Psa 110:3 | KingComments | STEP | In we see Christ in His glorification on earth. This happens when He appears in the world for the second time. Then “the LORD”, Yahweh, gives Him the dominion He has deserved through His work on the cross ( ). Christ stretches forth His “strong scepter from Zion”. This is the fulfillment of the prophecy spoken by Balaam ( ; cf. ). The scepter is a symbol of authority, which is further emphasized by speaking of a “strong scepter”. Zion is the center of His government that extends over the whole earth. He rules in the midst of His enemies. All enmity has come to an end. He also rules over His people, who “will volunteer freely in the day of Your power” ( ; cf. ). When the Lord Jesus has appeared in glory, the remnant will bow down to Him and make themselves available to Him. The remnant then exhibits the features of the Lord Jesus. It is with them as with the followers of David who, as weary and burdened, sought refuge with him in the cave of Adullam, and were changed by Him into heroes ( ). The Lord Jesus “volunteered freely” to do the will of His Father ( ). So it is with the remnant: they “volunteer freely”. Now that the believing remnant’s own strength and self-will are broken, it is willing to do God’s will ( ). Jacob, who learned in the school of God, is a wonderful example of this. When his hip is dislocated and his strength is broken in the encounter with the Angel of the LORD, the God of Jacob declares that his name will henceforth be “Israel”, which means “prince of God” ( ). Jacob experienced a rebirth, as it were. In this he is a type of the faithful remnant who have been made a very willing people by the God of Jacob. There is no reluctance at all, but great willingness to serve Him and to confirm Him in His kingship (cf. ). They match Him, for they are clothed “in holy array”, meaning they are holy as He is holy. They are clothed in white garments, as priests, the garment washed in the blood of the Lamb ( ). The appearance of so many people clothed in a white robe, resembles the dew, pure and fresh, priestly and powerful. It is truthfully a kingdom of priests. They come forth “from the womb of the dawn”. This is a beautiful, poetic description of the new period that will begin when the Messiah begins to reign (cf. ). The new period is like a new birth. The Lord Jesus therefore speaks of that time as the “regeneration”, which is the time when He will reign and His disciples reign with Him ( ). The regeneration is that of the earth, when it is freed from the curse of sin that lies upon it ( ). Then the earthly kingdom is regenerated, renewed, reborn ( ). To this, “the youth … [as] the dew” ties in closely. The willing people and the regeneration of creation belong to the Messiah as dew belongs to the dawning of a new day. Dew speaks of refreshment, invigoration. It is the freshness of a new day. Dew is described several times in the Old Testament as a blessing from heaven for the land of God ( ; ). The new generation that will enter the realm of peace in imitation of the Messiah will be a refreshment for the Messiah and will bear fruit for Him in their life. They will serve the Lord with joy.

‏ Psalms 110:3

The King

In Psa 110:2 we see Christ in His glorification on earth. This happens when He appears in the world for the second time. Then “the LORD”, Yahweh, gives Him the dominion He has deserved through His work on the cross (Rev 5:1-14). Christ stretches forth His “strong scepter from Zion”. This is the fulfillment of the prophecy spoken by Balaam (Num 21:17; cf. Psa 2:8-9 ; Psa 72:8). The scepter is a symbol of authority, which is further emphasized by speaking of a “strong scepter”. Zion is the center of His government that extends over the whole earth. He rules in the midst of His enemies. All enmity has come to an end.

He also rules over His people, who “will volunteer freely in the day of Your power” (Psa 110:3; cf. Song 6:12). When the Lord Jesus has appeared in glory, the remnant will bow down to Him and make themselves available to Him. The remnant then exhibits the features of the Lord Jesus. It is with them as with the followers of David who, as weary and burdened, sought refuge with him in the cave of Adullam, and were changed by Him into heroes (1Sam 22:1-2). The Lord Jesus “volunteered freely” to do the will of His Father (Jn 4:34). So it is with the remnant: they “volunteer freely”.

Now that the believing remnant’s own strength and self-will are broken, it is willing to do God’s will (Psa 119:60). Jacob, who learned in the school of God, is a wonderful example of this. When his hip is dislocated and his strength is broken in the encounter with the Angel of the LORD, the God of Jacob declares that his name will henceforth be “Israel”, which means “prince of God” (Gen 32:24-28).

Jacob experienced a rebirth, as it were. In this he is a type of the faithful remnant who have been made a very willing people by the God of Jacob.

There is no reluctance at all, but great willingness to serve Him and to confirm Him in His kingship (cf. 1Chr 11:10). They match Him, for they are clothed “in holy array”, meaning they are holy as He is holy. They are clothed in white garments, as priests, the garment washed in the blood of the Lamb (Rev 7:14). The appearance of so many people clothed in a white robe, resembles the dew, pure and fresh, priestly and powerful. It is truthfully a kingdom of priests.

They come forth “from the womb of the dawn”. This is a beautiful, poetic description of the new period that will begin when the Messiah begins to reign (cf. Song 6:10). The new period is like a new birth. The Lord Jesus therefore speaks of that time as the “regeneration”, which is the time when He will reign and His disciples reign with Him (Mt 19:28). The regeneration is that of the earth, when it is freed from the curse of sin that lies upon it (Rom 8:19-21). Then the earthly kingdom is regenerated, renewed, reborn (Psa 104:30b).

To this, “the youth … [as] the dew” ties in closely. The willing people and the regeneration of creation belong to the Messiah as dew belongs to the dawning of a new day. Dew speaks of refreshment, invigoration. It is the freshness of a new day. Dew is described several times in the Old Testament as a blessing from heaven for the land of God (Deu 33:13 ; 28; Num 11:9). The new generation that will enter the realm of peace in imitation of the Messiah will be a refreshment for the Messiah and will bear fruit for Him in their life. They will serve the Lord with joy.