The Messiah's Reign (Psalm 2)

We need you. We need you to open our eyes to see you and your word. Thank you for revealing yourself to us in these Pages, please cause it to affect our hearts and our lives through the power of your spirit. Draws closer to you and closer to each other. As we meditate on the truths of this song and how you are sovereign and we are not We ask all these things in Jesus name, amen.

Song 2.

Why do the nation's rage and the people's plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves and their rulers. Take counsel together against the Lord, and against his anointed saying. Let us burst their bonds apart and Cast Away their cords from us. He who sits in the heavens, laughs the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath and terrify them in his Fury saying. As for me, I have set my king on, Zion my Holy Hill. I will tell of the decree. The Lord said to me, you are my son today. I have begotten you ask of me and I will make the nation's your heritage and the ends of the Earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a Potter's vessel. Now, they're 40 Kings, be wise, be warned, a rulers of the earth, serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling kiss, the son, lest he be angry and you perish in the way for his wrath is quickly. Kindled blessed are all who take refuge in him. This song is about the messiah's rain and about our response to his rule over our lives. There's no doubt about how Jesus is depicted in Psalm 2. He is the Son of God, who is Sovereign over all creation and Sovereign over each and everyone of us. as for the emotions evoked in this song, I only could go one of two ways.

The description of the rebellious and the ultimate sovereignty of Jesus evokes, either indignation and dismissal or humility and the fear of the Lord. when you read this song, your emotions can reveal whether your heart belongs to Jesus or not.

The psalmist, addresses Kings. And rulers of the Earth. And last time I checked, none of us were Kings and rulers. But all of us from time to time. Considered ourselves the rulers, the kings of our own lives. We set up our little kingdoms. And we go to war with any other Kingdom, that threatens our rule. So we can all be labeled kings are rulers. We can all apply the song. Personally know the structure of some to is rather straightforward. There are four sections, each containing three verses and those four sections, follow a pattern called a key azzam. He has them is kind of like a palindrome or it's the same forward and backward. The key Aztec pattern. Here is a b b. A b outer to a sections address mankind, referring to them, as Kings or rulers, in the middle to be sections, address God, and his sovereignty over mankind. In the flow of the song begins describing man's selfish rebellion in verses 1 through 3, then moves to God, severe reply in Verses 4 through 6. Then it describes God's Sovereign rule in verses 7 through 9 and finally, it exhorts man's submissive response in verses 10 through 12. The author also employs the use of parallelism throughout the song. Basically, restating things in a slightly different way to narrow in on the precise meaning that he intends so, the first section Is about man's selfish rebellion in verses 1 through 3. Why do the nation's rage and the people's plot in vain, the kings of the earth set themselves in the rulers. Take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed saying. Let us burst their bonds apart and Cast Away their cords from us. The song that begins with a rhetorical question. He knows the answer. But he asks all the same. The Highlight, the foolishness of the answer. There is no good answer to the question of why people rage and plot against God.

The word translated as rage here. Carries the idea of tumult or being agitated much like a riot or protest. people are dissatisfied with the way things are, so they get together and they voice their opinion, sometimes quite violently The word translated as plot is not so much about planning, as it is about. Voicing discontentment through muttering and grumbling notice muttering, and grumbling would have the desired effect of enacting a change in one circumstances, like the squeaky wheel gets the grease. But all of these riots and muttering discontent is useless in changing the situation. Because the thing that everyone is Raging and grumbling about is God's Sovereign rule over their lives. The kings of the earth set themselves against the Lord and his anointed, they all conspire together to rid themselves of God's oppressive rule over their lives. I mean, look at what they say to each other about God's sovereignty, let us burst their bonds apart and Cast Away their cords from us. They see God's sovereignty as stifling. They see his rule as oppressive not allowing them to live as they would like to live. They think that they can do a better job ruling than God could.

If Only God were not in charge, then I could do whatever I want, I would be free to pursue my passion.

Do some of those thoughts sound familiar? many people reject the gospel because they think Christianity is just a list of rules to abide by Switch to hinder people from being who they really are. Many Christians even ignore God's sovereignty and live however they want Monday through Saturday and then they clean up their act on Sunday and come to church only to go right back to living for themselves the rest of the week. This ought not to be so. The world lives like this because to them. God's sovereignty is oppressive. But to those who know and embrace Jesus Christ, as our Lord and savior, his sovereignty is comfort and freedom.

I remember the rhetorical question, the highlight of the foolishness of the situation. Why are you living? As if God is not sovereign, why are you grumbling and throwing a tantrum over God's rule over your life? It's foolishness.

The reason it's so foolish is because no one. Is ever really in charge of their life. God is Sovereign whether you like it or not. No, to live. Like he isn't Sovereign, I living in a delusion.

Who is first section it showed how foolish it is to reject God's Rule and mother and rail against his Sovereign Authority because he is Sovereign whether we like it or not and he is better qualified to rule over your life than you are.

Now, the second section. Is about God's severe response to man's foolishness in Verses 4 through 6. He who sits in the heavens laughs. The Lord holds them in derision then he will speak to them in his wrath and terrify them in his fiery saying I was for me I have set my king on Zion my Holy Hill.

I noticed a parallel structure with the first section man's foolishness is met with the Lord laughing and ridiculing their foolishness. Man, conspiring against God is met with the Lord terrifying them in his wrath and fury, and the man staying, we will be the king of our own lives is met with the Lord. Say, my son is King.

God's response is severe, but rightly so, The foolishness of thinking we could rule our own lives better than God, could is most worthy of ridicule and God's. Wrath of the word, derision is not very common in our modern middle class English. At least it's not common in our Vallejo vocabulary. Derision basically means ridicule or mockery like watching the world's dumbest criminals or reading about the Darwin Awards. Those who died in the most foolish ways. We're absolutely familiar with the Lord's response to this foolishness. He lasted them though. He's not amused. He lasted though, saying to himself. What are you kidding me. How foolish can you get?

It's clear that he's not amused when he speaks to them in his wrath and terrifies him in his Fury. The why is the Lord? So angry at this foolishness?

We may think this is like watching a very small dog barking wildly as if he could do anything about a perceived intruder. It's foolish for the dog to act that way because he can't do anything. We may even laugh and really kill the dog for acting so foolishly

But what is that small dog ran over and bit your toddler?

Now the cute little dog with Napoleon syndrome is the object of your wrath in condemnation. Now, I am not comparing the Lord Jesus to a toddler. I'm simply making an illustration to show the attack against someone we loved. Even if it's done in foolishness, evoke strong protective wrath within us.

Man's foolishness In This Storm is a direct attack on The Sovereign rule of the Lord Jesus Christ. In the father's wrath against this foolishness is just and right.

Mutiny will not be tolerated. There will be no coup to overthrow Jesus At The Sovereign king of kings and Lord of lords. do mankind, may desire to unseat Jesus as king and act as if he is not stopped, The Sovereign ruler of everything, he will remain and he will return to rule with a rod of iron The first section was about man's selfish Rebellion. The second section about God, severe response. Now, the third section is about God's Sovereign rule verses 7 through 9. I will tell of the decree. The Lord said to me, you are my son today. I have begotten, you ask of me and I will make the nation's your heritage and the ends of the Earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a Potter's vessel.

Here we have a disc. A depiction of an inter trinitarian conversation. God, the Father speaks to God. The son in eternity past setting him up definitively as the owner and ruler of all the nations to judge as he sees fit. The word for decree refers to something that is appointed like an inheritance or something. That is prescribed like a ruling on the way things should be. The psalmist goes on to describe the son's inheritance and his ownership of the nation's. So it makes sense to see the decree as appointing the nation's as the son's inheritance. But he goes on to prescribe exactly what the sun will do with his inheritance as a ruling on the way things should, or will be So, the song, This is actually used to play on words here.

Use one word to mean two different yet similar things. This decree is both appointing an inheritance and prescribing what will happen with that inheritance. But the part of the section that most people focus on is the second half of her seven or the father says, so the son, you are my son. Today, I have begotten you. That's because this verse is one of the clearest depictions in the Old Testament of the relationship between God, the father and got the Sun. It's also quoted in the New Testament as proof that Jesus is God. Paul and Barnabas we're at Antioch, the city IMAX 13. Ryan read a portion of that earlier in our service and that sermon. He used Song 2 verse 7, in conjunction with Isaiah 55 3 and psalm 16 10 to prove that Jesus is resurrection means that he is the Son of God. The Messiah they've been waiting for

Psalm 27 is also quoted twice in the book of Hebrews. Once in chapter 1, verse 5 in again, and 5:5 and Hebrews 15. The author use this quote to show how Jesus is better than the Angels by virtue of his relationship with the father. Any Hebrews 55. He use this quote to show that Jesus was appointed to his position as great high priest just like his inheritance was appointed to him as ruler of everything. It's humbling to consider all the implications of those words. You are my son. Today, I have begotten, you The New Testament, those words implied, Jesus's deity, his Supremacy, and his appointed position of mediator between God and man. But we cannot stretch those words to mean something. They were not intended to mean. Some have concluded that if the father has begotten the sun, then there was a time that the sun did not exist, that views called arianism,

and this is one of the primary versus that they used to try to prove their heresy Now, there's a whole host of passages that prove that heresy wrong. So, being begotten must not be restricted to time and space. When speaking of the Eternal and infinite godhead, This is speaking to Jesus has appointed authority to rule and judge rather than simply coming into existence. The father appointed, the Sun as ruler saying, ask of me and I will make the nation's your heritage and the ends of the Earth, your possession. The Father loves the son so much. All the sudden has to do is ask in the father, gives him everything. Jesus is the ruler of everyone, the nation's and everything, the ends of the Earth, because the father loves him so much and has given it to him. This is not to say that the father is the rightful owner of everyone and everything, and he gave it to the Sun, as it's some sort of hand me down inheritance. God's creation is not a cast-off second-rate gift. It was prepared for the sole purpose of giving it to the Sun as a gift of love. The sun has always been the rightful ruler of all creation as appointed by the father out of love for his son. What's the Sun going to do with a selfish and rebellious inheritance? He's going to judge it and purify it with a rod of iron. the word for rod in the Old Testament, has referred to a shepherd's staff, to A rod used for striking someone and punishment or to a scepter as a symbol of kingship, In the context of Psalm 2. It could refer to all three of these things. Jesus is the Good Shepherd, who uses his iron Rod to defend his sheep, Jesus Will judge and use his Rod of iron to punish all who foolishly rebelled against him. Jesus is the rightful ruler of everyone and everything in his iron Rod to as his iron Rod displays for all to see Now. When the song that says that the sun will break them with a rod of iron, the image that immediately comes to my mind. Is breaking an obstinate and obstinate and rebellious horse, but that's not what the Hebrew word means. It's simply means to break loudly and violently kind of like a branch being broken off of a tree. It brings to mind with Jesus said in John 15:6, if anyone does not abide in me, he was thrown away like a branch and Withers in. The branches are gathered thrown into the fire and burned. It also brings to mind what Paul said in Romans 11. 17 through 22. He says, but if some of the branches were broken off and you, although a wild Olive shoot for grafted in among the others. And now share in the nourishing root of the Olive Tree, do not be arrogant toward the branches. If you are remember, it is not you, who support the root, but the root that supports you, then you will say branches were broken off. So that I might be grafted. That is true, they were broken off because of their unbelief, but you stand fast through faith. So do not become proud, but fear For if God did not spare the natural branches, neither, will he spare you notes? Then the kindness and the severity of God severity toward those who have fallen but God's kindness to you provided you continue in his kindness otherwise you too will be cut off.

Are these our warnings? Meant to keep us from presuming our standing with God, like the Jews have done. Jesus's judgment is as the lopping off of whole branches loudly and violently as a display of his righteousness. And as a motivation to humility and submission to his righteous rule, Like a Potter's vessel, he dashes them to pieces. He has the right to break them because he made them.

Is not for us to question whether it is righteous or not to smash a particular vessel especially when the one who made the vessel is the one doing the Smashing. I also picked up on this theme in Romans 9, 20 to 23. He says but who are you? Oh man to answer back to God. Will what is molded to say to it? Some older? Why have you made me like this as the Potter no right over the clay to make out of the same lump one vessel for honorable use and another for dishonorable use, what if God Desiring to show his wrath and to make known his power has endured with much patience vessels of Wrath prepared for Destruction. In order to make known The Riches of his glory, four vessels of Mercy, which he has prepared beforehand for Glory. God's Sovereign rule. In light of men, selfish Rebellion is one of displaying his wrath against sin and his power over all creation. Alongside the riches of his grace. And mercy,

He decides who receives his grace and mercy and everyone else received the just punishment for their selfish, Rebellion being dashed to pieces and cast into the Eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels Matthew 25:41.

Now, what should the response be to such a pronouncement of God's Sovereign rule over everything?

We saw a man selfish rebellion in the first section. Got severe response in the second section and God Sovereign rule in the third section. Now the fourth section is about man's submissive response, verses 10 through 12. Now they're 40 Kings, be wise, be warned, over rulers of the earth, serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling kiss, the son, lest he be angry and you perish in the way for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Remember we have all tried at some point to be ruler of our own lives. So these instructions to the kings of the Earth are for us as well. Hear the song. This gives us a string of imperatives things we should do in response to the truth laid out early in the song we must be wise and warned in verse 10. These verbs carry the idea of having understanding and allowing oneself to be instructed.

It's Pride. But keeps a person from understanding that Jesus is Lord. It's Pride that refuses to receive instruction. We must go to God's word and learn and remember that he is Lord not us.

We must remember and humble ourselves under the starving rule of Jesus.

We must serve the Lord and rejoice in verse 11. We must not serve ourselves but the Lord Jesus. How are we to serve him? In fear. The fear of the Lord is the emotional response to Understanding God's power and might, that causes us to love serve and submit to him. Our understanding of who God is, should produce in us, a kind of fear that longs to be near God. And do whatever he would have us, do for him. And for his glory,

his rule is so perfect and he takes such good care of his children that we rejoice. This rejoicing is not a half-hearted Applause.

It's a guttural cry of Triumph. like, when your team wins the championship,

You cry out. So loudly and forcefully that your whole body, trembles

This is the kind of rejoicing that we will be doing for all of eternity. Because Jesus has won the victory. Over sin and death, and he has triumphed over our sinful heart, and reconciled us to God. We were dead. But now we're not only alive, we are adopted into God's family. We're accepted and loved so much that God would give us his best to win us back.

Yeah, that should at least get an amen. If not rejoicing with trembling We must kiss the son as a sign of fidelity, inverse 12. The kiss at the psalmist refers to as a sign of submission to his rule over our life. I noticed that these three imperatives are the three ways that we are to worship? God, we worship Him by remembering who he is by serving him and by submitting to him, remembrance service and submission Ryan's laughing because that's a part of the worship class at Cornerstone

Our response to these truths is to worship God.

The final imperative to submit comes with consequences for refusing to submit. The consequences include angering, the Sun and perishing in the way. The reason for the consequences is that the sun's wrath against those who do not submit to his rule, over their lives is quickly or easily kindled. It doesn't take much to stoke, his Wrath. This is not to say that Jesus has a short fuse. Many of us have had interactions with people who have short fuses unpleasant to be around them because you never know what will set them off. Jesus is not like that. He's compassionate and kind full of steadfast, Love & Mercy. He loves you enough to go to the cross for you. I said those who have rejected him, he will execute perfect Justice and pour out his Wrath. Exodus 34:6 through 7, describes him as merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness. Keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but Who will by no means, clear. The guilty visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and their children's children to the third and fourth generation.

Some may think that there's a kind of weight comparison of sorts When we arrive at the judgement seat, that are good. Deeds, and our bad deeds will be weighed against each other. To see if we were deemed good people, or bad people. There is no comparison when it comes to this judgment. Either your sins, forgiven. Or it's not. If it's not forgiving than even the smallest, seemingly insignificant stints in Stokes, God's Wrath. Because it's ultimately ever ejection of Jesus as Lord. The only way to avoid God's Wrath is to do what the last line of this song says, take refuge in him. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. God's Wrath is coming on all of mankind because we've all sinned, we're all sinners. The only way to escape God's Wrath is to take refuge in Jesus. God became flesh and lived among us, and then he died on a cross as the perfect sacrifice to pay the penalty for our sin, and reconcile us back to God. Then he rose from the dead three days later. Securing our eternal life with him. If you have faith in Jesus to save you from sin and death, then he is your Refuge submit to him. Run to him for cleansing from your sin.

Well, now that we've walked through each of the sections of the song, I want to read the whole thing again, so we can see how each section fits with the others.

Why do the nation's rage and the people's plot in vain, the kings of the earth set themselves in the rulers. Take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed saying. Let us burst their bonds apart in cast away, their cords from us, he who sits in the heavens laughs the Lord holds them in derision Then you will speak to them in his wrath and terrify them in his Fury saying. As for me, I have set my king on, Zion my Holy Hill. I will tell if the decree the Lord said to me, you are my son today. I have begotten, you ask of me and I will make the nation's your heritage and the ends of the Earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a Potter's vessel. Now they're 40 Kings. Be wise be warned though. Rulers of the earth serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling kiss, the son, lest he be angry and you perish in the way for his wrath is quickly. Kindled blessed are all who take refuge in him. Remember that the emotions this song? Evokes can go one of two ways. Does the song evoke Worship in your heart?

Or does it invoke indignation?

When you read of God Sovereign Rule and righteous judgment. Do you respond in submission to his authority serving him in fear and rejoicing with trembling I pray that it causes you to Worship in remembrance service and submission rather than digging in your heels and selfish Rebellion. Let's pray.

Father, thank you for this song. Thank you for showing us who you are and how we are to respond to your sovereignty, over our lives. I pray that we would remember who you are every day this week and submit to your authority over our lives. Rather than living like, we're the ruler of our own little kingdom. Please give us a teachable hearts. Humble enough to receive instruction well and to serve you in whatever capacity you call us to.

Father, give us boldness to tell others about who you are and what you've done for us and sending your son. To die and rise again so that we could run to him for Refuge from judgement. We ask all these things in Jesus name, amen.

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