BIG IDEA:
REBELLIOUS WORLD LEADERS MUST BOW DOWN BEFORE GOD’S
ANOINTED RULER OR BE BROKEN BY GOD’S WRATH
Note: It is important to determine who is speaking in each section
I. (:1-3) THE FUTILITY OF FIGHTING AGAINST THE RULE OF GOD --
FORGET IT!
A. (:1) It Doesn’t Make any Sense
"Why are the nations in an uproar, And the peoples devising a vain thing?"
cf. Acts 4:27-28
B. (:2) There is No Safety in Numbers
"The kings of the earth take their stand,
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the Lord and
Against His Anointed"
many bad counselors lead to bad decisions
Who is on the Lord’s side?
Wever: no one can escape the sovereignty and power of God;
he can make one of two decisions:
1) he can lovingly accept it OR
2) be in rebellion against it (like an ox that won’t move until it’s been goaded =
drawing blood)
C. (:3) Resolutions of Rebellion are Doomed to Failure
"Let us tear their fetters apart,
And cast away their cords from us!"
The rebellious view submission to God as imprisonment
II. (:4-6) THE PERSPECTIVE OF THE SOVEREIGN OF THE UNIVERSE --
NO PROBLEM!
A. His Position -- sits reigning in the heavens -- Majesty
"He who sits in the heavens"
B. His Mocking of their feeble resistance
"He … laughs, The Lord scoffs at them"
C. His Wrath in promising judgment."Then He will speak to them in His anger And terrify them in His fury"
D. His Triumph in establishing His King over all the earth
"But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain"
III. (:7-9) THE TESTIMONY OF THE ANOINTED KING -- THE SON OF GOD --
IT’S A DONE DEAL!
A. Messiah’s Dominion Consistent with God’s Sovereign Plan for History
"I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord"
Early interpreters of Psalm 2 always viewed it as a Messianic psalm -- based on Davidic
Covenant
2 Sam. 7:12-16 -- the Davidic Covenant = promises given to David; no conditions
imposed
God says: This is what I have determined to do
David’s response: Lord, OK, go ahead
PROVISIONS OF DAVIDIC COVENANT: (from Wayne Wever)
1. David is to have a future child = Solomon, who will take over the throne
2. The son shall build the temple instead of David
3. The throne of David’s kingdom will be established forever
4. The throne won’t be taken away from Solomon even though his sins merit
chastisement;
God won’t take it away from the family as he did to Saul
5. David’s house, throne, and kingdom shall be established forever ultimately
"house" = David’s physical descendants
there will always be a royal line; Joseph was in that line
"throne" = right to rule; royal line
"kingdom" = nation of Israel, political entity
"forever" = whatever the disruptions, changes in form; the privilege and right
will never be removed; doesn’t mean an unending time
B. Messiah’s Dominion Part of His Inheritance as the Son of God
1. His Relationship as Son
"Thou art My Son, Today I have begotten Thee."
2. His Privilege as Son
"Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Thine inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Thy possession."
C. Messiah’s Dominion Will Demolish All Opposition
"Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron,
Thou shalt shatter them like earthenware"
Role = Judge and Executioner / ruling with a rod of iron rather than as a lamb led.to the slaughter
IV. (:10-12) THE ESCAPE CLAUSE FOR THE REBELLIOUS --
TURN OR BURN!
A. Final Warning - Requires the Mighty Swallowing Their Pride
"Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth."
Show discernment -- not like the fool that won’t listen
Heed the warning -- not like the naive that continue on
B. One Way Out - The Fear of the Lord is the Key
1. "Worship the Lord with reverence"
right attitude is important
2. "Rejoice with trembling"
3. "Do homage to the Son"
C. Only 2 Options:
1. Perish under His wrath
"lest He become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled."
2. Submit and enjoy His blessing
"How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!"
* * * * * * * * * *
DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS:
1) Have you come to grips with the sheer folly and futility of any rebellion against the
King of Kings? Does our life show the same type of cycling back into forgetting the
Lord and rebelling as the Book of Judges? Is there some area in your life where you are
fighting against God?
2) Our fear of God should mature as we consider the emphasis in this psalm on the
Lord’s anger and wrath. How can the liberals say that God is just a God of love who
has no intention of punishing the wicked? What NT passages speak of the anger and
wrath of God? Is the Sovereignty of the Lord a comfort to us or a challenge?
3) The concepts of Sonship and Inheritance are central to this passage. What will it
mean for us to be co-heirs with Christ and to reign together with Him? What have we
inherited from our parents? What will we pass along to our children?.
4) Do we consider submission to the Lord to be a form of bondage or of freedom? Do
we find the Lord’s yoke to be heavy or light? Do we find the Lord’s commandments to
be burdensome or helpful?
Download the entire Psalms Commentary in pdf format
(including notes on each psalm from other commentators)
from:
http://www.bibleoutlines.com
