Israel and Humanity - Psalm 110
§ 3.
PSALM 110.
There is a psalm which we believe can serve as a commentary to the call of Abraham. This is the 110 <super> th </super> psalm which begins with these words: "Word of the Lord unto my Lord, Sit at my right." We know the meaning given to it by Christian exegetes. Others wanted to see the glorification of the kingship of David. And yet there is a verse that can lend itself to any of these interpretations. It is this: "The Lord has sworn and not repent. You are a priest forever in the words of Melchizedek. "
This last name is not it a revelation? There can be no question of bringing David Malchisédek and the idea of priesthood expressed in this text it is not applicable either. The psalmist could also be awarded himself the title of Lord, while the name is very natural in the mouth of David speaking of Abraham. As for Melchizedek mentioned, this may be that this King of Salem who, it must be noted, had to do with Judaism by Abraham and only as a priest, cohen mentioned in the psalm is that by which Scripture characterizes the pontiff and king who spent right to Abraham, because the priesthood was legitimately represented by the Gentiles until the election of Israel is transmitted to the first Jewish patriarch, when God is the father of a people called to fill in humanity priestly functions. However, if the idea that the Bible gives us of Abraham is that of a priest, does it not follow that this quality are associated role and mission to educate and convert the Gentiles?
There is only one word that seems at first glance, contradicts the sense that we believe should give this psalm. This is one of Zion: "The Lord of Zion the scepter of power." How does one say, can there be any question of Zion in the days of Melchizedek, as Sion did not exist, at least under that name? However, only consider another passage from the Psalms in Hebrew parallelism, to see that Mount Zion is taken as a synonym of Salem: "His [1] tabernacle is in Salem and his dwelling in Zion [2] ". The truth is that just as we gave to the Jerusalem of Israel's former name of Salem, as well as the sacred writer did not hesitate to call Jerusalem the pagan name of modern Zion. This last name appears elsewhere back to antiquity, since it comes in a passage of Kings "City of David is Zion [3] ".
There is no objection, then, that this Psalm is applied to Abraham and the words of sacred singer: "You are a priest forever!" Is an eloquent commentary on the promise of God to the patriarch that all families of the earth be blessed by him.
