Kiss the Son: A Call to Surrender (3)

Psalm 2

Summary:

Psalm 2 confronts our natural tendency to resist God’s authority and reveals that true safety is found in surrender to His Son. While the nations rage and hearts rebel, God remains unshaken—He has already installed His King, Jesus Christ. The call of the psalm is urgent and clear: Kiss the Son—submit to Him and find your refuge in the only One who can save.

Application:

Look honestly at your heart—where are you resisting Christ’s rule? Psalm 2 calls you to stop running, lay down your pride, and surrender to Jesus as both King and refuge. True blessing is found not in fighting for control, but in falling at His feet.

How this passage points to Christ:

Psalm 2 ultimately points to Jesus as the true Son, the Anointed King installed by God. He is the one who rules with power, yet offers mercy to all who come. The blessing of the psalm is found in Him alone—the King who took the wrath we deserved to become the refuge we need.

Introduction

Hello, and I would like to welcome everyone here today on the beautiful evening. Some of you don’t know, but my name is Ernesto Vasquez, I am a pastoral candidate undercare here in this church. I’ll be covering for the pastors tonight.

We will be in Psalm 2 today.

Psalm 2 is a different kind of Psalm. It’s a royal psalm. Perhaps, some of you may know what that is, maybe some don’t. Hopefully after tonight, you may leave here with a better understanding of what that is.

Psalm 2 is also a psalm that once you hear it, you say to yourself, “Oh, I’ve heard that one before.”

For instance,

The psalm begins with:

“Why do the nations rage… against the LORD and against His Anointed”

This is cited in Acts 4:25-26 and is applied to the opposition against Jesus by Herod, Pilate, the Gentiles and the people of Israel.

Or, more commonly:

Psalm 2:7 “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.”

This is cited by Paul in Acts 13:33 to refer to Jesus’ resurrection as the declaration of his sonship.

But before we unpack Psalm 2, before we go through this passage and see how it applies to the heart, let me take you back to a moment in history that still speaks volumes today.

It’s a story about rebellion and failure to submit to the Only King, Jesus Christ.

It was December 1804. The place was the grand cathedral of Notre-Dame in Paris. Napoleon Bonaparte—brilliant general, ruthless strategist—was about to be crowned emperor. The whole world was watching. The Pope had come in person to place the crown on Napoleon’s head, which was the tradition. It was symbolic: a way of saying that this ruler’s authority came from God, through the Church.

But when the moment came, Napoleon did something no one expected. As the Pope raised the crown to perform the ceremony, Napoleon stepped forward, took the crown from the Pope’s hands, and placed it on his own head.

Now think about that. In one bold move, Napoleon declared to the world: “I don’t answer to God. I don’t need the Church. I rule because I say so.”

And for a while, it looked like he was right. He conquered nations, redrew maps, and built one of the most powerful empires Europe had ever seen. But eventually, it all came crashing down. His pride led to his fall. The man who crowned himself emperor died in exile, alone.

Psalm 2 starts with this same kind of spirit:

“Why do the nations rage? Why do the peoples plot in vain?”

It’s not just ancient kings or global politics. It’s something closer to home. It’s in our hearts. That deep-down resistance to God’s authority. That subtle desire to take the crown and say, “I’ll run my life.”

But Psalm 2 reminds us: God already has a King. “I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” And He’s not asking for permission.

Today, this psalm invites us to stop fighting and start surrendering. Not out of fear—but because there’s blessing on the other side.

Kiss the Son. Bow before Him. And find refuge in the One who reigns.

Let us read Psalm 2, I’ll ask you to stand, if your able for the reading of God’s word.

English Standard Version Psalm 2

The Reign of the LORD’s Anointed

1 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.

Prayer:

Lord, we thank you for your word that teaches us what it is to surrender to your Son. It’s easy to say that Christ is king over all things. But, we ask you that your Spirit enables us to have Christ rule in our hearts today. Lord, we thank you. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

i. Hook:

We hear a story like that—Napoleon snatching the crown—and it’s easy to shake our heads at his pride.

But if we’re honest…

Pause

we all do the same thing.

We invite God, when we need Him, but every aspect of our lives we are snatching the crown and placing it on our heads.

Again, we may not be in a cathedral with a crown in our hands, but in the little decisions of everyday life—our relationships, our priorities, even our silence—many of us are trying to place ourselves on the throne. We want God’s help, but not always His rule.

And that’s where Psalm 2 meets us.

This psalm isn’t just about kings and nations out there—it’s about the quiet rebellion in here. The instinct to run life our way. The resistance to surrender.

But before we unpack what it says to us, we need to understand where this psalm comes from and why it matters.

ii. Contextual Setup:

Psalm 2 was likely used in the coronation ceremonies of Israel’s kings, especially those in David’s line. It reflected the theology of 2 Samuel 7, where God promised David a dynasty—that one of his descendants would reign forever.

At one level, it celebrates the authority of the anointed king—a human ruler who was meant to represent God on earth. But even in its original context, it carried more weight than any earthly king could bear.

Just to give an example on the weight of this responsibility, in Psalm 2:2 “against the Lord and against his Anointed,” the translation for “his anointed,” is Meshiac…? Or in the Greek translation of the Old Testament, Christos…” That’s Messiah or the Christ. That’s what the human kings in the line of David were referred to as.

But, most of these kings failed—badly. You see, the psalm’s language about global dominion and divine sonship was too big for them. How could any human, that is not God himself possibly live up to that title. It pointed beyond them.

That’s why, the early church recognized this as a messianic psalm. Jesus isn’t just one more Davidic king—He’s the King. He’s the Son of God by nature and the one enthroned not just in Jerusalem, but in heaven itself. And when the New Testament authors quote Psalm 2, they do so with bold clarity: “This is about Jesus.”

iii. Main Idea:

So, in a way, this is not a royal psalm—it’s a gospel psalm. It tells us about rebellion, about judgment, and most importantly, about the grace offered to those who will stop running and come kneel before the Son.

1. The Rebellion We All Participate In

Explanation:

Psalm 2 opens not with calm but with chaos. The writer paints a picture of nations and rulers uniting in defiance against the Lord and His Anointed. In a kind of poetic symmetry, these three lines describe an unrest:

Psalm 2:1–3 “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.””

The verbs here—“rage,” “plot,” “set themselves,” “take counsel”—communicate an intensity, unity, and deliberate and unified rebellion. These phrases depict the rulers of the world trying to shake off what they perceive as bondage from God and His king . The irony of it all, is that their plotting is “in vain.” Right from the start, their rebellion is doomed to fail. We saw this with our friend Napoleon. And even throughout history we see this constant failure to those who oppose Christ.

So we see the camera zoom in on these influencers—kings, rulers, cultural leaders—and we see a full-scale attempt to dethrone God.

Argumentation:

But, what Psalm 2 shows us is this: rebellion against God isn’t always loud, but it’s always personal.

Pause

It’s not just something the “bad guys” out there do. It’s what lives inside every one of us.

Every sinner wants to “cast off the cords,” as we see in verse 3. We don’t like being told what to do. We want Jesus as a Savior who forgives, not a King who commands. And that’s the heart of sin—a refusal to be ruled.

So, again, in the original context, the kings of Israel would read this psalm at their coronation, affirming their divine appointment. But even then, many of them lived as if they were above God’s law . And today, nothing’s changed. Whether it’s secular culture or Christian hearts, the resistance remains: “Don’t bind me. Don’t restrain me. Don’t rule me.”

Illustration:

I once heard someone describe sin like this: “It’s like trying to live in God’s house while ignoring His voice.”

Imagine a teenager, and for many, such as myself, I don’t have to imagine it. But the teenage is slamming the door, blasting music, and posting online that their parents are the worst—all while living under their roof, eating their food, and using their Wi-Fi.

That’s us.

We live in God’s world. We breathe His air. We enjoy His blessings. But we want His name out of our schools, His commandments out of our lives, and His Son off the throne.

And yet, like that rebellious teen, we’re still completely dependent on the One we’re fighting.

Application:

Psalm 2 isn’t asking if rebellion exists—it’s asking where it’s hiding in you.

Are you resisting God’s authority in your relationships?

Have you decided to ignore God in a certain area of your life—your finances, your purity, your priorities?

Do you talk about surrender but live like you’re still wearing the crown?

Let’s be honest: We all want to be king of our own lives. That’s the rebellion Psalm 2 exposes—and until we name it, we won’t surrender it.

Transition:

But here’s the thing: God is sovereign, and as much as the world rages and our hearts resist, God is not shaken.

He doesn’t panic. He doesn’t back down.

He sits. He speaks. He reigns.

And that’s where we’re going next.

2. Divine Response

Psalm 2:4–6 “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.””

Explanation:

After the noise and chaos of human rebellion in verses 1–3, verse 4 changes the scene dramatically:

Psalm 2:4 “He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.”

God isn’t alarmed. He’s not pacing or wringing His hands. He’s seated. That’s the posture of authority, of confidence, of sovereignty.

The psalmist then says that God “speaks to them in his wrath, and terrifies them in his fury, saying, ‘As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.’”

This is God’s decisive response to the rebellion of the nations: He establishes His King. God’s laughter isn’t casual or mocking—it’s the laughter of divine invincibility, showing the foolishness and futility of opposing Him .

This laughter is not a lack of concern but an expression of God’s contempt for the absurdity of creatures trying to dethrone their Creator. God’s response is calm, then terrifying—not in the sense of rage out of control, but in righteous fury that defends holiness .

And what is God’s answer to rebellion? Not thunderbolts. Not war. A King. “I have set my King on Zion.” He doesn’t just react—He rules.

Argumentation:

Here’s the main argument: Rebellion doesn’t dethrone God; it reveals our need for His King.

No matter how loud the rebellion gets, God is not shaken. His reign is not threatened. He doesn’t scramble to form a response—He calmly declares what He has already done: He has set His King in place.

And this isn’t a temporary installation. It’s a divine appointment rooted in the Davidic covenant (2 Sam. 7). In its original setting, this psalm likely celebrated the coronation of a Davidic king. But, agian, no earthly king ever truly fulfilled the scope of this psalm. The promise was always pointing forward to Christ—the true Son of David, installed not on a hill in Jerusalem, but enthroned in the heavens after His resurrection (Acts 13:33; Heb. 1:5) .

God’s answer to chaos is Christ. That’s the center of the psalm—and of history.

Illustration:

During World War II, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill often visited war zones to encourage the troops. On one occasion, German planes were bombing nearby, and chaos erupted. Soldiers scattered. Civilians panicked. The sound of sirens filled the air.

But witnesses describe Churchill as standing completely still—unflinching. He didn’t duck. He didn’t run. He calmly lit a cigar and looked toward the sky.

One soldier later said, “When we saw him standing there, it reminded us that we weren’t abandoned. That someone was still in charge.”

That’s a shadow of the image in Psalm 2. The world is raging. Governments are resisting God. Hearts are rebelling. But what is God doing?

“He who sits in the heavens laughs…”

He doesn’t panic. He doesn’t flee. He sits—because His throne isn’t at risk. And He reminds us: You are not abandoned. The King has already been installed.

Application:

So let me ask you: Are you living like God is seated?

Do your anxieties, your reactions, your decisions reflect a confidence that Jesus reigns—or are you still trying to manage your own kingdom?

God has already installed His King. Jesus is not waiting for the throne. He’s already on it.

So surrender is not just a future step—it’s a present necessity.

And here’s the hope: The One seated on the throne is not only powerful—He’s merciful. If you’ve been resisting Him, He’s not looking to destroy you. He’s inviting you to bow.

Transition:

The nations rebel. God responds. But now, the psalm takes another turn.

In verses 7–9, we hear from the King Himself—the Son—who declares the scope of His reign and the certainty of His victory.

3. Messianic Kingship

Psalm 2:7-9

Explanation:

After God responds to human rebellion by announcing He has installed His King (v. 6), we now hear that King speak.

Psalm 2:7–9 “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.””

This is a divine decree—public, legal, unchangeable. In its original setting, this language echoed 2 Samuel 7, where God promised David that his descendants would rule on the throne as sons of God. In ancient Israel, a new king was seen as being “adopted” by God at his coronation. The phrase “You are my Son; today I have begotten you” refers to that moment of royal installation. So, as we said earlier, this was originally referring to a human king.

But, again, no earthly king ever fully lived up to this claim. The language of worldwide rule, iron judgment, and divine sonship points beyond David or Solomon. It’s fulfilled ultimately in Jesus Christ, the true Son, who was declared with power to be the Son of God through His resurrection (Rom. 1:4; Acts 13:33) .

This is Jesus speaking. And He’s not whispering. He is declaring that all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Him.

Argumentation:

This passage answers the question: Who has the final word?

Not presidents. Not prime ministers. Not armies or economies. Not even you or me.

Jesus does.

He is the Son—the One who reigns not because He took power, but because it was given to Him. And not just over Israel. Verse 8 says “the nations” are His inheritance, “the ends of the earth” His possession.

This king will bring the nations into submission—not through political diplomacy, but with a “rod of iron.” And this rod is a shepherd’s staff—but an iron one—both protective and crushing depending on the response . The imagery of smashing pottery reminds us: rebellion is fragile. It may look strong, but it breaks easily when it meets the authority of Christ.

Jesus is not a localized ruler. He’s not running for office. He’s not taking suggestions. He is the global, eternal King.

Illustration:

And I’m reminded about a moment in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe when the children first hear about Aslan. They don’t know yet that he’s a lion, so Lucy asks, “Is he safe?”

Mr. Beaver responds, “Safe? Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. He’s the King, I tell you.”

That’s the tone of Psalm 2:7–9. Jesus isn’t tame. He isn’t manageable. You don’t negotiate with Him—you bow to Him. But here’s the beauty: this King is good. He doesn’t reign for oppression but for redemption. And His power is not a threat to fear—it’s a gift to trust.

Application:

So let me ask you: What parts of your life are still off-limits to the rule of Christ?

Have you surrendered your desires to His direction?

Have you given Him your future, your fears, your finances, your family?

Or are you still clinging to control, hoping He’ll bless your plans instead of submitting to His?

Jesus will either rule us as Savior, or confront us as Judge. But He will not be ignored.

The promise is this: All the nations belong to Him. And if you are in Christ, you belong to Him too (1 Cor. 6:19–20). That means His authority is not only over you—it is for you.

Transition:

So far, we’ve heard the voice of the rebels… and the voice of the Lord… and now the voice of the Son. But the psalm doesn’t end there.

There’s one more voice to hear—and it’s the voice of the psalmist himself, calling out to the world with a final warning and a gracious invitation.

4. An Invitation to Surrender

Psalm 2:10–12 “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.”

Explanation:

After hearing from the rebels, from the Lord, and from the Son, we now hear the voice of the psalmist—the voice of grace and urgency.

This is a direct appeal to the kings and rulers, but it extends to all of us. The structure of the psalm turns from heavenly decree to earthly decision.

The psalmist urges:

Be wise… be warned

Serve the LORD with fear… rejoice with trembling

Kiss the Son… lest He be angry

Blessed are all who take refuge in Him

It is important to note that this section is not a call to religious tyranny but a call to “flawless leadership” under the Messiah who perfectly fulfills Psalm 1 . It’s not a demand rooted in domination, but in mercy—God wants rebels to become worshipers.

The strange pairing of “rejoice with trembling” reminds us that true worship is both joyful and reverent. And “kiss the Son” is not sentimental—it’s submission, an act of homage, surrender, loyalty, love.

Argumentation:

Here’s the point: The right response to the reign of Christ is not resistance—it’s reverence.

God doesn’t just warn—he holds out a hand to the very rebels who oppose Him. And there are only two possible responses:

Perish in the way (v. 12)

Take refuge in Him (v. 12)

There’s no neutral ground.

“Kiss the Son” was likely a gesture of allegiance, much like kissing the hand or foot of a monarch in ancient times. It was a sign that you had laid down your weapons .

To ignore this invitation is to invite judgment. But to accept it is to find blessing, refuge, and peace.

Illustration:

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Application:

This psalm ends where every human heart must arrive: surrender.

For some of you, that means laying down your pride.

For others, it’s letting go of fear—because you can’t find peace until you trust the King.

For all of us, it’s a reminder that the safest place in the universe is at the feet of Jesus.

“Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.”

Not in success. Not in strength. Not in self.

In Him.

Closing:

Psalm 2 began with rebellion…

Moved to the declaration of God’s King…

Unfolded the authority of the Son…

And now ends with a call: Surrender and live.

Let us look at four points to remember:

We are all tempted to rebel against God’s rule.

Even if we don’t say it aloud, we often try to live as our own king.

2. God is not shaken by human rebellion.

He sits in heaven, completely in control, and has already installed His King.

3. Jesus Christ is that King—appointed, risen, and reigning.

He speaks with authority and rules with justice and mercy.

4. The only right response is surrender—joyful, trembling, wholehearted surrender.

And when we surrender, we don’t lose—we find refuge.

Transition to the Lord’s Table:

As we prepare to take the Lord’s Supper, I want to remind you:

The King we’re called to surrender to… also surrendered Himself for us.

“This is my body, broken for you…”

“This is the new covenant in my blood…”

The table of communion is where we remember that the King who rules also bled. He took the wrath so we could take refuge.

So if today you’ve heard the voice of Psalm 2 calling you to surrender—know that Christ welcomes you here. Not because you’re perfect, but because He is.

I’d like to ask one of our Elders, Sal, to make his way up here and lead us as we remember the Lord together in communion.

Pray with me, if you will.

Prayer 1

Lord, we thank you for you word that teaches us that Your Son, installed as King, enthroned above all powers and yet offers us mercy through his death and resurrection. Lord, I ask that you Spirit pierce our hearts and moves us to surrender to Christ. That we can take refuge in Him. We pray this in Jesus mighty name. Amen.

Prayer 2

Benediction

Now may the Lord, who sits enthroned in heaven, grant you wisdom to discern His rule, courage to submit to His Son, and joy in the refuge that Christ provides.

Go now in the peace of the King, proclaiming His reign, trusting His power, and resting in His mercy.

And may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all, now and forevermore. Amen.