(Psalm 2) The Acceptance of the Annointed As King
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· 2,922 viewsThe Psalm is primarily focused on the proper and wise acceptance of God's annointed King. This Psalm is the 2nd part of a 2 Psalm introduction to the book. As a Psalm, it is grouped with what have been called the corination Hymns because it is related to the enthronement of the Davidic King (including the Messiah). Likely was written in David's day given the reference to the Davidic Covenant in Ps 2:8-9. This would have been common for accepting any of the Davidic throne. However, it was placed in the Psalter during Post-Exilic time. Given that point and it's Davidic promise it is looking ultimately for the Messiah. This is especially true since there was no Davidic King during the Post-Exilic
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This Psalm is one of the great Messianic Psalms. It was probably first written during the time of David or shortly after. However, it was included as a introductory Psalm to the entire Psalter during Israel’s return from the exile. By the time of the return of the exile, there is no ruling Davidic King in Israel.
So why was it added and what does it mean?
The Jews, they were looking for God’s anointed one, the Messiah. They longed for the fulfillment of the coming King.
And Psalm 2 is primarily about the nations accepting the Christ.
Our discussion today will essentially be working through the outline in your handout.
1. The Rebellion of the Nations (Ps 2:1-3)
1. The Rebellion of the Nations (Ps 2:1-3)
This Psalm begins with a question about those who rebel against Yahweh and against the Christ.
a. The question of the Psalmist: Why do you rebel? (Ps 2:1)
a. The question of the Psalmist: Why do you rebel? (Ps 2:1)
What rebellion is being described here?
Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
The Psalmist then describes the rebellion.
b. The Rebellion against Yahweh and the anointed. (Ps 2:2)
b. The Rebellion against Yahweh and the anointed. (Ps 2:2)
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,
Notice that the rulers are conspiring and meeting in order to plot against Yahweh and against the Messiah. To rebel against them.
Who the Kings that are plotting against the Messiah?
c. The Desire of the Rebellious. (Ps 2:3)
c. The Desire of the Rebellious. (Ps 2:3)
The reason for their rebellion is stated in Psalm 2:3.
“Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”
To the Kings, being under the rule of Yahweh and the Messiah is to great to bare. So they choose to rebel against the King.
Summary:
We have to ask who are they Kings and which rebellion is this?
To clarify, I do not believe in in double-fulfillment. In that sense I have admittedly a very flat view of Biblical typology.
The Psalms challenge us in properly applying this. I think there are 3 primary senses that may have been meant here.
A rebellion against the Historical Davidic kings. The anointed ones.
Often, Rebellion occured at the death of a King and the enthronement of a new king.
Why? Because it is when your enemies are the weakest.
I also see a rebellion by the rulers of Israel that lead to Christ Crucifixion.
The Pharisee’s and Sadducee's, religious rulers at that time, sought to kill Christ.
So from that day on they made plans to put him to death.
But the Pharisees went out and conspired against him, how to destroy him.
and plotted together in order to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him.
After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him.
Scriptures also declare the role that Herod and Pilate played in allowing the prosecution, scourging, and Crucifixion of Christ.
Peter makes this point in Acts 4:23-28
When they were released, they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, “Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit,
“ ‘Why did the Gentiles rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers were gathered together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed’—
for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place.
Certainly, there is a sense in which the rulers of Christ day rebelled against their coming King.
3. This also true of the future return of Christ.
The nations will be gathered against Christ and Yahweh in 2nd Coming.
They will make war on the Lamb, and the Lamb will conquer them, for he is Lord of lords and King of kings, and those with him are called and chosen and faithful.”
I think because this is related to the ultimate fulfillment of the Davidic covenant, the primary act in view is the 2nd coming.
But I think we see examples in the Davidic kings and Christ ministry, that culminate in the 2nd coming.
Now we moved to the response of Yahweh to the rebellion of the nations.
2. The Sovereignty of Yahweh and the Anointed (Ps 2:4-6)
2. The Sovereignty of Yahweh and the Anointed (Ps 2:4-6)
a. The Contempt of Yahweh (Ps 2:4)
a. The Contempt of Yahweh (Ps 2:4)
Notice the contempt of Yahweh at what is essentially illogical rejection of his rule.
He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
We see in our text that Yahweh laughs at them and holds them in derision.
Now most of do not know what the word derision means and I think it convalutes the simple meaning of the text.
Instead agree with the NIV, NLT, NASB use of “scoff”.
He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
Why is Yahweh laughing?
Why is Yahweh Laughing?
Why is Yahweh Scoffing?
The rebellion is illogical.
Both because:
- his rule is sovereign - He is the Omnipotent God.
- his rule is a blessing.
For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given;
and the government shall be upon his shoulder,
and his name shall be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Because of the illogical nature of the rebellion, Yahweh displays is just anger.
b. The Anger of Yahweh (Ps 2:5)
b. The Anger of Yahweh (Ps 2:5)
Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
NOTE: If this text really has “saying”, our proposed structure just went out the door. However, this is not in the text. It is implied. This means we can break v. 2:6 and 2:5.
“The text literally says, “he spoke to them with his nose”; which is a Hebrewism for being angry.
God was angry at them for their rebellion so he terrified them with his anger.
What does it mean that he terrified them with his anger?
Is this a reference to the Revelation judgement?
What is the chief way that terrified them with his anger. Notice the text doesn’t refer to the judgement of the revelation. That may be in play, but v. 6 gives us the chief way he responds.
The enthronement of the anointed King.
c. The Enthronement of the Anointed. (Ps 2:6)
c. The Enthronement of the Anointed. (Ps 2:6)
“As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill.”
What is Zion?
What is Zion?
Nevertheless, David took the stronghold of Zion, that is, the city of David.
What is the city of David? - Jerusalem.
It states that God literally set his King, the Messiah, the Son of God, Jesus Christ, as the king upon the City of Jerusalem.
So what does this mean for us?
a. The Importance of Meditation on God.
What is the significance of word choice (meditation/plot) in Psalm 1:2 and Psalm 2:1? Hint: They are the same word.
Notice the contrast between Psalm 1:2 and Psalm 2:1.
but his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
There is a really interesting connection here between the 2 Psalms.
The Word that we translated “meditate” in Psalm 1:2 is the same word for plotting in Psalm 2:1.
The point, if we are not meditating on the commands of God, than it is not like meditation stops. But the absence of meditating on the Law is rebellion against the King.
We need to be dependent on God and His ways; lest we reject God and his Christ. The rejection of Christ is synonymous with not meditating on His Word.
b. Notice the Illogical nature of disbelief.
How is disbelief (rebellion) in God and His anointed illogical?
To go against the King and Yahweh is illogical because he is omnipotent. There is no point.
But probably more important, is that it is a rejection of that which is Good.
Why should we accept Christ as King?
Why should we accept Christ as King?
Because he the kind of King we dream of. Our literature is filled with what it means to be a good king, and Christ embodies all that which we could want in our King.
Finally, Let me ask this,
c. How do we reject the King and his Word as NT believers awaiting the Christ?
How do we reject the King and His Word as NT Believers?
We do so by unbelief created by failure to meditate on Scripture and truly believe and apply what he has commanded.
- We are told in Matthew 5:21-26 that we should not hold grudges and anger with others. How often do we let ourselves become angry and bitter, even with our fellow believers.
- We are told in Matthew 5:27-30 to avoid sexual lust, which in my opinion is represented of lust for sin as whole. How often do we lust or even commit sin that we know is wrong.
- We are told to love our enemies in Matthew 5:43-48. How often do we instead find ways to avoid or even harm those who we dislike us.
- We are told to seek eternal riches of Christ our King rather than temporal earthly riches in Matthew 6:19-24. How often do we seek temporal riches more than we seek God.
- We are told to not worry in Matthew 6:25-34 because God knows and provides for all things; especially His people. How often do we doubt God’s provision when we are struggling.
I am not agree with Covenant Theology of Progressive Dispensationalism in how they understand hearts to be God’s kingdom.
Yet, I agree with the point that as His ambassadors in this world we ought to in our hearts accept and submit to our king.
The reality is that we often reject our king. We may not be plotting against him in the sense of complete unbelief, but we are also not fully submitting to his Kingship in our life.
As we go to prayer time tonight, Let’s praise God for our Christ, and ask for his help in accepting and submitting to our King.
(End of Lesson 1)
Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and 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.”
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 nations 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 therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O 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.
Just to remind ourselves, this Psalms begins with questioning why the nations rebel and conspire against the Messiah.
The nations are rejecting the rule of Yahweh and the Messiah, which is sad because:
It is Pointless. He is omnipotent.
He is the best kind of King we could have.
We continue picking up this Psalm in V. 7.
Like last week, we will trace the thought of this Psalm using the outline I handed out as the basis for our text.
3. The Promise to the King (Ps 2:7-9)
3. The Promise to the King (Ps 2:7-9)
The Psalm in the next stanza makes a number of promises to the coming King. Now remember, each of these promises is a repeat of the Davidic Covenant.
a. The Adoption of the King. (Ps 2:7)
a. The Adoption of the King. (Ps 2:7)
I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men,
On one hand, this is a promise simply the children of David. But embedded in this promise is also the reality of a future King who is not simply adopted, but the physical son of God.
This point is made in Hebrews 1:1-5.
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the word of his power. After making purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.
For to which of the angels did God ever say,
“You are my Son,
today I have begotten you”?
Or again,
“I will be to him a father,
and he shall be to me a son”?
So this coming Son is going the exact imprint of God, he is literally going to be the physical offspring of God.
What is the difference in sonship between the Davidic Man Kings and the Davidic God-Man King?
What does Psalm 2:7 imply about the future Son of David? (Hebrews 1:1-5)
b. The Blessing of Yahweh (Ps 2:8)
b. The Blessing of Yahweh (Ps 2:8)
It also states the divine blessing upon this future Messiah.
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
He will be such a blessed King that his rule and riches will be literally:
a) all the nations
b) with riches reaching all the earth.
This was to be King like no other king.
Often we will talk about the greatness of Solomon’s Kingdom. The vast riches that he possessed and the international influenced he had.
In Ezra mourned because how much greater Solomon’s temple truly was.
Understand, Solomon is nothing compared the Messianic fulfillment of this promise. There will be a kingdom who is rule extends to all the earth which have riches beyond any other Kingdom that has ever been known.
What the point, wouldn’t you want to be under a king who is rich, powerful, and Holy.
Remember, Hebrews 1:1-5 makes the point that Psalm 2:7 requires a God-Man whose nature is just like God.
>Now we have been looking at what Kind of God we have in Sunday School.
>He is the most magnificent God-Man King that we could ever imagine.
>Yes Powerful, but equally just, kind, merciful, gracious, and Holy.
So why rebel against such a King?
c. The Dominion of the King (Ps 2:9)
c. The Dominion of the King (Ps 2:9)
The Psalmist emphasizes again the illogical rebellion of the Nations. This is the omnipotent King. As such, God decree’s he will have absolute rule.
You shall break them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
ILLUSTRATION:
Probably closer for us today is not a potter’s vessel, but our ceramic plates and cups.
I remember once, I was about 15, and we were getting ready to sit down and eat a pizza at the center of the table.
But I dropped a plate on to the table and shattered it into a hundred pieces.
Naturally, all throughout the nice pizza sitting before us. I single handly ruined everyone’s nice hot Friday night dinner.
Have you ever done something like that?
That is exactly what is being pictured here. There is a day in which God’s rule be realized hear on earth, and His enemies, those who rebel Against Yahweh and Christ, will be shattered into a hundred pieces, just like when you shatter a plate.
How foolish is it to reject Yahweh’s appointed King?
4. The Warning Against the Nations (Ps 2:10-12)
4. The Warning Against the Nations (Ps 2:10-12)
The Psalmist gives a final warning against the nations in the last stanza.
a. The Admonition towards Wisdom (Ps 2:10)
a. The Admonition towards Wisdom (Ps 2:10)
He challenges them first to apply wisdom.
Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
What is the wise decision as apposed to the foolish decision for the Kings?
To accept the enthronement of the Messiah.
b. The proper response to the Anointed one. (Ps 2:11)
b. The proper response to the Anointed one. (Ps 2:11)
What is the proper response to the Messiah?
Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
The proper response is to serve Yahweh, including His King, with fear.
Fear is always a sticky word to translate.
To sum it up briefly,
Is this the idea of reverence or being afraid.
Notice the connected statement.
“and rejoice with trembling”.
This connection makes me believe this is not reverence, but to be afraid.
Application:
I think there is a point in which we ought rejoice at the enthronement of Yahweh.
The greatest King, with an exact imprint of God’s nature, is ruling.
That is good news for those who Love God.
At the same time, for those who are rebelling this is terrible news.
We ought to approach God with a certain amount of reverence and adoration, but we also need to approach God with extreme respect.
He is able to dash the nations like a potters vessel.
Therefore,
- we ought to serve him with a certain amount of fearful-respect for His Power.
We ought to rejoice with a bit of trembling at who he is.
Yes, He is the God of our salvation showing us exceedingly great love, but he also the Great and Almighty God.
ILLUSTRATION:
In Christianity we treat God like a kind-old Grandfather or as our personal Genie in a Bottle.
God is neither of these,
He is Good, but he is exceedingly powerful.
c. The Warning Against Rebellion (Ps 2:12)
c. The Warning Against Rebellion (Ps 2:12)
To conclude, we are challenged to accept the King.
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.
Kiss the son, is the idea of showing loyalty and submission to a new King.
You kiss the hand so he knows you are not enemy, because you know what that hand can do.
As His enemies, he warns that God is becoming angry and you are about to be the clay pot that he is going smash.
Therefore, Kiss the son.
And then he reminds, God blesses those who take refuge in the King.
Those who accept the hand of the King, receive the manifold blessings of the Kingdom.
APPLICATION:
As NT Believers, I want us to pray about this tonight.
Go to prayer recognizing that I am not going to grandpa to have talk, nor can I manipulate God to get what I wanted.
I am speaking to the Great Almighty deserves respect for his great power.
ILLUSTRATION:
Think of it like this, many of us over the years had bosses that were quite good to us and kind to us. Yet, he was always the boss and so deserved a certain amount of respect.
That is infinity more true about God.
He has been exceedingly Kind to us, but he also ultimately is the great-almighty.
We ought to come to prayer with a certain amount of fearful-respect.
2. The final statement is huge for the point of the author. “Blessed is all one’s taking refuge in him”.
We gathered here tonight to praise God, and to prayer for the needs in our loves and those who we love.
Take refuge in your God.
ILLUSTRATION:
You Got to love National Guard commercials. They often don’t show you men fighting through the streets of Baghdad, they show soldiers setting up shelters for those who are hurt by a natural disaster.
People go to those shelters, because they know that the U.S. government will give them protection and provision. They seek refuge in those shelters in their time of need.
Far greater, does God bless those who take refuge in Him.
As we pray tonight, lets go to God in prayer with extreme respect, and lets also go to God knowing that he blesses with his almighty power those who seek protection from God.