SERMON OUTLINE:
(1). Conspiracy – The Voice of Nations (vs 1-3):
(2). Mockery – The Voice of the Father (vs 4-6)
(3). Victory - The Voice of the Son (7-9):
(4). Opportunity - The Voice of the Spirit (10-12);
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• In its first 300 hundred years the Christian church endured repeated waves of persecution
• But perhaps the worst came while Diocletian was emperor of Rome (A.D.284-305).
• Convinced that the Christians were conspiring against him,
• Diocletian sought to annihilate them throughout his empire,
• History records that he ordered entire towns to be massacred.
• But, as Psalm 2 verse 4 recognizes,
• The one who rules in heaven is sovereign over the wicked,
• And he will have the last laugh.
• Back home in Diocletian’s palace;
• His own wife and daughter were turning to Christ.
• And after his death a new emperor by the name of Constantine took the throne.
• Constantine became a Christian,
• And Christianity eventually became the favoured religion of the entire Roman Empire.
• All Diocletian’s plotting was in ;
• Long term he was unsuccessful and ineffective!
We are starting a new series on Messianic Psalms (‘Psalms that speak of Jesus’):
• We know for certain which Psalms specifically speak of Jesus:
• Because the New Testament clearly tells us.
• This Psalm is quoted seven times in the New Testament;
• And each quote refers to Jesus - the references are:
• Acts chapter 4 verses 24-27.
• Acts chapter 13 verses 33.
• Hebrews chapter 1 verse 5.
• Hebrews chapter 5 verse 5,
• Revelation chapter 2 verse 27;
• Revelation chapter 12 verse 5,
• Revelation chapter 19 verse 15.
Now as we look at the Psalm:
• Notice that Psalm 2 contains twelve verses:
• They naturally divide into four sections of three verses each,
• And in each section we can hear a different voice speaking.
(1). Conspiracy - THE VOICE OF THE NATIONS
(vs 1-3):
Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One.
3 Let us break their chains, they say, and throw off their fetters.
• Verse 1 tells us that it is the Gentiles (non-Jews) that the psalmist has in view;
• King James Bible uses the word "Heathen" N.I.V. "Nations".
• In Old Testament times;
• Anyone who wasn’t Jewish, would be called a heathen by Jews (i.e. Psalmist).
• So the psalmist is talking about Gentiles in these verses;
• Gentiles who are rebelling and plotting against God.
This rebellion causes the psalmist to ask a question:
• The question he asks is ‘Why?’
• But I don’t think he is expecting a reply,
• He asks the question because he is astonished at how people treat God;
• The God who gives us life and sustains us day by day,
• The God who would through his ‘anointed one’;
• Would make possible forgiveness of sins and the certainty of eternal life;
• So the psalmist asks the question:
• Why then would human beings engage in anything as useless and time wasting,
• As trying to throw off the rule of God in their lives?
Ill:
• The idea here is of a stubborn and raging animal;
• Trying to buck off the saddle and break the straps that bind the saddle to its body.
• All its attempts are futile, they are in vain.
• Because real freedom comes not from resisting God in our lives;
• Real freedom comes submitting to God and doing his will.
Like many people today they have a wrong understanding of what it means to be free;
• Freedom is not total independence;
• Quote: Thomas Huxley:
• “A man’s worst difficulties begin when he is able to do as he likes.”
• Quote: Phillips Brooks”
• “No man in this world attains to freedom from any slavery except by entrance into some higher servitude. There is no such thing as an entirely free man conceivable.”
True freedom is not found outside of God but with God.
Ill:
• A kite is only free to soar into the sky & loop the loop etc;
• Because it is attached to the string.
• Without the string it would soar away and crash;
• As long as the kite is attached by the string;
• The controller can help that kite achieve incredible things.
But these people mentioned in verses 1-3 have one thing in mind – rebellion:
• Let us break their chains, "they say, and throw off their fetters."
• These people are making a declaration of independence:
• They have no desire or time for the things of God,
• They claim to be masters of their own destinies.
Ill:
• Ever since Adam and Eve declared their independence of God;
• By choosing to ignore his advice;
• Humankind has been in rebellion against God.
Every unconverted person has a natural inclination to say ‘No’ to God.
• Verse 3 reminds us they see God as someone who shackles them;
• By what they consider to be religious rules and regulations
But the psalmist knows better:
• He says all their rebelliousness leads nowhere;
• It is all in vain, it is ineffective and unproductive!
(2). Mockery - THE VOICE OF God THE FATHER
(vs 4-6)
“The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.”
Note the contrast in these verses!
• The first three verses contain the intense activity of rebellion & scheming.
• But notice in these three verses the Lord is calm and relaxed and in charge.
• The nations and all their might would frighten any earthly monarch;
• But they do not scare or alarm the God who indwells the heavens.
Our God sits in the control room of the universe;
• I love his response in verse 4: “He laughs” in derision.
• Isaiah the prophet put it this way (chapter 40:6-8 & 12-17)
• “To God the greatest rulers are like grass ready to be cut down.
• And the strongest of nations are like drops in a bucket!”
Quote: Dr Murray:
• “They cannot shell His temple, nor dynamite His throne;
• They cannot bomb His city, nor rob Him of His own.
• They cannot take Him captive, nor strike Him deaf and blind,
• Nor starve Him to surrender, nor make Him change His mind.
• They cannot cause Him panic, nor cut off His supplies;
• Though all the world be shattered, His truth remains the same,
• His righteous laws still potent, and "Father" still His name.
• Though we face war and struggle and feel their goad and rod,
• We know above confusion,
• There always will be God!”
Ill:
• When our children were small they would have a strop.
• We would put them to bed for an afternoon nap,
• Now they might cry & shriek and create one tremendous noise.
• But they were unable to change her situation, they were powerless to alter it.
• And so after a few minutes of tantrums;
• They would nod off to sleep.
• No matter how people & nations:
• Plot & scheme and rebel and work as hard as they can to erase God,
• It makes no difference to God because they are fallible and God is immortal.
Notice what God says in verse 6:
• "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill."
• This statement is emphatic, it is forceful and insistent.
• God the Father says:
• ’You rebellious humans may conspire and rebel all you like,
• But I have already decided who shall finally rule in your world.
• I have spoken, and there’s an end of it’
• Notice two important little words: "My king" & "My hill".
• God has a mind of his own, a will of his own & a plan of his own.
• He doesn’t need your advice or mine.
• He is sovereign and his will, shall be done.
Originally these words spoke about King David:
• But they point beyond David and point to a greater David - King Jesus.
• The one who is NOW seated at the right hand of the Father on high;
• And who will one day set up his throne & kingdom here on earth!
• Verse 6 reminds us that this is as certain as the Father’s promise!
(3). Victory - THE VOICE OF THE SON (7-9):
“I will proclaim the decree of the LORD:
He said to me, You are my Son; today I have become your Father.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will rule them with an iron sceptre; you will dash them to pieces like pottery”.
• The book of Acts (13:34) & the book of Hebrews (1:5) makes it clear:
• That it is not the psalmist who is speaking these words,
• But the Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ.
• Quoting the words of the Father, Jesus the Son says:
• "You are my Son; today I have become your Father”.
Question: When & how did God the Father ‘take that action concerning the Son:
Answer:
• Does this verse teach as the Jehovah Witnesses would have us believe;
• That Jesus had a start date, that he is not eternal, but rather a created being?
• Well in answer to the Jehovah Witnesses the answer is clearly no!
• Jesus never had a start date because he is divine;
• The second member of the trinity – God the Son.
Now if you read these verses in context you will see two insights of truth.
(a). Insight 1:
• If you have a Bible please turn to Hebrews chapter 1 verse 5-6:
• In this context these verses are linked it to the incarnation,
• To when Jesus took flesh & blood and he clothed himself in humanity.
“For to which of the angels did God ever say,
You are my Son; today I have become your Father?
Or again,
I will be his Father, and he will be my Son?
6And again, when God brings his firstborn into the world, he says,
Let all God’s angels worship him”.
• Did you note those words: “Firstborn into the world”.
• That is what we celebrate each Christmas i.e. ‘A child was born but a son is given’.
• The incarnation was not the start of Jesus;
• But it was the start of a different relationship that the Father & Son had!
And again notice the end of verse 6:
• Let all God’s angels worship him”.
• Well we know that the angelic host worshipped Christ at his birth.
• So in Hebrews chapter 1:
• These verses found their fulfilment at the incarnation.
Insight 2:
• It is found in the book of Acts chapter 13 verse 32-34,
• And this time it is applied very differently.
• In these verses the writer makes it very clear that it is talking about the resurrection.
“We tell you the good news: What God promised our fathers
33 he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm:
’You are my Son; today I have become your Father.’
34The fact that God raised him from the dead, never to decay, is stated in these words:
’I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’”
• Quote: Kenneth Wuest:
• "The reference is not to entrance into life, but entrance into office"
• Now because of His victory over sin and death:
• Christ has given an inheritance;
The nations are Christ’s inheritance:
• The devil offered them to Jesus during the temptation in the wilderness,
• He said; "Avoid going to the cross and claim them now."
• But Jesus saw through his trickery and refused,
• He went to the cross,
• And so the nations are his by divine rights, for he paid for them in his blood.
Verse 9 reminds us that in a coming day – he will claim his inheritance:
“You will rule them with an iron sceptre";
you will dash them to pieces like pottery."
• The book of Revelation gives us the details of this verse:
• Jesus will rule over the nations of the earth (Revelation 19:11-16)
• He will rule with strength and rigor.
• The description of Christ in Revelation chapter 19 is both thrilling & frightening:
Ill:
• On earth He rode into Jerusalem on a donkey,
• But now he is riding a white horse.
• On earth His eyes were filled with tears when he beheld Jerusalem,
• But now those eyes are like blazing fire.
• On earth He was forced to wear a mocking crown of thorns.
• But now he wears many crowns.
• On earth people gambled for his robe,
• But now his clothes speak of judgment and victory.
• On earth he was abandoned by his followers,
• But now the armies of heaven follow him.
• On earth he spoke words of grace,
• But now out of his mouth comes a sharp sword.
• On earth he described himself as ’gentle and humble in heart’
• But now he is described as ruling with a rod of iron.
• On earth he bore the wrath of God on the cross.
• But now he "Treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty".
• On earth he was "Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews".
• But now he is "King of Kings and Lord of Lords ".
(4). Opportunity - THE VOICE OF THE SPIRIT
(10-12);
Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
• The closing three verses are an appeal from the Holy Spirit,
• To the sons of men (to all humankind) to submit themselves now to Jesus Christ.
• The psalm started by asking questions,
• Now it finishes by giving critical advice.
“Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
"Be wise be instructed!"
• Note that in verses 10-11 the Spirit speaks first to the kings & leaders;
• And then in verse 12 he addresses ‘all’ urging them to trust the Son!
Be wise says God:
• There can only be one winner in the game of life;
• That will be the creator not the created!
• “On day every knee will bow and every knee shall confess.”
• So do it now, do it willingly, while you have the opportunity, before it is too late.
• Remember:
• It is not a question of WILL men stand before the throne of God,
• It is only a question of WHEN!
So the advice of the psalmist is clear:
• In verse 10 the Spirit appeals to the mind.
• In verse 11 he appeals to the will and calls rebellious people to serve the Lord & stop sinning.
• "Serve Him!"
• Instead of rebelling and resisting,
• People should bow down to Christ and serve Him.
Verse 12 contains that great expression:
“Kiss the Son, lest he be angry
and you be destroyed in your way,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”
• Having appealed to the mind in verse 10 & the will in verse 11;
• The third appeal of the Spirit is to the heart.
• "Kiss the Son" implies paying homage to Him,
• Showing affection, courtesy and surrendering to his rule.
• God the Father has a perfect right to be angry with rebellious, sinful people:
• However he is willing to receive then graciously, if they submit to the son.
“Kiss the Son, lest he be angry
and you be destroyed in your way,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”
• Psalm 2 starts with a world in conflict and people in confusion.
• It ends with people who are secure and safe and blessed in God.
• Everyone in this room and everyone you meet this week:
• Is between one of those two points.
• Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
• So if you are secure and safe and blessed in God.
• Remember those who are not!!!
