What does Psalms Chapter 109 say, and which statements belong to its speaker?

Atlas of Saints · Chapter summary

The Lord said to my Lord to sit at the right hand. The oath names a priest forever according to Melchisedech’s order. Torrent drinking and head lifting retain wording without an added resurrection explanation.

Chapter breakdown

Dixit Dominus is the incipit and the separate heading interprets Christ's exaltation and eternal priesthood. David's psalm records the Lord saying to my Lord to sit at His right hand until enemies are made footstool. The Lord will send power's sceptre from Sion, with command to rule amid enemies. The words say principality is with the addressee in strength's day and saints' brightness, and from womb before day star I begot thee. No vision scene of David overhearing is supplied.

The Lord has sworn and will not repent: the addressee is a priest forever according to Melchisedech's order. The text does not here name Levitical replacement, ordained participation or Eucharistic sacrifice, so those doctrines are not inserted. The Lord at the right hand has broken kings in wrath's day; future judgment among nations, filling ruins and crushing heads in land of many follow.

He shall drink the torrent along the way and therefore lift the head. No commentary in this span identifies that torrent as earthly humiliation or resurrection, and that explanation is not certified as the verse's own claim. Past breaking, future judgment and drinking remain distinct and attributed.

The story inside

Opening: The Lord said to my Lord to sit at the right hand. Development: The oath names a priest forever according to Melchisedech’s order. Conclusion: Torrent drinking and head lifting retain wording without an added resurrection explanation.

Lessons worth keeping

1
The Lord said to my Lord to sit at the right hand.
2
The oath names a priest forever according to Melchisedech’s order.
3
Torrent drinking and head lifting retain wording without an added resurrection explanation.

Test your recall

Which images and requests does the speaker use, and what does the chapter leave unresolved?

Source edition and notes

Douay–Rheims, revised by Richard Challoner (1749–1752). Project Gutenberg no. 1581. Locators refer to lines in the admitted pg1581.txt edition. Source notes may include Challoner commentary.

Lines 64933–64934
The Lord said to my Lord: Sit thou at my right hand: Until I make thy enemies thy footstool.
Lines 64936–64937
The Lord will send forth the sceptre of thy power out of Sion: rule thou in the midst of thy enemies.
Lines 64939–64941
With thee is the principality in the day of thy strength: in the brightness of the saints: from the womb before the day star I begot thee.
Lines 64943–64944
The Lord hath sworn, and he will not repent: Thou art a priest for ever according to the order of Melchisedech.
Lines 64952–64953
He shall drink of the torrent in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.