Psalm 2: The Lord's Anointed One

Psalm 2:

Two weeks ago, Psalm 1. Psalm 1 is usually referred to as a “Wisdom Psalm”

Psalm 2 is a very different Psalm. This is an example of a “Royal Psalm”.

Royal Psalms are psalms that are written to or about the King

They either extolled the virtues of the King,

Or, they are written in the voice of the King who is praising God for His faithfulness.

There are approximately 10 clear examples of Royal Psalms: other examples are

(Other royal psalms are 18, 20–21, 45, 72, 89, 101, 110, 132, 144.)

But out of these other examples Psalm 2 is, I think, by far the most unusual of them

The word pictures that it gives us are confrontational and somewhat violent

And honestly, the picture that we get of God in this Psalm might be a little bit uncomfortable for some folks.

It’s not how we like to imagine God speaking or acting

But remember, this is a poem. And poems use poetic imagery to paint a picture for us

But the incredible and comforting thing for me is that in the midst of this, we get a clear look forward to the coming of Jesus

And we get a glimpse of what God had in mind for Jesus to do and to be on this earth

English Standard Version Psalm 2

2 Why do the nations rage

and the peoples plot in vain?

2  The kings of the earth set themselves,

and the rulers take counsel together,

against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,

3  “Let us burst their bonds apart

and cast away their cords from us.”

4  He who sits in the heavens laughs;

the Lord holds them in derision.

5  Then he will speak to them in his wrath,

and terrify them in his fury, saying,

6  “As for me, I have set my King

on Zion, my holy hill.”

7  I will tell of the decree:

The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;

today I have begotten you.

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

and the ends of the earth your possession.

9  You shall break them with a rod of iron

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

10  Now therefore, O kings, be wise;

be warned, O rulers of the earth.

11  Serve the LORD with fear,

and rejoice with trembling.

12  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.

This Psalm sets up a conflict between the kings of the earth and God and God’s anointed one

A brief overview of this Psalm is this:

The first three verses

The Psalmist expresses a sense of astonishment

Read again verses 1-3

Here’s the situation:

We have earthly kingdoms and powers

We have earthly nations

We have political powers

And these earthly rulers and powers and nations are not happy

They are “raging” vs. 1

This word speaks of a restless, violent, uncontrollable anger

They are plotting together

They are setting themselves together and joining forces

Why are they angry? Who are they plotting against? Who are they joining forces against?

The LORD and His anointed One

The LORD—that is, Jahweh, Jehovah, The LORD God

AND, the LORD’s anointed one

who is this anointed one?

Hebrew mashia—Messiah

Messiah literally means anointed one

Who is this Messiah?

Well, when I hear that word, immediately my thoughts turn to Jesus

Jesus was the Messiah. And that’s true

But in this case, the writers (perhaps King David) did not have Jesus in mind

Rather, he had the King of Israel in mind

Remember, you could only be king if you were anointed. In this case, the king literally was a “mashia”, that is a Messiah

Now, this might be a little hard for us to grasp, and might not be how we have understood this Psalm, but let’s move on

The earthly political forces are aligning themselves against Yahweh and Yahweh’s anointed king

And they are saying, vs. 3, “Let’s break free. Let’s get out from under their control. We are going to exercise our own will. We’re going to do our own thing here!”

It is a picture of rebellion. Earthly powers trying to escape the rule of God and the power of God’s king

Well, what is the response?

The One who sits in heaven laughs scornfully at them

The Lord holds them in derision—contemptuous ridicule or mockery

The LORD looks at them, and says, “Really? You tiny little kings. You think that by putting your heads together and gathering up your armies, that you have enough strength to defeat me?

Do you really think that you can throw off my power and derail my plans?

It does seem pretty preposterous, doesn’t it?

He laughs scornfully at them

Fury and wrath

and I can imagine the LORD’s voice turning from scorn and laughing

His countenance changing, and the tiny kings of the earth cowering in terror as they realize that they have made a grave mistake

The LORD says, “As for Me, I have set MY King on Zion, MY holy hill”

You think that you have what it takes to come against omnipotent God?

First of all, are you stupid or something?

And second of all, you’re way too late. I’ve beat you to it. I have already set MY King on Zion which is MY Holy Hill

Zion is a reference to Jerusalem

This fury and wrath is something that we see in Scripture as God’s response to sin and rebellion.

It’s not anger based on fear and insecurity which is the kind of anger that we experience

But it’s the kind of anger that results from a holy and perfect God coming up against the selfishness and pride of fallen man

The king reflects on his own calling: vs. 7-9

I will tell of the decree

I’m going to tell you what God said to me

Here it is: “You are my son. Today I have begotten you.”

This is interesting, isn’t it? This is what God said to the King: You are my son. Today I have begotten you

Now most likely, right away again we think of Jesus. Well, this Psalm has to be about Jesus because who else could be called God’s son. Who else was “begotten” by God?

Well, to shed some light on this, I want us to take a peek at something back in 2 Sam. 7.

These are God’s words to David through Nathan the prophet

He is speaking of David’s son, Solomon

2 Sam. 7:13b I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men

This is part of what we call the Davidic Covenant

And with these words, God reveals His heart for the king that He would put in place on the throne of David

This King was to be like a son to Him. There was to be a very close and intimate relationship between God and the king, like a father and like a son

the bloodline from the king was to continue to sit on the throne of David forever!

And this Psalmist knows that this is the intent and decree of God

And he goes on to say that “furthermore the LORD has told me that I simply have to ask, and He will give me these nations that are plotting against the LORD and against the LORD’s anointed. That is, me

I am His son. And since I’m His son, I get an inheritance. And what is my inheritance? The nations

The LORD said that I will go in there with a rod of iron and break these nations to pieces and execute justice on them

He ends with a warning

Basically this:

If I were you, oh tiny earthly kings, I would tread softly.

You are about the cross a line that you are going to wish you had never crossed

Since it’s been established that you can’t possibly escape the authority of the LORD, Here’s what I would do instead if I was you

Serve Him with fear

rejoice, or praise Him with trembling

Kiss the Son—kind of a strange thing to say. But literally he is saying, you need to submit not only to the LORD, but also to the Son, that is, the LORD’s anointed One, the king

And he even gives them a reason to submit. Not just to save their own hide, but because all who take refuge in Him are blessed

And that brings us to the end of this Psalm

Again, such a vivid and desriptive and somewhat puzzling Psalm.

Now, I have made the point of saying that the Anointed One in this Psalm is talking about the King of Israel: David, Solomon, and the kings following

And I stand by that. This Psalm had to have meant something to the people in that day

But clearly, without a doubt, on this side of history, this Psalm is brought to vivid light and filled up with wonderful meaning in the Person and work of Jesus Christ

And there is so much that could be said about this,

But if I tried to say everything that could be said, we would be here for a long time!

Jesus is King

The Gospels writers are clear about the kingly nature of Jesus

The Son of God title

this thing of Jesus being God’s Son is something that is very much a mystery to us

How can God being a spirit, have a son?

Other religions have taken this belief and formed some crazy ideas around it

For example the Mormons believe that Spirit father and Spirit mother got together and had a spirit baby named Jesus

It is very much a mystery that I don’t pretend to fully grasp this morning

But isn’t it possible that Jesus title as the Son of God, isn’t it possible that it is declaring His Kingship?

Who else in Jewish history and culture had the right be be called the son of God? It was the King, right?

Matthew, Mark, and Luke all document that at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, when he went to be baptized by John the Baptist

which, if you think about it, for Jesus might have been something like being anointed was for the OT Kings

That a cloud descended on Him and the people around heard a voice, the voice of God saying:

“This is my beloved Son. I am pleased with Him. Listen to Him”

The same thing happened when Jesus was on the Mt. of transfiguration

only this time Jesus was transformed in front of his 3 disciples and they caught a glimpse of His heavenly glory

And Jesus, when He was talking to Nicodemus at night said in that famous verse that we know so well

God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son.

exactly the same words that are used of the king in Psalm 2

We don’t read of Jesus saying that to anyone else. But he said it to Nicodemus who was an expert in Jewish law and history

I wonder if when Jesus said this, that something stirred in the back of Nicodemus’ brain

“hmmm, the begotten Son of God. That was a title for the King on the throne of David”

What is this man saying? Is he claiming to be a King?

And as Jesus ministry continues, time and time again we find references to the Kingship of Jesus

The many parables in which Jesus talked about the Kingdom of God

The Kingdom of Heaven

When He said things like “I and the Father are One”

People have tried to downplay Jesus ministry by saying things like, “Oh Jesus never claimed to be King”

And I would disagree. Clearly He did!

Again, no, He didn’t go around saying things like, “I’m the King around here”

But, clearly the people caught on to what He was saying

Because when he was brought to trial, what was He accused of?

Luke 23:1–3 “1 Then the whole company of them arose and brought him before Pilate. 2 And they began to accuse him, saying, “We found this man misleading our nation and forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar, and saying that he himself is Christ, a king.” 3 And Pilate asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” And he answered him, “You have said so.””

Clearly they understood what Jesus was saying

And they raged against it. They rebelled against it

They said, let’s cast off the authority of God and His anointed One

And they raged and rebelled to the point of putting God’s anointed One, the Messiah, the King, to death

Psalm 2 was suddenly becoming very prophetic

The NT church era

The Holy Spirit comes upon the disciples, the Church is born

IMMEDIATELY persecution breaks out

And for the last almost 2000 years, enduring persecution has been the story of Believers around the world

Did you ever wonder why this is? I mean, Jesus did say that this would happen

But why?

Well, could it be that those who experience persecution because of their faith are, in a sense, living the opening verses of Psalm 2.

Why do the nations rage, why do the people plot in vane against the LORD and His anointed

Could it be that this is what many Christians have experienced and still are experiencing?

The persecution and the opposition that comes against the followers of Jesus,

Could it be that it is a result of a battle for the allegiance of the followers of Jesus?

What do I mean by that

Well, if we take a glance at Acts 2, Peter, after receiving the Holy Spirit begins to declare the Gospel boldly

He says, God raised Jesus up

God has exalted Jesus and placed Him at His right hand

And he winds up his sermon by saying this: Let all the house of Israel therefore know for certain that God has made Him (Jesus) both LORD and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified

Peter’s message cannot be missed. He is clear that Jesus has all authority and power and He has been given the place of honor by God

And the Believers, as they went out and began to scatter over the known world, they were persecuted because, their message was:

Jesus is LORD

This was not just a personal, spiritual message

They weren’t just saying that Jesus is my personal Lord and Savior

NO! It was a political message as well!

It’s not Ceasar, It’s not any earthly King. It’s not

Jesus is LORD

And they declared the Gospel of the Kingdom

It was clear to the earthly powers what the disciples were saying

they were saying that our ultimate allegiance is not to little earthly kings and powers

It is to the LORD and His anointed One. His only begotten Son

And for earthly powers, this is a threatening message

Because earthly powers demand allegiance from their subjects, their citizens

And to have someone come along and say, “No, Jesus is King. He is MY King”

That is a message that causes nations to rage and and vainly say, “Let’s get together and cast off the authority and power of God and His Messiah

And when they rage, they take it out on God’s people, his followers who dare to declare Jesus as King

Persecution

And this is where we live, folks. Jesus is LORD and King

And today He is looking for followers who will say without reservation that he is LORD and King

Knowing that when they say this and make this their message that it’s going to make the nations rage

Because ultimately there is a battle in the spiritual realm

For centuries, Satan has been raging against the LORD and His anointed One

Even to Jesus, do you remember what Satan said when he was tempting Jesus in the wilderness?

He said, “You see all the nations, all the kingdoms of the world? Bow down and worship me and I will give you all of these kingdoms”

Do you see the connection to Psalm 2?

Didnt satan realize that Jesus was already God’s anointed One

didn’t he realize that the kingdoms of this world were already being given to Jesus?

Well, apparently not and even today there is a spiritual battle raging

And it is a battle for the hearts and allegiance of you and of me

Whether or not we consider ourselves to be suffering persecution, I believe that when we say, “Jesus is King”, we should feel the tension that this declaration brings

We should feel the battle for our allegiance

We need to know that when we say Jesus is King, our enemy will not let that statement go unchallenged, and we will feel the “raging”

Whether it’s actual persecution

or Whether it’s a battle for political affections

Whether it’s a battle for the direction of our lives

Or a battle for how we use our time and resources

We are going to feel that war that is being waged against the LORD and against His anointed One

We may not be undergoing much in the way of phyiscal persecution at the moment

It’s going to make people rage

Because people want to be their own boss

And how dare you say that there is a King who requires my allegiance

And it’s going to cause conflict

That’s why Jesus said, Matthew 10:34 “Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household.

It is a conflict against authority. Who is going to be your king?

Future

But even while today the nations rage against God and against His Messiah

And even while today we feel that conflict, and that battle for our allegiance

There is coming a time when this will be settled

Scripture teaches us that one day every knee will bow to Jesus

the question of allegiance will be settled. The war against God and His Anointed One will be over

English Standard Version Chapter 11

15 Then the seventh angel blew his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying,

“We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty,

who is and who was,

for you have taken your great power

and begun to reign.

18  The nations raged,

but your wrath came,

and the time for the dead to be judged,

and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints,

and those who fear your name,

both small and great,

and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”

Do you see that connection to Psalm 2? It’s like things are going to come full circle

Psalm 2: Ask of me and I will make the nations your heritage...you shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them like a potter’s vessel

Revelation 11: The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord (that is, God), and of His Christ (His anointed One)

Psalm 2: I have set my King on Zion my holy hill

Revelation 11: He shall reign forever and ever

Psalm 2: Why do the nations rage and the people’s plot in vain?

Revelation 11: The nations raged

Psalm 2: God terrifies the kings in His wrath and fury

Revelation 11: God judges the nations in his wrath

I believe that this is a look forward to a time when the conflict that we are in the middle of will be over

And that God and His Anointed One, His chosen King, Jesus, will have the final say so, the final victory

So, what is the takeaway from this Psalm?

To teach us: I hope that we can see the connection between OT and NT

God even uses the poetry of the Psalms to point us forward to Jesus

And to connect us to who He is and what He came to do, and what there is left to do.

To challenge us: Is Jesus King in your life

We say, “He’s my personal Lord and Savior”

That’s good. But is He the King of your life?

Or are there areas in your life where you have the attitude of, “that’s my area”.

He’s my Lord and Savior, but this is my job

He’s my Lord and Savior, but these are my dreams that I have for the future

He’s my LORD and Savior, but the way that I use my money is my decision

there are all these areas that war and rage against the LORD and His Anointed King

And if there are areas that you are keeping back from Him, then this is the time to say, “Lord you can have all of me”

Do you live your life in such a way that says, “I am a citizen of the Kingdom of God”

Every area of my life has to come under His authority

To encourage us: The conflict, the battle is real.

But in the midst of that, Jesus has all power and authority

Matthew 28 He said “All power and authority has been given to me”

In the midst of the battle, He has given us His Holy Spirit to comfort and to give us the very presence and power of God living and abiding with us

The Holy Spirit is there to constantly be at work transforming us and renewing us and establishing the rule of God in our hearts

And we need to be encouraged that the plan of God for His Creations is still being worked out. He’s not done

And one day, I believe, that scene from Revelation will be made a reality

And that one day there will be a final judgement

And the nations of this earth, and the spiritual powers that drive their rebellion, will be brought completely under the authority of our LORD and of His Anointed One, Jesus

So be encouraged