The
book of Psalms has been a precious possession of the Christian Church
and the Christian believer. More than any other book in the Bible, the
book of Psalms has influenced the life of the worshipping congregation
and the life of the individual believer. The Psalms have become an
integral part of Christian worship. The Psalms have provided numerous
patterns for the believer’s personal prayer life. Again and again, the
Psalms point beyond themselves to the Lord Jesus Christ. This is
especially true of Psalm 2, which is one of the Messianic Psalms, one of
the Psalms which point clearly to the Christ. This Psalm has been
called the “Messiah’s Psalm.” It is the Psalm of “God and His Anointed”
(or God and His Christ). This twelve-verse Psalm can be broken down into
four three-verse sections. The first section introduces us to “the
kings of the earth.” The second section introduces us to “the heavenly
King.” The third section introduces us to God’s Anointed (or Christ).
The final section leaves us with a warning. vs. 1-3 This opening section
speaks to us of rebellion against God. As the Psalm continues, it
becomes clear that rebellion against God and His Christ is futile. It
becomes clear that God alone is the Lord of universal history. It
becomes clear that the kings of the earth have a limited power, a
derived power. “Do you not know that I have power to release you and the
power to crucify you?” – This was the question put to Jesus by Pilate.
“You would have no power over Me unless it had been given you from
above.” This was the answer, given by Jesus, to Pilate’s question (John
19:10-11). In the first two sections of Psalm 2, we have a direct
contrast between the power of man and the power of God. vs. 4-6 When we
move from the first section to the second section, we discover an abrupt
change of scene and mood. The agitation and rebellion on earth are
confronted by the sublime peace that reigns in heaven. The helpless
kings of the earth are confronted by the superior might of God, who is
the King of heaven. It’s like a race of pygmies being brought
face-to-face with a giant! When we understand this contrast between the
power of man and the power of God, we learn to put our trust in God.
Even when we are living in an extremely troubled world, a world filled
with strife and rebellion, we will live with confidence in God, who is
greater than all our circumstances. As we think of the contrast drawn in
the first six verses of Psalm 2, it becomes clear that it is not a
contrast between a passive power of a God who sits in heaven, doing
nothing, and the active and busy power of the kings of the earth. Our
God, the King of heaven, is not a passive God. He is the active God. He
is the God, who has set his king on Zion (v. 6). This has reference to
the installation of the king of Israel as God’s anointed. vs. 7-9 As we
read the description of the Lord’s anointed, it becomes increasingly
clear that this description, while applicable to human kings, who were
chosen by God, looks forward to the coming of Christ for its ultimate
fulfilment. The ‘prophecies’, found in vs. 7-9, have not yet been
completely fulfilled. These verses speak of the triumph of the Messiah.
This triumph is the triumph of the Crucified. In principle, this triumph
was achieved at Calvary. It will not, be fully revealed until Christ’s
Second Coming, when it become clear that He is “King of kings and Lord
of lords.” The message of Christ’s Second Coming comes to us as a word
of hope and a word of warning. vs. 10-12 This closing section contains
elements of both hope and warning. Here, we have a message for the
rulers of the earth. The would-be lords of the earth are being
confronted by the living reality of God and His Anointed (or Christ). In
1 Corinthians 1:26-31, we learn that no human glory can compete with
the glory of God. If a “mighty” man is to be saved, he must humble
himself before Almighty God and serve Him with fear and trembling. There
is only one way to be saved. We must travel the humble way of the
Cross. This is the way of bowing at the feet of the Saviour in humble
submission. The ultimate meaning of this Psalm concerns the recognition
of God as Lord of the earth. Man’s relation to God is serious. He who
lives his life in the fear of God will keep his life. He who who does
not fear God will lose his life. He stands under the judgment of God.
This warning can become the route to hope. Take the warning seriously
and you will enter into the blessing promised in the Psalm’s final
words: “Blessed are all who trust in Him” (v. 12).
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