Psalms 109-110

Psalm 109 (A Psalm of David)
Prayer of Vindication and Vengeance

1-5 Do not be silent, O God, because wicked people are saying evil and hateful things against me, even though I have shown them love and prayed for them.
6-15 These are the things they wish for me:

• That I be tried and found guilty
• That I die soon, leaving a widow and orphans to be homeless beggars
  
• That creditors will take everything I have
• That no one will show me any kindness or pity my orphaned children
• That my descendants will be cut off, and that only my iniquities be remembered

16-19 Their accusations?

• I was cruel to the poor and needy
• I cursed and did not like blessing
• That I deserve to be clothed in cursing

20-25 I appeal to you, O LORD, to act on my behalf, because your love is good, and I am poor and needy and weak, just a shadow in the night -- a shameful sight.
26-31 Save me, O LORD my God, according to your love -- that they will know it is from you. Wrap them in their own shame. I will thank you and praise you, for you protect and defend the needy.

Psalm 110 (A Psalm of David)
Assurance of Victory for God's Priest-King

1 "The LORD says to my Lord, 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool.'" A familiar verse, if you know Acts 2. This is quoted by Peter in his sermon at Pentecost to identify Christ as the promised Messiah (Acts 2:34-35). In this first verse, David identifies his "Lord" as the future Messiah.
2-4 He will come out of Zion (Jerusalem - the place of his death and resurrection and the birth of his church); his people will be willing sacrifices (Romans 12:1); he will be a priest after the order of Melchizedek (Hebrews 7:17).
5-7 The Lord (small letters - see verse 1) is at your right hand (same phrase as in 109:31) -- and he will execute judgment, shatter heads, drink from the stream by the path. This is not the innocuous Jesus as we might want to see him, but a Jesus Christ who is sovereign over all nations, a righteous Judge who will punish the disobedient. Commentators I checked don't agree on what "drink from the stream by the path" means. Some think it refers to the Brook Kidron over which he passed before his crucifixion, so it refers to his suffering; others see it as a reference to his triumph, as a conqueror drinks from a brook in pursuit of his enemies. In my mind, it refers to both -- without his crucifixion there could be no resurrection -- which is where Christ lifted up his head. Death leads to life eternal.