Sermon Tone Analysis
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Introduction
Psalm 2 is closely connected to Psalm 1 and in fact both Jewish and Christian tradition leaves some indication that they were at one time one Psalm.
In our Bibles today they are separate and that is how God has led me to treat them.
These two Psalms however we can look at them as two parts of the introduction into the book of Psalms.
Psalm 1 would probably fit in better under the wisdom found in Proverbs and Psalm 2 as we will see would seem to be out of one of the books of prophets where the Messiah was prophesied.
Think of them instead as a double door leading through the threshold into the book of Psalms.
Take note that they stand as a reminder Psalms are not merely poetry and are more than a hymn book of the Jews.
It is part of the God-breathed scripture that points towards our Lord Jesus Christ.
Psalms 1 showed the abundant life and left us with a choice of which life will we live - meaningful or meaningless.
Psalms 2 is a reminder choices have consequences and where Psalm 1 affirms the Lord’s authority over individual people, here in Psalm 2 we are brought face to face that the Lord’s authority extends over nations as well.
Our confidence in God and our trust in Him comes easy when we acknowledge these two realities - God’s authority is over both individuals and over nations.
It is easy to trust that God has your life in His hands if you trust that God has the world in His hands.
Psalms 2 stands as an assurance that no one can stand against God’s chosen kings and chosen people.
It stands as an assurance for us as His church today as well.
Psalms 2 is a royal psalm in that it also points beyond its historical context in which it is found, to the Messianic Reign of our Lord Jesus Christ.
All who trust in Christ find comfort in the fact that Jesus reigns.
Know this despite what it looks like right now Jesus reigns.
On D-Day – June 6, 1944 – the Allied forces invaded Normandy, ensuring victory in World War II.
Yet the war continued until V-Day – May 7, 1945 – when the peace treaty was signed.
Sad truth is, that there more people killed in the time between that victory on D-Day and when the treaty was finally signed V-Day than any other time of the war.
In similar fashion, we live in the time between the announcement of the kingdom, its establishment by the events of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ and the final consummation when He returns.
We find ourselves in this present-but-not-yet-kingdom, and we look around it may well seem that the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus has not really changed anything.
But no matter how things may seem, Jesus reigns over heaven and earth.
The Rebellion
The Psalm itself does not indicate its author but scripture interprets scripture and so we know the author is David because Acts 4 tells us.
The psalmist reveals the rebellion found in the rage of the nations - the Gentile nations.
The psalmist indicates also that the rage, the rebellion and the plotting is all vanity.
The nations - consisting of the kings and rulers of the earth standing together and conspiring with one another.
People of various nationalities and ethnicities assemble with much tumultuous commotion like an angry mob prepared to riot.
The scene for the psalmist is not one of emotional reaction or charged passion.
The people plot and so the assembling and coming together is alliance and strategy resulting from establishing a plan.
Plot is the same Hebrew word for meditate - indicating this is a mental exercise.
Thinking was done to get to this point.
The godly meditate on God’s law but the ungodly instead plot in vain.
Vain is the same as ruin - futility it means worthless.
The Psalmist is asking why do the nations rage and plot in vain?
The answer is because rage is blinding.
Their rage is bringing together federations and alliances that are normally at odds with each other.
Thinking along the lines of Herod and Pilate.
What brings them together to rage and plot?
What are they raging and plotting against?
The Psalmist in verse two says that they come together against the LORD (Yahweh) and his Anointed One.
Amazement is all that can describe what one must feel as they watch this from the outside.
The nations plot something that is ultimately destined to fail.
That they would actually take a stand against the Lord and His Anointed One.
Anointed - means to smear with oil.
Kings as they were installed would be anointed with oil.
In speaking of the Anointed One - this is speaking with more than just the installed kings - but points towards the one to be especially installed.
The Anointed One points to the promised Messiah, the Christ, whom we know to be Jesus.
These nations and rulers come together in their hatred of Jesus and their desire to rebel against His reign.
Is this not the attitude of sin? Ultimately the rebellion of sin is to go against God and His Savior?
Why do they rebel against them though?
If sin is leading to death and God desires to give Jesus His Anointed as a sacrifice to save one from sin and the resulting death and judgment why would anyone rebel against that?
The power of sin is to blind one to rage and rebel against the Holy.
While God desires to provide a way to live holy - the sin says that God desires to put in bondage and enslavement.
Verse 3 says lets tear off their chains and throw their ropes off of us.
It’s as if saying that God and His Christ brings bondage and those in Christ are in chains like slaves.
The truth is Christ is a chain breaker and came to set the captive free.
The reason for such hatred and rejection of Jesus is because people believe He has come to restrict and hinder their lives.
That God doesnt want them to have any fun - that He is the great cosmic killjoy.
His commands are a burden.
Many turn to atheism for this reason without a Creator there is no accountability and no need to obey.
Many say that following Jesus is a burden and that its hard and wearisome.
The Response
As man comes together in a federation of nations and rages and plots against God and His chosen ruler - His Messiah what is God’s response to this?
Looking at the response of God concerning the rebellion of man should be a comfort to us - especially as Christians in this world waiting for the second coming of Jesus where He will set up His kingdom.
Why? God’s response is one of laughter.
It says the one enthroned in heaven laughs.
That is the response that the rebellion of man invokes in God who sits enthroned in heaven - laughter.
There is no worry or fear of man for the one who is seated on the throne in heaven.
God sits in heaven in perfect peace and perfect rest from the plot of men.
He laughs because He sits in the heavens far above man.
God laughs not from hilarity but out of incredulity.
The audacity of the people to stand up and challenge Him and His reign is funny.
God is not laughing at His people’s plights or problems, but He laughs and ridicules the haughty, proud and rebellious people.
The Lord laughs and ridicules because of how many have tried to rebel and where they are now.
Where are all the previous men who have tried to rebel against God?
They have all died, meanwhile God reigns and His Anointed One will be installed as King of kings and Lord of lords.
Christ will reign forever while men who rebel will come to nothing.
Hate all they want, plan all they like, fight and kick and thrash all they can - men will never remove God from His throne.
Hostility is futile - why? God is sovereign and He sits in heaven - He transcends man and is far superior.
How does God react to the scene of rabid raging rebellion?
Is He stricken with terror, driven with panic, or holding a cabinet session of heaven?
No God laughs at men as they briefly blip on the stage of history.
God says I have installed my King on Zion, my holy mountain verse 6. God’s plan moves forward - His king is installed in the Temple Mount.
Defiance accomplishes nothing God has installed His desired King.
Jesus the Christ now speaking in verse 7 says He will speak the LORD’s decree that was spoken to Him.
You are My Son today I have become your Father - other translations say I have begotten you - which is different from saying I have created you.
The eternality and the deity of Jesus is found in these words of God declaring Him as His begotten Son.
Jesus is not created in fact Jesus is the one who created everything!
Thats the importance of the word begotten.
Begotten describes a relationship between two beings of the same essential nature and being, but when something is created it is of different essential being and nature from ourselves.
God begetting Christ says explicitly that Christ is of the same essential nature and being as God.
Today I have begotten you - not that day which the psalmist is writing but this is the day in eternity past that God spoke to Christ His only begotten Son.
There was a time even before the world existed, when the triune God planned the redemption of sinners.
It was that day that the Second Person of the Trinity agreed to be incarnated with flesh in the fullness of time.
God Anointed Christ then to become King through the work of redemption and no one can overturn it for God decreed it.
The rule and reign of Christ is established in redemption
Christ rules the nations.
The Father is so pleased in the Son He offers a great inheritance just for the asking.
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