Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions

 ³⁶  “Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ–this Jesus whom you crucified.”  Acts 2:33-36. 

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Verse 35 of today’s Scripture graphically describes the dominion of Christ.  It is quite a contrast to the paintings that we see of a long-haired weak hippy.  I am not saying that we should imagine Christ as butch-cut conservative on steroids.  Rather, I am saying that this contrast serves as an important reminder that we form our image of Christ from Scripture, and not from images such as paintings and statues or based just on our own desires and imaginations.

Verses 34 and 35 are a quote from Psalm Chapter 110.  It fills out the description of the total sovereignty and absolute power and shattering action of Christ’s dominion. 

“¹  The LORD says to my Lord:
         “Sit at My right hand
         Until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.”
    ²  The LORD will stretch forth Your strong scepter from Zion, saying,
         “Rule in the midst of Your enemies.”
    ³  Your people will volunteer freely in the day of Your power;
         In holy array, from the womb of the dawn,
         Your youth are to You as the dew.
    ⁴  The LORD has sworn and will not change His mind,
         “You are a priest forever
         According to the order of Melchizedek.”
    ⁵  The Lord is at Your right hand;
         He will shatter kings in the day of His wrath.
    ⁶  He will judge among the nations,
         He will fill them with corpses,
         He will shatter the chief men over a broad country.
    ⁷  He will drink from the brook by the wayside;
         Therefore He will lift up His head.”  Psalm Chapter 110.

Yet, even in this chapter of awesome fear-generating language of the Kingship of Christ, there is the hope that Christ is also our Priest in verse 4. 

The language of verses 5 and 6 reminds us of Psalm 2:7-9.

“⁷  “I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD:
         He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
         Today I have begotten You.
    ⁸  ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
         And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
    ⁹  ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
         You shall shatter them like earthenware.'”  Psalm 2:7-9.

What should be our response?

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.” Proverbs 9:10

“Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, “Brethren, what shall we do?”  Peter said to them, “Repent, and each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins;  and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.  “For the promise is for you and your children and for all who are far off, as many as the Lord our God will call to Himself.”  Acts 2:37-39.