Psalm 2
In this second song the worshippers are led to consider the very King of Kings and very Lord of lords Himself, as He is in all His majesty on His glorious throne. They sing slowly and thoughtfully, because they're singing of the awesome majesty of the Lord God.
The song begins with the foolishness of the "nations" (Gentiles, unbelievers) - all those who try all their lives to ignore God and His sovereignty over all people and nations. Of course such behavior must be seen for what it is – it's rebellion against the rightful King, against the One Who made them and to Whom they belong. In fact, in the context of the song itself, their rebellion is not only against the King of kings, but also against His anointed earthly king in Jerusalem as well. Such rebels need to know, though, that they're imagining a "vain thing," that such rebellion is a doomed and useless venture.
The psalmist envisions the Lord of all the earth sitting upon His holy throne - and laughing! He's likened to a man making fun of inept bumblers who haven't the foggiest notion of what they're really doing. They just don't realize what it means to rebel against the sovereign and holy Majesty of the universe. And in fighting against God's earthly king they imagine that they're merely conducting war against an earthly king, a man like themselves, a king against whom their superior intelligence and technology will eventually become obvious.
But it's as though, suddenly, in the midst of the noisy earthly battle, there came the sound of a great Voice, a Voice so powerful as to drown out all the noise of battle, a voice that could not but be instantly heard, and a voice on account of which even the battle itself would necessarily come to a sudden and complete halt. Suddenly and with great fright every warrior drops his sword and falls prostrate upon the ground. Then the Voice says, "Yet I have set My King upon My holy hill of Zion!" Every terrified heart suddenly realizes that it isn't man against whom they've been fighting, but it's the holy Lord God Himself!
Then another voice is heard. It's the triumphant voice of God's earthly king on Mt. Zion. He says, "I will declare the decree: the Lord has said to Me, 'You are My Son: today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potters vessel!'"
When God's earthly representative has thus spoken, all the earthly kings had best pay careful attention! In fact, this earthly representative of God continues with heavenly confidence by saying, "Now therefore, be wise, O kings, be instructed you judges of the earth: serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son (submit completely to God's earthly representative when He speaks), lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little!" The advice is awesome, and the necessity of obeying it is absolute.
The basic scene today is still the same. In a much larger sphere, the heavenly King - the Son of God - speaks to all mankind. He "declares the decree" to all peoples of all time. All mankind has been in rebellion against Him, and they must cease that rebellion, lay down their arms, and must fall before this awesome GOD. Even now His servants are calling men everywhere to repent (Acts 17:30, 31).
The servants of Jehovah today should declare their message with joyful confidence, because their King does indeed reign upon His holy Throne in heavenly Zion, and all the noise and tumult of earthly rebellion doesn't change that fact.
"Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him!" What about you? Have you laid down your arms? Have you surrendered to the Lord of heavenly justice and the Dispenser of eternal life?
Thank you Brother Al for the taching on Psalm 2. Yes we must all remember to put all our trust in Him. Sometimes we forget the He is the supreme master of us all and try to do things on our own and get nowhere in so doing. Trust in the Lord> Yes trust in the Lord. Thank you again AL. I love your teachings.
Marilyn
As I read the Psalms and having read the stories of King David's, life it is a glorious and wonderful God who takes sinners and makes them Kings and prophets. The Psalms epitomizes the prophetic David. His sins have been forgiven and David doesn't hesitate to honor God in all the Psalms.
I hope I have expressed that well and in a way that is understood.
If only today's "kings" ie leaders would do as this paragraph directs.QuoteWhen God's earthly representative has thus spoken, all earthly kings had best pay careful attention! In fact, this earthly representative of God continues with heavenly confidence to say, "Now therefore, be wise, O kings, be instructed you judges of the earth: serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son (submit completely to God's earthly representative when He speaks), lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little!" The advice is awesome, and the necessity of obeying it is absolute.
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