Kiss the Son
Psalm 2
Good morning.
In Western cultures, kisses show different feelings within different relationships. Kissing my granddaughter is very different than kissing my wife.
A kiss on the cheek is common in many cultures around the world as a greeting.
How a person kisses another person on the cheek can vary depending on the culture, context, and relationship between the two people.
In France, the cheek kiss is a way to show affection and respect between friends and family members, but in the Middle East, a cheek kiss is a formal gesture used to show respect and honor.
Typically, in the Middle East, a kiss on the cheek is given without any other physical contact.
Please open your Bibles to Psalm 2 as we continue in our Study of that book.
Last week we heard an introduction to the Psalms as we covered Psalm 1 and learned about the two paths offered to each of us.
We learned some Hebrew poetry can be correct doctrine, but while interpreting poetry, we have to remember that the Lord allows feelings to be expressed, that are not doctrinal truths.
We learned that godly people are blessed or oh, how happy.
If we are not happy, blessed, content, and going on a straight path in our lives, it is because we are receiving ungodly counsel, on the path of sinners, or we’re sitting in the seat of the scornful.
Then we spoke about a fruitful tree that is planted by the water. Water in that instance represents the Word of God.
Delighting in the Word of God means it brings you enjoyment. We can measure our delight in the Word of God by how much we hunger and thirst for it.
Psalm 1 began with the word blessing, (Oh how happy or content) and ended with the way of the ungodly shall perish.
A "Fork in the road" refers to a time when someone must choose between two options as they make a choice.
We know choices in life have consequences that can have a significant impact on someone’s life.
Believers who are not following the Lord closely or surrendering to the Spirit, are not oh how happy and content.
If you want to be blessed, we are all faced with a fork in the road decision of what to do with Jesus and His free gift of salvation.
Psalm 2 speaks about defiant nations and Messiah’s rule.
There is a present interpretation and a prophetic interpretation of Psalm 2. This Psalm addresses Jesus’ rule and authority now, but it also speaks of the Millennial Kingdom as well.
I. Rebellious nations.
Read Psalm 2:1-3
Remember from last week, Psalm 1 was called the “Preface Psalm”, which gave a snapshot of the entire Book of Psalms.
C.H. Spurgeon said, “Psalm 2 is called the Psalm of Messiah the Prince”, as it describes the people coming against the Lord’s anointed and the ultimate reign of Christ over all the Earth.
Psalm 2 is quoted seventeen times in the New Testament, which stands to reason since this Psalm is about Messiah’s rule.
Here, King David addressed the Nations that are anti-Christ. I wonder how the Lord feels about the governments of the different nations of the world.
When we hear of the decisions of most of the nations of the world, they seem to be fighting against the Lord’s will, as they make decisions that go completely against the Word of God.
King David was baffled at how these nations somehow believed they had any chance of succeeding against the almighty God of heaven as he asked, “Why do the nations rage”.
David had witnessed the mighty hand of God throughout his lifetime and knew that no one could stop the Lord almighty.
Notice David said, “The rulers take counsel together”.
Ever since the fall of man, especially with Nimrod and the Tower of Babel, people have tried to come together against God.
Wiersbe, “From the Tower of Babel to the crucifixion of Christ, to the battle of Armageddon, the Bible records humanity’s foolish and futile rebellions against the will of the Creator.”
No matter the army's size, no one can withstand God or His plans.
After Job had been through a lot of testing and questioned the Lord, God gave Job a serious do-better talk.
Job 42:1 Then Job answered the LORD and said:
Job 42:2 "I know that You can do everything and that no purpose of Yours can be withheld from You. NKJV
Notice, “Against the LORD and against His Anointed.”
Of course, we know that His anointed speaks of Christ, the Messiah, the anointed One. This verse clearly tells us that if you are against Jesus, you are also against God the Father.
Jesus said in John 10:30, I and My Father are one." NKJV
When a person or a nation goes against the Word of God, this is a clear rebellion against the entire God-head.
The nations universally agree on one thing, which was said in Luke 19:14, 'We will not have this man to reign over us.'
Psalm 2:2 also has a reference to the prophecy of the End Time events that culminate with the battle of Armageddon, where the nations of the world gather to fight against Christ.
Revelation 19:19 I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army. NKJV
David reveals the motive of the rulers of the Earth towards God the Father and God the Son. “Let us break Their bonds in pieces”
These people believe the Lord has placed them in jail with His precepts. They are like birds that are kept safe in a bird cage, while some of the birds believe they are imprisoned.
If the bird is released from the cage, the house cat will kill it.
Like so many people who are in rebellion against the Lord, these nations accuse the Lord of placing people in bondage.
The Lord does not put us into bondage, He is the chain breaker, the One who frees us from our chains, sins, and addictions.
Jesus said in Matthew 11:28, Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
Matthew 11:29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
Matthew 11:30 For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." NKJV
C. H. Spurgeon said, “To a graceless neck the yoke of Christ is intolerable, but to the saved sinner it is easy and light.
“We may judge ourselves by this, do we love that yoke, or do we wish to cast it from us?”
II. The God Who laughs at His enemies.
Read Psalm 2:4-5
This is the verse that people use when saying, “We make our plans and the Lord laughs”.
Why would the Lord laugh at the nations that are raging and plotting vain things?
The Lord knows the future better than we know the present and His will and plans cannot be overcome.
God is not worried, scared, depressed, or confused by what the nations do, He knows the outcome, and they do not.
Maybe you remember the narrative in the Book of Daniel about King Nebuchadnezzar, who was so arrogant he began to believe he was a self-made man who created all of his good fortune.
At the height of his arrogance, the Lord made Nebuchadnezzar insane, and he fed on grass like a donkey. Later, Nebuchadnezzar repented and the Lord restored him.
Notice vs. 4 says, “The LORD shall hold them in derision”, which means contemptuous, ridicule, or mockery. (Dictionary)
God doesn’t laugh because He is cruel, nor does He want to see people fail. The Lord laughs because of how silly it is, for a part of His creation, to plan a rebellion against the creator God.
Romans 9:18 Therefore He has mercy on whom He wills, and whom He wills He hardens.
Romans 9:19 You will say to me then, "Why does He still find fault? For who has resisted His will?"
Romans 9:20 But indeed, O man, who are you to reply against God? NKJV
So, God doesn’t laugh because He is cruel, God loves the world.
John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 3:17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. NKJV
The Lord desires all to come to repentance but He will not allow anyone to thwart His will.
G. Campbell Morgan said, “This derisive laughter of God is the comfort of all those who love righteousness. It is the laughter of the might of holiness; it is the laughter of the strength of love.”
“God does not exult over the sufferings of sinning men. He does hold in derision all the proud boastings and violence of such as seek to prevent His accomplishment of His will.” (Morgan)
Even though the Lord allows the nations to rebel, there is coming a time when their rebellion will come to an end.
Notice, “He shall speak to them in His wrath”
Before the Lord judges a defiant mankind, He first shows mercy as He reveals the sin to rebellious humanity, allowing them time to repent.
Guzik said, “He has every reason and every right to simply act against defiant men. Love and mercy compel God to speak a word of warning before He acts.”
III. The Messiah shall reign over all the Earth.
Read Psalm 2:6-9
Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords, and He will rule and reign over all the Earth during the Millennial Kingdom and His physical throne will be on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem.
Again, just before the Millennial reign of Christ, there will be the Battle of Armageddon.
Revelation 19:15 Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron. He Himself treads the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.
Revelation 19:16 And He has on His robe and on His thigh a name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.
Have you ever stopped to consider why since the beginning of time, the land of Israel has been at the center of all geo-political strife? Jesus will physically rule from there someday.
This tiny nation, smaller than New Jersey, has been fought over ever since Abraham walked on Earth. The nations rage and plot a vain thing, but the One in heaven will hold them in derision.
The Lord has a plan for Israel and no matter what world power comes against her, the Lord will prevail.
There are many times the Lord has defeated the enemies of Israel, but I want to tell you about the Yom Kippur War.
In 1973, on the day of the holiest Holiday in Israel, Egyptian and Syrian forces attacked Israel. Israel only had 189 tanks as they faced 1400 tanks that were supplied by the Soviets from Syria.
The Lord helped little Israel defeat their neighbors.
Then notice, Jesus recalls what the Father spoke to Him and said, “You are My Son, today I have begotten You.”
This verse is quoted in Hebrews 1:5 showing Jesus is divine, as God the Son and He is so much higher than the angels.
“My Son” is reserved for Jesus, God the Son, the Second Person of the Trinity and begotten does not mean He was created.
Colossians 1:15 He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Colossians 1:16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. NKJV
Notice the promise from the Father to the Son, “I will give You the nations for Your inheritance”.
Jesus has the entire Earth as His inheritance and now His children are called Co-heirs with Christ.
Romans 8:17 if children, then heirs — heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together. NKJV
Warren Wiersbe said, “If people will not accept God’s judgment of sin at the cross and trust Christ, they will have to accept God’s judgment of themselves and their sins.” (Wiersbe)
Notice, “You shall break them with a rod of iron”.
Again, Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. The Father has preordained and promised complete victory over all the nations and has given all authority to the Son.
Again, this demonstrates how foolish it is for the nations of the world to rebel against Jesus.
IV. Submit to the King.
Read Psalm 2:10-12
Since it is already determined that Jesus will rule and reign over all the Earth, the human kings of the Earth are warned to submit.
We have learned many times, that all scripture is given by the inspiration of the Holy Spirit so, we know this promise is true.
Wiersbe said, “The wise thing for people to do is to surrender to Christ and trust Him. Today, the Holy Spirit speaks to mankind and pleads with sinners to repent and turn to the Savior.”
King David, inspired by the Holy Spirit, was calling the kings of the earth to submit to the Lord and give Him the reverence He is due and do it while rejoicing.
How can someone rejoice while submitting?
Christians can experience joy by submitting to Jesus through obedience because rejoicing is a choice.
As we spend time in God’s Word, praying, worshipping Him, and enjoying His presence, we get to bask in His great love for us and enjoy pure fellowship with the Lord.
Our faith grows more and more through small steps of obedience and sacrifice while serving the Lord.
As we die to our flesh, we come more alive in our relationship with Jesus. These moments with Christ refine us as our selfishness and pride begin to die.
Jesus showed us how death can lead to new life as He humbly submitted to the will of the Father on the Cross and now, we rejoice in the finished work of salvation we received by it.
Notice, “Kiss the Son”.
Adam Clarke said, “Kissing was the token of subjugation and friendship.”
“Kiss the Son” primarily means the kiss of submission, where a dignitary receives the humble kiss of an inferior.
In biblical times, the rulers showed obedience and submission to their king by kissing his hand or cheek. Think about the statement, “Kiss my ring”.
Think of how Judas kissed Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane; he was betraying his King, not submitting to Him.
The kiss the Psalmist was speaking of in this verse is a kiss of submission and reconciliation.
The Holy Spirit ends this Psalm with a warning and a blessing.
The blessing is the offer to kiss the Son and receive reconciliation for our relationship with God and the forgiveness of sin.
The warning is that our mighty, loving King, will repay sin and rebellion with His wrath, for those who will not submit.
Every person was born in sin and sin’s consequence is for someone to receive the wrath of God and death. But God loves us so much that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Now we can face the wrath of God, or we can accept Jesus’ payment for sin on the Cross and escape the wrath of God and even more, be blessed by becoming a co-heir with Christ.
Ephesians 2:1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins,
Ephesians 2:2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,
Ephesians 2:3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
Ephesians 2:4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
Ephesians 2:5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).
Just as the Lord has promised eternal life to all who would accept His free gift of salvation, He has also promised a time of judgment against all sin and rebellion, so kiss the Son.
V. Practical Application.
A kiss on the cheek is common in many cultures around the world as a greeting.
How a person kisses someone on the cheek can vary depending on the culture, context, and relationship between the two people.
Jesus was at Simon’s house eating dinner and we read in
Luke 7:37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil,
Luke 7:38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping, and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head, and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. Skip to…
Luke 7:44 "Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave Me no water for My feet, but she has washed My feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head.
Luke 7:45 You gave Me no kiss, but this woman has not ceased to kiss My feet since the time I came in.
Luke 7:46 You did not anoint My head with oil, but this woman has anointed My feet with fragrant oil.
Luke 7:47 Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little." NKJV
Again, the warning is that our mighty, loving King will repay sin and rebellion with wrath for those who refuse to submit.
Every person was born in sin and sin’s consequence is for someone to receive the wrath of God and death. But God loves us so much that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
Now we can face the wrath of God, or we can accept Jesus’ payment for sin on the Cross and escape the wrath of God and even more, be blessed by becoming a co-heir with Christ.
But kissing the Son is more than escaping sin’s wrath by submission, it also offers us friendship with the Son.
James 2:23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, "Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness." And he was called the friend of God. NKJV
Imagine being a friend of the Creator of the universe, Who is able to foretell the future, change the future, bless His children, forgive sin, and so much more.
A friendship with the Lord goes both ways with mutual affection.
We know and understand each other, we like each other, we have shared interests, we enjoy spending time together.
There are only two choices, you are either an enemy of God or a friend of God and He desires friendship from all of us.
Believers who have received the free gift of Christ and surrender to the leading of the Spirit, are friends of God.
Jesus endured the Cross, was dead, and rose to life on the third day, giving us the right to become children and friends of God.
Ask Jesus to take over your life, so that He becomes Lord and King. Before the death of Christ, there was no way to be saved.
The real Gospel of Jesus Christ makes the way for us to be cleansed from all our sins, and to be made righteous so we can have eternal life in heaven with the One who loves us.
