The Invincible Kingdom, Psalm 2
Psalms Sermon Series, “Before the Baptist Hymnal”
Pastor Bobby Earls, First Baptist Church, Center Point, Alabama
TEXT: Psalm 2
TOPIC: The Invincible Kingdom
Message 2 – September 9, 2007
1 Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing?
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 break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us."
4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision.
5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure:
6 "Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion."
7 "I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.
8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.' "
10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges 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, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
In the turbulent days of the French Revolution, a political revolutionary stormed the Bastille in Paris, seeking to remove every vestige of law and order from the eyes of its countrymen. He scaled the Cathedral of Notre Dame and tore down the cross from atop its spire, dashing it into pieces on the ground below. The cross, representing the authority of God, lay demolished on the ground for everyone to see. Turning to a poor peasant, the revolter boasted, “We’re going to pull down all that reminds you of your God.” But from the crowd came the challenging reply, “Citizen, then you might as well pull down the stars themselves!”
Such is impossible, and so are the arrogant attempts of sinful man to overthrow the sovereign rule of God. This cosmic revolt is as old as the garden of Eden when the first man, Adam, rose up against the supreme authority of God.
- Tower of Babel
- Pharaoh of Egypt
- Herod to Hitler
All kingdoms, men and nations that rise up against God will be destroyed.
Psalm 2 portrays this ongoing rebellion of a lost world against God and his Son. Although this Psalm has no title, the NT its authorship to David. It looks ahead to a future time in which the promised Messiah, the Lord Jesus Christ will appear on the stage of human history. The revolt of humanity is in reality a revolt against the reign of his Son over all the earth. All such attempts are doomed for failure. So God invites all unbelievers to bow before the Son before it is too late.
I. THE INSURRECTION AGAINST GOD, Psalm 2:1-3
1 Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing?
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 break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us."
A. Men are scheming vainly, Ps. 2:1b
And the people plot a vain thing? Vain is empty, senseless or futile. Such anarchy against God is insane and foolish.
B. Men are standing defiantly, Ps. 2:2
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed,--this global revolt is against His Anointed, (Messias). The early church understood this Psalm referred to Jesus. In Acts 2:32, “This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses.” Hebrews 5:5, So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him:
“You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.”
C. Men are speaking arrogantly, Ps. 2:3
1. Let us break their chains, 3a - "Let us break Their bonds in pieces
2. Let us throw off their cords, 3b - And cast away Their cords from us."
This is the heart of sin: a repudiation of God’s rule in favor of one’s own will which says, “We will not have this man to reign over us.” (Luke 19:14, KJV)
II. THE INDIGNATION OF GOD, Psalm 2:4-6
4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision.
5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure:
6 "Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion."
A. God scoffs in derision, Ps. 2:4 - 4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. (God ridicules or mocks those who rebel against Him). This is another example of parallism in Hebrew poetry.
B. God speaks in displeasure, Ps. 2:5-6
1. He will terrify his adversaries, 5 - 5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: God is angry with the sinner every day.
2. He will enthrone his anointed, 6 - 6 "Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion." Zion is Jerusalem both on earth and in the Eternal Kingdom to come.
III. THE INTENTION OF GOD, Psalms 2:7-9
7 "I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.
8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.' "
A. My Son will rule the nations, Ps. 2:7 - 7 "I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.
B. My Son will inherit the nations, Ps. 2:8 - 8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
C. My Son will judge the nations, Ps. 2:9
1. Breaking them with a rod, 9a - 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron;
2. Shattering them like pottery, 9b - You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.' "
IV. THE INVITATION OF GOD, Psalm 2:10-12
10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges 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, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
A. Be wise, Ps 2:10a - 10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
B. Be warned, Ps 2:10b - Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
C. Serve the Lord, Ps 2:11a - 11 Serve the Lord with fear,
D. Rejoice with trembling, Ps 2:11b - And rejoice with trembling.
E. Kiss the Son, 12 - 12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, like a subject who lowers himself before his king to declare his devotion and allegiance. It is better to bend than to break.
F. Take refuge in Him, Ps 2:12b - Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. To take refuge in the Lord is the same as trusting in Christ as Savior and Lord. Romans 10:9, confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and you will be saved.