Christ Is King 1-4-26 AM

I.            The rejection by the nations (Ps. 2:1-3).

a.   This first stanza is seen from the viewpoint of nations that reject God.

b.   We see they are raging against God and His anointed.

        i.      This is important to our understanding of this text being about Jesus.

        ii.      The word for “anointed” is the Hebrew word for Messiah.

        iii.      Many newer translations have this word capitalized as they understand it is a reference to Jesus and the divine.

c.    The word translated raging means to assemble tumultuously.

d.    The word for imagine carries the idea of conspire.

e.    The gentile nations are pictured as coming together to conspire against God in a violent way.

        i.      They are setting themselves against God.

        ii.      They are plotting together against God and His anointed.

f.     If this a psalm that addresses a current situation that looks forward to Jesus, the word anointed still causes no problem because David had been anointed by Samuel to be king of God’s people (1 Sam. 16:13).

g.   What is important to understand is that this will all be in vain, which we learn right out of the gate.

        i.      Any conspiring against God is useless.

        ii.      It will accomplish nothing and only result in destruction.

h.   What these people want is for to be let loose from the bounds of the Almighty and His anointed.

i.     We see this passage quoted in Acts 4:25.

        i.      This is a prayer of the apostles after Peter and John had been released by the Sanhedrin council.

        ii.      They were told to not speak any more about Jesus.

        iii.      The prayer states that Herod, Pontius Pilate, the gentiles that were with them, and the people of Israel were guilty of this.

        iv.      It also states that the people of Israel were continually guilty of this because they were continuing to threaten those sent by God.

j.     This last idea is one that should not have happened.

        i.      Remember, they were looking for the Messiah.

        ii.      Andrew said to Peter, we have found the Messiah.

        iii.      The people were looking for the Messiah.

        iv.      When they found Him, they rejected Him because He was not the Messiah they wanted.

k.    This psalm starts out from the viewpoint of the worldly leaders who were seeking to throw off the bonds of God and His anointed, who we know to be Jesus, and rule themselves.

l.      There are so many today who are conspiring and plotting against God and His Son Jesus.

         i.      Both are still in control.

         ii.      Despite this fact, there is a multitude of people crying out about how they rule themselves.

         iii.      They have no king but are in charge of their own life and destiny.

II.            God’s reaction (Ps. 2:4-6).

a.     With so many conspiring against God, surely God is concerned?

b.     Surely God is fearful right?

c.     God laughs.

d.     God is saying, “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

e.     To stand against God is utter futility.

         i.      It is worse than an ant shaking its fist at a human.

         ii.      At least an ant can bite the human.

         iii.      These leaders offer no threat whatsoever to God.

f.      God is going to punish all those who stand against Him and His anointed.

g.    If this is about David first and Jesus second, God had David defeat the Philistines when they came against him.

h.    God’s purpose is going to come to pass.

         i.      Notice how verse 6 is written.

         ii.      God says “I have set” as if its already done.

i.      Nothing that man can do is going to thwart the plans of God.

j.      Long ago God told Satan that the seed of woman would bruise his head (Gen. 3:15).

         i.      God continuously worked out His plan to bring His Son into the world to be King.

         ii.      Satan tried to thwart God’s plan at every turn but he could not do it.

         iii.      Satan would even use the humans God’s plan needed to bring in His Anointed and it still didn’t work.

k.     God still laughs in a mocking way at those who believe they can overthrow Him and His Anointed and rule themselves.

l.       He will speak to them in His wrath and distress their efforts, whether it be through means of providence in this life or at the judgment.

III.            The resurrection shows Christ as King (Ps. 2:7-9).

a.     You might be thinking that this section does not mention the resurrection of Jesus anywhere in it – and you’d be right.

b.     But hang in there with me for a moment.

c.     This section is from the viewpoint of the Anointed one.

         i.      God has said this to Him.

         ii.      Because God told Him, He has the ability to tell it as it is.

d.    What He is first told is that He is God’s Son and on this day He is begotten by God.

         i.      There are instances in the New Testament where we read of the Father telling Jesus He is His Son – the baptism and transfiguration of Jesus.

         ii.      We know this without a doubt.

e.     The second part of the phrase is the part that needs to be understood.

         i.      Jesus is not begotten in the sense of a birth (John 1:1) because Jesus is eternal.

         ii.      To understand what today means, we have to look at the instances in the New Testament where this verse is quoted.

f.      This is quoted in three different passages.

         i.      Acts 13:33 – This is tied to the resurrection according to Paul.

         ii.      Hebrews 5:5 – when did Jesus become our High Priest (Hebrews 5:7-10).

         iii.      Lastly, notice Hebrews 1:5 – when you look back at verses 3-4 it happened at His death and resurrection.

g.    So what we see is that Jesus was begotten of God when He was resurrected from the dead.

h.    God then tells Him that He is going to give His Anointed rule over the heathen and the uttermost parts of the earth.

         i.      One writer mentioned that we should get a better understanding of the temptation of Jesus found in Matthew 4:8-10 when thinking of this statement.

         ii.      Satan was tempting Jesus to have dominion without going through all the pain and agony of the cross.

i.      With that rule, He will dominate them and break them in pieces like one shatters pottery.

         i.      We see images of this in the book of Revelation.

         ii.      Rev. 12:5.

         iii.      Rev. 19:15.

j.      When we stay with Jesus the King, we will rule like He rules.

IV.            The response of the Psalmist (Ps. 2:10-12).

a.    The Psalmist speaks in this last section.

b.    He tells those that would throw off the yoke of God to be wise and to be instructed.

         i.      They need to listen to what has just been said.

         ii.      God is going to win no matter what they devise and His Anointed is in place no matter what they do.

c.     They should serve God with great reverence and rejoice in God with the same.

d.     The phrase Kiss the Son carries the idea of showing homage.

          i.      When Samuel anointed Saul, he kissed him on the cheek.

          ii.      It means to bow before and show great respect.

          iii.      The result of not doing this is God’s anger will be shown to those who don’t.

          iv.      It will bring about death and His wrath.

e.      Those who bow and obey, who put their trust in the King, will be blessed.

f.       We can’t forget what we are – servants.

          i.      Yes, we will be made kings and allowed to rule one day.

          ii.      Here on earth we are servants and we can’t forget that.

g. The Psalmist calls us to be smart and do the right thing – bow down to the King and serve Him.