Hope in the Reign of Christ

Hope

John Maynard Keyenes. 15 hr work week. What happened?

Disilluisionment. Economic struggle today. War, rumours of war. Unbalanced, disunity in our country.

Where do we place our hope?

Intro Psalm 2, i.e purpose, uses.

Psalm 2 was likely used at the coronation of Israel’s kings. When it was written it likely held a contemporary view, for the kings of its time. The kings of the day probably had no issue with a Psalm like this being read out about them.

“While it is true that the majority of Davidic rulers did not live up to the standard that God had set for them (see Deut. 17:14–20), they all would have relished the idea that they ruled with the Lord’s imprimatur [authoratative approval] and would have encouraged the use of this psalm during their inauguration, no matter how hypocritical it might have been in terms of their own hearts and actions… The faithful would probably have seen through the hypocrisy during the monarchical period. But it would have been particularly in the post-exilic period, when the book of Psalms reached its final form, that the eschatological significance of Psalm 2 would have come to the fore.” Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary TOTC

However, the legacy of Israel’s kings and the eventual failing of the lineage began to poke holes in the interpretation. They aren’t living up to God’s standard, so are they really God’s annoited? The word annoited in Hebrew means Messiah. So this is where they would look to.

The authorship of this Psalm is attributed to King David and he likely wrote in repsonse to the promise He recieved in 2 Samuel 7:12-16, exploring this reference will give us some clues.

2 Samuel 7:12–16 (ESV)

When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son.

David’s reign didn’t last forever, neither did his sons. Their kingdom didn’t last forever, it came crashing down in embarrasment and mockery. The promise was to David and his sons momentarily, as with Psalm 2 and much of scipture, the promises of God point beyond a temporary king ruling over a physical kingdom.

During the coronation ceremony, the new king of Israel would be annointed with oil, it was symbolic of the descent and empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Yet there would come a day, when Jesus would be baptised, that the Holy Spirit would physcially descend upon Him and empower Him. David’s son Solomon, would rule after him. Solomon would build a physcial temple that would last for centuries but would one day be ruined. Jesus establishes His Church, He as the cornerstone and foundation- eternal, His people as the temple in which the Holy Spirit dwells. The Davidic line of kings would reign and rule Israel for many years but would be broken at the end of Zedekiah’s rule, with the sacking of Jerusalem and destruction of the temple. While the Davidic line of kings would end with death and destruction, Jesus would begin his eternal reign with the destruction of death. All of scripture points to Jesus, all of human hope should rest in his eternal reign.

Psalm 2, for the Israelites was written to affirm God’s blessing over their kings, it was hope that he would rule well. For us today, Pslam 2 is far superior, as it points us toward-

Hope in the supremacy and sovereignty of King Jesus

Rebellion v.1-3

Psalm 2:1–3 (ESV)

Why do the nations rage

and the peoples plot in vain?

The kings of the earth set themselves,

and the rulers take counsel together,

against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,

“Let us burst their bonds apart

and cast away their cords from us.”

v.1 “Plot” had the same root word as “meditate” as Ps. Julie talked about in Psalm 1. It means a deep, inner planning of the heart to do or commit to something. v.2 The kings and rulers of the earth determined to cast away the reign and rule of God, banding together to build their own sovereignty. It’s a group effort by the worlds wealthy and elite to conspire and build up their own wealth, to try and defy against the reign of God.

v. 3They say: “Let us break the shackles”. But how foolish! For a finite, temporary being whose life span is most similar to vapour mist in the grand scheme of time to say “let us burst apart the reign of the Holy, eternal God!” All of their efforts are in vain. They plot and plan but will not prevail. The kings of the earth are setting themselves aginst the King of Heaven. If God is God, this is foolishness indeed! For this reason, God openly ridicules and mocks the futile attempts.

2. The Supremacy of Christ v.4-6

Psalm 2:4–6 (ESV)

He who sits in the heavens laughs;

the Lord holds them in derision.

Then he will speak to them in his wrath,

and terrify them in his fury, saying,

“As for me, I have set my King

on Zion, my holy hill.”

The LORD laughs at the efforts of human rulers to rebel against him.

v.4 - Like my toddler screaming in a blood rage that they can’t watch TV at 5.30am or eat ice-cream at 8pm. Yelling at me, hitting me in anger despite all that I do to provide for them.

v.5 - God speaks and it’s like Dad’s authoratative voice to human leaders. We can act tough, but when it comes to the sharp end we have no real strength.

v.6 - Despite the efforts of human rulers, the power they have is incomparable to the LORD’s. The LORD would give His power and authority to His chosen King. Despite the positions that the kings of the earth might acquire for themselves, the LORD will grant His seat of power on earth, His Holy Hill, to His king. The rulers of the earth may have some limited power, they may even succeed for a time, even a lifetime. In the context of the Psalm, they may have risen up and dominated the Israelites, dethroned Davidic kings and even cast down the temple. But that supremecy, it would not last, it will not last- it cannot last. The promised Messiah, hope to God’s people, is coming, and He shall reign supreme. And the LORD says, I will place my chosen King, on my Holy Hill. If the LORD is supreme, then the LORD’s chosen King reigns supreme. And He will not be overcome.

3. The Sovereignty of Christ v7-9

Psalm 2:7–9 (ESV)

I will tell of the decree:

The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;

today I have begotten you.

Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,

and the ends of the earth your possession.

You shall break them with a rod of iron

and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

When David recieved the promises in 2 Sam 7, God blessed him by saying “you shall be to me a son”. As if God was divinely adopting him and putting his blessing upon him. However here, David makes the connect. This future promised King who should rule forevermore is God’s own Son. David and his sons were like caretakers, appointed for a time. Jesus shall return as the heir and take possession of all His Father has made.

Like David and his sons, all human rulers and kings are appointed but for a time. Jesus, however, shall reign sovereign. Thius is demonstrated in verse 8-9. The accumulated power, influence and control of human powers could be dashed like pottery, cast away a child’s play thing.

The Heavenly Father has given all creation to King Jesus and he reigns sovereing over it all.

4. Comfort in the Reign of Christ v10-12

Psalm 2:10–12 (ESV)

Now therefore, O kings, be wise;

be warned, O rulers of the earth.

Serve the Lord with fear,

and rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the Son,

lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,

for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

v. 10 - Be wise. The Psalm ends with a warning to earthly leaders, with the knowledge being granted to you in the previous verses, it is prudent that you slow down and consider how you lead and where you lead those under your care. What’s the warning?

v.11 - Fear the LORD. We discussed this in our proverbs 3 series. It isn’t a dread or terror of God but rather a recognising God for who he is. In other words, worshipping God as God. Acknowledging Him as the rightful ruler and heir to all things. “Rejoice with trembling” could be synonymous with “tears of joy”. If you were terrified and full of dread you wouldn’t be rejoicing. But Pslamist sees God for who He is and is overcome by awe and wonder and gives thanks and praise to the one who is worthy.

v.12 - “Kiss the Son”, means to submit. As in kissing the signet ring of a king. It means submission to the King. He is a wise, good, kind, gracious, merciful King- we are all testimony to that truth. But, be warned, do not take His mercy toward sinners as indifference toward sin. He is not indifferent to sin. His patience for sinners will not run thin or run out, but it will one day end and he shall return.

-communion helpers-

Psalm two was written with the hope in mind that human flourishing and peace would abound under careful and wise leadership of good politicians with good politics. And as much as human efforts have attempted to realise that hope, human effort has also proved it to be impossible.

The hope, hoped for in Psalm 2 is only and ultimatley realised in the supremacy and sovereignty of King Jesus. No other human or human creation can bring the peace, hope and grace that Jesus does. Because no human effort can mend the harm of sin in your life or pay the penalty of your rebellion against the One who sits in Heaven. Jesus brings hopes because he offers us freedom from death, life eternal.

Jesus offers us hope in His sovereignty too. No matter the extent of evil or harm in this world, no matter the power of a tyrant, Jesus reigns supreme over them all. Not only can we trust in Jesus for eternity, we can trust in Him for now.

Our hope in King Jesus is not just at a meta level. Do you live/lead your life in trust in Jesus? Do you rely on Him for your daily strength? Do you turn to him in the midst of your anguish, grief or weakness? Does Jesus stand at the centre of your family? As the one whom you look to to guide you? As you are granted the freedom to work and enjoy life, is He the one for whom you live?

Communion

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