Psalm 2 - Reign of the Lord's Anointed One

8/11/19                                                                                                                                                          The Reign of the LORD’s Anointed One

Psalm 2

                Do you believe that the United States is a Christian nation? Do you believe that any country is? Christianity is the world’s largest religion when you consider all its forms (2.3 billion). Some nations claim it to be their state religion. But what actually makes a country “Christian” or in good standing with God? Psalm 2 gives exhortation and warning to the nations of the world in relation to God’s rule through His anointed One.

                Psalm 2 is both a royal psalm and a messianic psalm, quoted at least 18 times in NT. According to Acts 4:25, it was penned by King David, the king of God’s choosing, a man in whom the Lord was pleased. David is a type of Christ the Messiah King. This psalm is an admonition to all political rulers to turn from their rebellious ways and kiss the Son whom God has anointed. It is an admonition for us to worry less about the kingdoms of this world and more about the kingdom of God. It is an encouragement to us to trust in the one Sovereign Ruler of the Universe and not put our faith in any human leader. It is an exhortation to look forward to the day when Jesus Christ returns to restore order and righteousness to the world he came to save. It is a reminder that we will share with him in that glorious kingdom even though now we may have to suffer and bear his reproach under the rule of unrighteous and rebellious leaders.

Our psalm falls into four sections of three verses each: 1) The rebellion of nations to the rule of the Anointed One, 2) The derision of the Lord upon those who rebel against the Anointed One, 3) The coronation of the Lord’s Anointed One, 4) An admonition to the nations to submit to the Anointed One.

I. Rebellion of Nations against the Anointed One, 1-3.

A. A rhetorical question pointing out the folly of rebellion, v. 1.

                1. Issue of interpretation.

• The immediate context would seem to be the reign of King David. He knows and submits to the reign of God in his life and that of Israel. He bows the knee in submission to God’s will for himself and God’s people.
• In God’s scheme of things, the nations of that day were brought under submission to Him through David. He subdues the surrounding countries under Israel’s power.
• Yet, many of those nations attempted to rebel and throw off the rule of David and his God.
• But it is not hard for us to see the broader and timeless application of this Psalm to Messiah, the anointed one in v. 2. Not only is David in view, but Christ as the ultimate one to whom every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that he is Lord.

2. The king of God’s choosing, his anointed one begins the Psalm with a question.

• Why? - It is unimaginable to him that any nation would rebel against the Lord. The verb “to rage” is only found here in the OT. It suggests the joining of people together for a collective purpose.
• In this case, the purpose is to rebel. To imagine a vain thing means to devise or plan something that is empty, hollow, or destined to fail. When any one joins with others in an attempt to defeat the decrees and plans of God they are destined to failure. They cannot succeed, even though it may seem for a while that they do.
• As David experiences the rebellion of kings to his reign and that of God he is amazed that they think they will succeed.

B. The natural inclination of nations is to rebel, 2-3.

                1. What is the attitude of national rulers here?

• They set themselves against the Lord and his anointed one. They take their stand against the Lord. It is a united front as they take counsel together. This originally referred to David’s time when countries under his control tried to throw off his right to rule by not paying tribute or gathering armies against him. They rebelled against his authority and by extension, God’s.
• When national leaders meet together, when international councils and meetings are arranged, how often is God consulted? How often is his name invoked in prayer? How often is his word considered?
• What does that suggest? We do not need God and his wisdom; we have enough of our own. We can rule our nations and the world while its Creator is not believed in, ignored or otherwise set on the sidelines.

2. What do they say by their actions? V. 3.

• Few leaders will openly display rebellion by speaking out against God. Of course, many who believe in a god do not believe in the God of the Bible.
• But by their actions, plans, agendas, and counsels they say they do not want to be ruled by God. They break the bonds of submission and humility.
• Folks, we need to understand that the quest for sovereignty outside of the rule of God is a quest for rebellion whether it is personal or national!
• When a nation makes laws like we have made over the last few decades that fly in the face of God’s holiness and righteousness, we are rebelling against Him and His anointed.

What is God’s attitude toward all of this? The next verses tell us -

II. The Derision of the Lord toward Rebellious Nations, 4-6.

A. His Scornful Derision, 4.

                1. While man is consumed by his puny efforts to rule nations and the world, the God of the universe sits in the heavens laughing.

• He is not all that concerned about our futile efforts to thwart his rule. He knows the end game.
• His throne may be invisible, but it is still real. The heavens are his throne and the earth is his footstool.

2. By the way – how is that self-rule of sovereign nations doing? Are we succeeding overcoming that which is truly harmful to humanity? Such as, radical Islamic Terrorism, Communism, Socialism, corruption in Capitalism, Secular Humanism, Democratic Progressivism. Even Republicanism and Populism are rift with problems because of the corruption of the human heart.

B. His Sore Displeasure, v. 5.

1. The Lord may laugh in mockery, but he is not happy. The rebellion of nations raises his ire and calls for his condemnation.

                2. The verb to distress focuses on the effect of his anger upon them.

• This reminds us of the sovereign power of the Lord to raise up nations and tear them down.
• Is. 40:15, 17: Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he takes up the isles as a very little thing. .. All nations before him are as nothing: and they are counted to him as less than nothing, and vanity.
• Egypt, Babylon, Persia, Greece, Rome, the Ottomon Empire, the British Empire, the Third Reich – where are they all now? Even the United States is not immune to being distressed by God’s wrath. Much of the tumult that we have been experiencing indicates the battle going on between righteousness and unrighteousness, good and evil.

C. His Sure Decree, v. 6.

                1. “I” is emphatic – no matter what the rulers think or do, God has set his ruler on the throne.

• The first king that God anointed and placed on the throne of Zion the city of God was king David. He did so as a result of the Davidic Covenant which promised the king, he would have an heir to sit upon that throne forever. The ultimate fulfillment of that decree is Jesus Christ.
• As God brought all nations under the rule of David, he will do so under the rule of Christ.

2. Zion refers to Jerusalem, the capital of Israel and the focal point of worship of Jehovah. It will also be the center of future world governance under Christ and the eventual dwelling place of believers in the New Heaven and Earth.

III. The Coronation of the Lord’s Anointed, 7-9.

A. The Divine Declaration, 7.

                1. The coronation of God’s king inaugurated through David.

• The decree is based upon a Father/Son relationship reflecting Near-eastern adoption language associated with covenants. David is called God’s son in 2 Sam. 7:14. Solomon and successive kings would also be viewed as God’s sons until the “only begotten Son” appeared on the scene.

2. How do we know that this coronation of God’s king ultimately applies to the Lord Jesus?

• The eternal nature of the decree – it can only fully apply to one who possesses eternal life.
• The declarations of God the Father in regard to God the Son; Lk. 3:22 and 9:35.
• The preaching of Paul – Acts 13:33-34.
• Statements about Jesus the Son in Heb. 1:5, 5:5.

3. Here we have the now, but not yet aspect of Christ’s rule.

• When he came the first time it was to redeem us from sin. He rules in the lives of his people and in his church (at least he is supposed to).
• But we do not yet see him visibly ruling in the kingdoms of this world. That day has not yet arrived, but it surely will. Therefore, we need to take heart when we become discouraged about the failures of human government. It simply reminds us of the need to have a perfect sovereign ruler.

B. The Divine Dominion, 8-9.

                1. Its extent, 8.

• At the request of the Son, God will give him the whole world to rule.
• The heathen may be an indication of Gentile people turning to Christ. But it also indicates that all those who have made themselves the enemy of God will one day be subdued.

2. Its authority, 9.

• All those who refuse to bow the knee willfully will bow the knee by force. They will be broken as easily as a clay pot is shattered.
• The rod refers to the royal scepter or staff symbolic of sovereign authority. It is the means by which discipline and judgment is administered.
• No king, president, or ruler will be able to defy King Jesus.

3. Rev. 19:11-16 – a graphic picture of his coming in power.

With all of this in mind, the Psalmist issues …

IV. An Admonition to the Rulers of Nations, 10-12.

Here we find a number of imperatives addressed to kings to change their attitude toward God and His Anointed One.

A. Be wise concerning the admonition, v. 10.

                1. “Be instructed” means “be warned.” A warning is being issued and such warnings in the Bible must be heeded.

                2. A truly wise person will listen to God’s admonitions.

• In this case wisdom is seen in not rebelling against the rule of God. Rather, one should bow the knee now, while there is time to repent and serve the Lord.
• Unfortunately, most leaders in the world bow to their own perceived wisdom which is actually folly.

B. Serve the Lord in reverential fear, 11.

                1. The ruler who serves God first serves his people best.

• We see this in the reigns of a few kings of Judah – David, Asa, Jehoshaphat, Hezekiah, and Josiah.
• A nation is blessed when its rulers serve the one true God. But this takes humility and a rejection of man’s way of doing things.
• Few leaders these days take to heart such an admonition.

2. Rejoice with trembling – difficult. Word for trembling always refers to utter terror or great emotional distress. It could be that “rejoice” is to be taken in an opposite sense – to mourn, or even repent.

C. Kiss the Son, 12.

                1. What does that mean?

• To kiss the hand or ring of a sovereign lord showed subjugation or subservience. It is an emblem for bowing the knee.
• It also suggests being sincere or genuine. Only those who submit their ruling authority to God’s divine authority will escape the wrath of the Son.

2. To perish in the way means they will be eternally punished for persisting in the way of their pride and rebellion.

3. Conversely, those who trust the Son will be blessed.

• The verb to trust here is translated by numerous OT verbs – to lean on, roll on, wait for, or take shelter in.
• We are truly blessed when we submit our life and life’s work to Jesus, the Anointed One. A nation is truly blessed only when the majority of its people bow the knee to the King of Kings.

Application:

1. Ultimately, it doesn’t really matter who leads our nation if they do not “kiss the Son.” Liberal, conservative, somewhere in between – an ideology cannot save us. Yes, some are better than others, some may stave off the downward trend a little, but none can rule like Jesus.

2. We put our trust in no sovereign but Christ. We do not put our trust in America, but God – In God We Trust. We do not put our trust in man, but in Christ. Therefore, we do not fear what man may do to us, but in God who controls and guides our lives.

3. No matter what kings and nations may do; we bow the knee to Jesus as Lord each and every day. Can we really expect our leaders to do that if they do not know him? They will go the way of the world, not the way of God. But no matter what way they go, we follow our Lord.

4. We live as citizens of His Kingdom first and America a far second. When there is conflict between these kingdoms we side with God, not man.

5. The best thing we can do for our country is pray, spread the gospel, stand up for righteousness and serve God. We need to pray for national leaders – that they will make and support laws that are conducive to the preaching of the gospel. If laws fail to do that, we keep preaching anyway. We stand up for what is true and right – not what we think is true, but what God says is true. We leave the outcome up to the Lord.

6. All that disappoints us in American politics serves to remind us that we need the Lord to return as King of Kings, and Lord of Lords. We ought to be praying to that end and heed the last admonition of Jesus - Behold, I come quickly. Amen, even so come Lord Jesus.