The Not So Great Escape

Introduction

Although it has no superscription this psalm is ascribed to David in , and identified as ‘the second psalm’ in … It is much quoted in the New Testament, both for its high claims for the Person of God’s Anointed and for its vision of his universal kingdom.

This psalm is familiar to students of the New Testament by virtue of its relevance for Christ. However, the passage was a royal psalm in the Old Testament and therefore was used by the Davidic kings. …. Its contents describe a celebration at the coronation despite opposition by rebellious people in surrounding territories. In a word, the psalmist exhorted the pagan nations to abandon their rebellious plans against the Lord and His anointed king.…”

A royal psalm, it was originally composed for the coronation of Davidic kings in light of the Lord’s covenant with David”

A royal psalm, it was originally composed for the coronation of Davidic kings in light of the Lord’s covenant with David”

Trying to “bust free” from God’s Domain ()

Observing the Text

“Plot” is the same Hebrew word as “meditate,” that we observed last week in .

Note the Focus of the Nations’ rage & conspiracy (v2):

The LORD/YAWEH

His (YAWEH’S) Anointed One

Where do we see this in today’s world?

Many nations show indifference or hostility toward the God of the Bible.

Consider some of the 47 member-states of United Nations Human Rights Council:

As Communist countries, China and Cuba are officially atheistic;

Saudi Arabia and Sudan operate by strict Islamic law, punishing Christian evangelism;

France is proudly secular, even anti-clerical;

Zimbabwe is a kleptocracy.

The very appointment of Cuba, Sudan, and Zimbabwe as human rights watchdogs is ungodly.

It seems that the “community of nations” can be quite perverse.

Certainly, the Psalmist thought the nations were against God’s ways.

He casts international affairs as a great attempted prison break ().

The nations chafe at God’s standards and supervision; they want nothing more than to run free of His rule and resume their life of crime.

Though ultimately they have their own agendas, they join in contempt for God (v. 1) and they collaborate for a season (v. 2).

They have no use for Christ, God’s Anointed One (v. 2), and they work to loosen His grip on their people.

The Passage in Bible Days

Opposing a king anointed by Yahweh amounted to opposing God Himself ().

The apostles apply this passage to the death of Jesus ()

The Futility of Rebelling Against God’s Ways..

The Futility of Rebelling Against God’s Ways.. (4-6)

YAWH’S Appointment of Anointed One—the Son ()

God’s Advice ()

God’s Advice ()