What does Psalm 110:5 mean?

Once again, David uses the term Adonai, meaning "Lord." This is separate from the term usually printed in small capitals in English, "Lord," referring to the Hebrew term Yahweh. David relates that the Lord, the Messiah (Psalm 110:1), is at the Father's right hand. This is the position of power and acknowledgement. The same imagery is used several times to explain Jesus' absolute divinity and authority.

When Jesus ascended to heaven (Acts 1:9), He sat down on the Father's right hand, the place of authority (Colossians 3:1; 1 Peter 3:22). The first recorded martyr, Stephen, saw this. Just before dying, Stephen claimed to have seen Christ "standing at the right hand of God" (Acts 7:56).

Hebrews 8:1 affirms that "we have such a high priest [Jesus], one who is seated at the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in heaven." But David points out that Jesus will destroy kings when He returns for judgment (Psalm 110:6). At the close of the tribulation Jesus will descend from heaven and strike the rulers of the world in a fiery display of His wrath. Psalm 2:12 advises the kings to make peace with the Son, "lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled."