The Forgotten Psalm (4)

The Apostles' Favorite Psalm

Series: The Forgotten Psalm: Recovering the Reigning Christ of Psalm 110 Date: Sunday, November 2, 2025 Text: Acts 2:29–36 (LSB) Big Idea: The resurrection of Jesus was not the end of His story—it was the public installation of His reign.

Reading — Acts 2:29–36 (LSB)

"Men, brothers, I may confidently say to you regarding the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. And so, because he was a prophet and knew that GOD had sworn to him with an oath to set one of the fruit of his body on his throne, he looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that HE WAS NEITHER FORSAKEN TO HADES, NOR DID HIS FLESH SEE CORRUPTION. This Jesus God raised up again, of which we are all witnesses. Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and receiving the promise of the Holy Spirit from the Father, He has poured out this which you both see and hear. For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he himself says:

'THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, "SIT AT MY RIGHT HAND, UNTIL I PUT YOUR ENEMIES AS A FOOTSTOOL FOR YOUR FEET."'

Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified."

Series Connection

We are now in Week 4 of our 13-week journey through Psalm 110: The Forgotten Psalm.

In Week 1, Jesus quoted Psalm 110 to silence the Pharisees. In Week 2, He declared His enthronement before the Sanhedrin. In Week 3, we saw His ascension—the visible fulfillment of the Father's decree: "Sit at My right hand."

Today we begin Part II of the series: A Psalm Remembered, A Gospel Proclaimed. We look now not at Jesus' words, but at the apostles' preaching. And what do we find? This psalm is everywhere.

Psalm 110 was the spine of apostolic preaching. It was their proof-text for Christ's present reign and the launchpad of the Gospel.

Context & Background

Peter is standing in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. The Spirit has been poured out. Tongues of fire have fallen. A crowd gathers, bewildered. Some mock. Others marvel. And Peter stands up to preach. He doesn’t start with emotions or experience. He starts with the Bible.

He quotes Joel 2 to explain the outpouring of the Spirit, declaring, "This is what was spoken of through the prophet Joel"—that in the last days, God would pour out His Spirit on all flesh, with sons and daughters prophesying, young men seeing visions, and old men dreaming dreams. Peter insists that what the crowd is witnessing is the fulfillment of Joel's ancient prophecy, not drunken confusion. The age of the Messiah has arrived. The Spirit has been poured out because the King has been enthroned.

Then Peter proclaims the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus—not as isolated historical facts to be admired, but as the climactic acts in God's redemptive plan. Each movement in Jesus' earthly journey is part of a divine sequence that culminates not in a mere return to life, but in a royal installation. Peter is not simply saying, "Jesus is alive." He is declaring, "Jesus reigns."

He connects the resurrection to the throne, showing that Jesus' triumph over death is not just personal victory—it is public enthronement. The resurrection is the Father's vindication of the Son. It is the signal that death has been defeated, the curse reversed, and the King has been raised to rule. Christ is not merely back from the grave—He has ascended to the highest place of authority. The empty tomb leads directly to the occupied throne.

Peter says: David died. His tomb is still here. This is not speculation—it's historical fact. Yet in Psalm 16:10, David wrote, "You will not abandon my soul to Sheol, nor will You give Your Holy One over to see corruption." Peter explains that David, as a prophet, was not speaking of himself, but of Christ. David foresaw the resurrection—not as a vague hope, but as a covenant promise tied to the oath God had sworn (2 Samuel 7:12–13) to raise up one of his descendants to sit on his throne.

That descendant is Jesus. And having been raised from the dead—His body seeing no corruption—Jesus has now been exalted to the right hand of God. His resurrection is not the conclusion of a story; it is the turning point in redemptive history. It is the visible sign that the Davidic promise has been fulfilled, and the throne of Christ is not future—it is occupied now.

And then Peter does what the early Church always did: He quotes Psalm 110.

"The Lord said to my Lord: Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet."

This was not a poetic aside. It was a declaration of fulfilled prophecy, public enthronement, and cosmic authority.

Exposition

The Prophetic Promise of David (vv.29–30) Peter begins his argument with what every Jew standing there would affirm: David was dead, buried, and his tomb was still present in Jerusalem. Yet David wrote of One whose body would not see decay. This could not have been about himself. Peter declares that David was speaking prophetically—looking forward to a descendant who would not be held by the grave. He ties this to God's covenant with David in 2 Samuel 7:12–13, where God swore to place one of David's own offspring on an eternal throne. That descendant is not Solomon or any earthly king—it is the resurrected Jesus, who has conquered death and is now installed forever as King.

The Resurrection Leads to the Throne (vv.31–32) Peter then makes the bold claim: the resurrection of Jesus was the event David foresaw. Jesus was not abandoned to Hades, and His flesh did not see corruption—He rose from the dead. But Peter’s point isn’t just that Jesus lived again. It’s that He was raised for a purpose: to be installed as Lord. The resurrection was not only about conquering sin and death—it was the Father's vindication of the Son, elevating Him to the throne promised to David. The empty grave was heaven’s declaration: this is the King.

The Pouring Out of the Spirit Proves the Throne (v.33) Peter explains that the crowd is not witnessing a drunken spectacle but the supernatural result of Christ’s enthronement. Jesus has been exalted to the right hand of God and has received the promised Holy Spirit from the Father—and He has now poured Him out on His people. This is crucial: the Spirit doesn’t fall until the Son sits. Pentecost is not just a new experience—it’s royal evidence. The power they see and hear is the fruit of a King ruling from the right hand of Majesty.

Psalm 110 is the Proof (vv.34–35) To seal the argument, Peter goes straight to Psalm 110:1—the most quoted Old Testament verse in the New Testament. "The LORD said to my Lord: Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool." David didn’t ascend into the heavens. But he spoke of someone who did. That someone is Jesus. Peter is saying: what David foresaw, we have witnessed. The risen Jesus has ascended to the throne, and Psalm 110 has been fulfilled—not partially, not metaphorically, but visibly and truly. The throne of David is now occupied by the risen Lord.

The Gospel Climax: Jesus is Lord and Christ (v.36) Peter concludes with a thunderous proclamation: “Let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ—this Jesus whom you crucified.” This is not a soft altar call. This is a royal summons. The One they executed is now the One who reigns. He is not merely risen—He is installed. He is not only the Anointed One (Christ)—He is Lord of heaven and earth. This is the climax of the apostolic Gospel: the crucified Messiah is the reigning King, and He is calling all to repent and bow before His throne.

Application

Bow to the Risen King You cannot stay neutral about Jesus. The One raised from the dead now rules the universe. Submit to Him today.

Preach a Throne-Centered Gospel Do not stop your witness at the cross or the empty tomb. Proclaim that Jesus reigns now.

Let Pentecost Assure You The Spirit was poured out because Christ was enthroned. His presence in your life is proof of His rule.

Trust in God's Covenant Promises What He promised to David, He fulfilled in Jesus. He will keep every promise made to His people.

Live as Royal Ambassadors The King is not waiting to reign. So don’t wait to serve. Advance His Kingdom now.

Repent Where You Have Resisted His Rule Peter called his listeners to repentance—not just for crucifying Christ, but for rejecting His Kingship. We must do the same.

Summary & Call to Believe (To Be Expanded)

This is the heart of apostolic preaching: Christ is risen and reigning.

The Gospel doesn’t end with a cross. It doesn’t even end with an empty tomb. It climaxes with a throne.

Peter does not call the people to feel sorry. He calls them to repent and be baptized in the name of the Risen King.

He quotes Psalm 110 because it proves the point: the Jesus they crucified is now enthroned.

We preach the same Christ. And the same Psalm.

Let me know when you're ready to expand the exposition and add application points.