10 minWork through verses 1 to 3. “Sit at my right hand” shows a place of honour beside Yahweh. “Footstool” and “rule among your enemies” are royal victory images. In verse 3, the people offer themselves willingly. “Holy array” suggests they are presented in a holy way, and the dew image gives a fresh, abundant picture.
Psalms 110:1, Psalms 110:2, Psalms 110:3
Discuss: A priest forever
8 minFocus on verse 4. Yahweh “has sworn” and “will not change his mind”, so this statement is presented as firm and lasting. The figure addressed is called “a priest forever”. The line “in the order of Melchizedek” names a priestly order in the poem, even though this psalm does not pause to explain it further.
Psalms 110:4
Make and respond: Image-and-movement poem map
10 minStudents create a two-column chart or image card with the poem’s movement. In one column, list the main images: right hand, footstool, rod, holy array, dew, priest forever, right hand, judge, brook, lifted head. In the other, write what each image contributes to the poem’s message. Keep observations tied to the words of the psalm.
Psalms 110:1, Psalms 110:2, Psalms 110:3, Psalms 110:4, Psalms 110:5, Psalms 110:6, Psalms 110:7
Closing: Severe judgement and final lifting
7 minRead verses 5 to 7 carefully and soberly. Note that the poem uses strong judgement language: crushing kings, judging nations, and heaping up dead bodies. Students should describe this as judgement imagery in the psalm without acting it out. End with verse 7, where the one in view drinks from the brook and lifts up his head, finishing with endurance and vindication.
Psalms 110:5, Psalms 110:6, Psalms 110:7
Questions to explore
In verse 1, who is speaking, and to whom are the words addressed?
Use the opening words carefully: “Yahweh says to my Lord” identifies one speaker and one person addressed within the poem.
Psalms 110:1
Which images in verses 1 to 4 show authority and lasting appointment?
Look for phrases such as “right hand”, “footstool”, “rule”, and “a priest forever”, and explain what each image contributes inside the poem.
Psalms 110:1, Psalms 110:2, Psalms 110:4
How does the poem’s tone shift in verses 5 to 7, and what final image closes it?
Notice the move to judgement among nations in verses 5 and 6, then describe the closing picture of drinking from the brook and lifting up the head.
Psalms 110:5, Psalms 110:6, Psalms 110:7
Make, think or respond
Psalm 110 Image Card
What you’ll need
- plain paper or card
- pencils
- coloured pens or markers
- Bible text
Try it together
- Fold the paper into sections or draw boxes for the main images in the psalm.
- Write one image or phrase in each section, such as right hand, rod, holy array, priest forever, judge, brook, lifted head.
- Add a small drawing or symbol for each image and one short note explaining what the words show in the poem.
- Share the card with a partner and explain the poem’s movement from opening speech to final lifted head.
This activity helps students observe the poem’s own images and trace how Psalm 110 moves from Yahweh’s speech to rule, priesthood, judgement and final endurance.
Adapt for your group
- For younger or less confident readers, pre-write the image phrases from the psalm on the board and let students match them with simple symbols before discussing meaning.
- For older or more confident readers, ask them to divide the psalm by speaker, action and image, then defend their structure from the wording of individual verses.
An optional closing prayer
“God, thank you for giving us this psalm. Help us read its words carefully, respect its serious parts, and understand what it says about the one you address with honour, authority and a lasting priesthood.”
Read the Bible passage World English Bible Classic
Psalms 110
1 Yahweh says to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool for your feet.”
2 Yahweh will send out the rod of your strength out of Zion. Rule among your enemies.
3 Your people offer themselves willingly in the day of your power, in holy array. Out of the womb of the morning, you have the dew of your youth.
4 Yahweh has sworn, and will not change his mind: “You are a priest forever in the order of Melchizedek.”
5 The Lord is at your right hand. He will crush kings in the day of his wrath.
6 He will judge among the nations. He will heap up dead bodies. He will crush the ruler of the whole earth.
7 He will drink of the brook on the way; therefore he will lift up his head.
World English Bible Classic. Public domain.