4 Yãhweh has sworn and will not change his mind, “You are a minister¹,ª to time immemorial, concerning my cause², O my King of Justice³.”

(MISB, Psalm 110:4). http://www.torahtimes.org/NewTranslation/BasicBooks/psalms.html#110:4

(Link to MISB: http://www.torahtimes.org/NewTranslation/bibleframe.html)

 1. The word כֹהֵ֥ן in Hebrew does not always mean a Priest who attends to the offering of sacrifices on an altar. It is used for someone who is a governmental official or “minister”. See 1Ki 4:5; 2Sam. 8:18, 20:26; the Levitical Priesthood was perpetual and for “all the days” (Deut. 18:5; 1Sam. 2:35; Jer. 33:18), and Yahweh’s heart and eyes will be on the Temple “all the days” (2Chron. 7:16; 1Ki 9:3), and likewise the throne of David endures “all the days” (2Chron. 21:7; 2Ki 8:19; 1Ki 11:26). 1Sam. 2:35 and Zech. 6:13 (MISB) make it clear that the throne and the priesthood are to be kept separate. The “faithful priest” ... “shall walk before My Messiah all the days”, and the counsel of peace is between the “two of them”. So כֹהֵ֥ן here cannot pertain to the Altar. It must pertain to the administration of justice, and this is exactly what we see in the verses at the end of the Pslam, as the Messiah is dispensing divine justice upon the nations.

 a. Additionally, certain priestly functions were given to the Son of David. For one the king was allowed to provide sacrifices. But he has to wait for the Levitical Priest to officate. King Saul did not wait for Samuel. The king could read scripture, and say the blessings. The king could teach the people, but the duties of the Sanctuary belonged to the Levites. The King of Kings is priest, because he provides HIMSELF as the offering, but he is not the High Priest. For Yeshua as the offering presented himself before the High Priest. The King of Kings is priest in the manner of the King of Justice (Melchizedek). For he brings forth bread and wine. And Messiah presented his body and his blood as offering for our transgressions.

 2. The words could also be “in the manner of”, and are taken to be so by the LXX. The present translation is also possible. See Job 5:8; both can be explained with good sense. David could be speaking of his cause against the nations, or he could be speaking of his need to have his case forgiven by Messiah. Or he could be hinting at connections between Melchizedek and Messiah. All of the above could be allowed.

 3. I have translated מלכי צדק here because its meaning is important to the Psalm. Likely there is an intentional connection here to Melchizedek in Genesis 14. He was the first minister (priest) mentioned in the Scripture. The mention of Melchizedek would be fitting on several points, 1. He presided over Abraham’s victory against the kings of Mesopotamia, and so also Messiah will preside over Israel’s victory over the nations, and particiularly the destruction of Babylon, and 2. He was King of Salem, which is Jerusalem, and so too Messiah will be. 3. He brought out bread and wine, and so did Messiah. What Melchizedek did is provide an offering. Providing the offering is a Priestly function, apparently not forbidden to non-Levites (cf. 2Sam. 6:17; Ezek. 45:22, 46:4). But we have the example of Uzziah. The King was expressly forbidden to enter into the sanctuary. So Messiah, presented himself as the offering before the High Priest, but he did not enter into the Sanctuary.