There are three words you find in Psalm 2: Rebellion, Righteousness, & Redemption
We find in this chapter 3 main characters:
This is divided into four sections like 4 verses in a hymn… but there are three distinct voices that we here when we read this passage.
Listen to recording here: Podbean Recording.
One. This is the voice of Rebellion. (vs 1-3)
Two. This is the voice of the Righteous One. (vs 4 - 9)
Three. This is the voice of the Redeemer (& judge). (vs 10-12)
This Psalm is considered to be a Messianic passage - pointing to the One :: Jesus Christ.
It’s believe that this was actually the first psalm that David wrote. The first chapter is a bit of an overview by king Solomon as he put together these books that we know as part of the wisdom literature. Psalm and Proverbs are part of that wisdom literature as is the book of Job.
Who are these kings? As illustration we could look to the leader of the Philippines: “President Rodrigo Duterte faced growing outrage today in his largely Catholic nation after calling God “stupid”, the latest of his candid speeches was sparked with an unfiltered broadside. Duterte took aim at the biblical creation story during a speech, raising the question of why God would create Adam and Eve and then expose them to temptation.
Acts 4:24-26
And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, “O Lord, it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM, who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,
‘WHY DID THE GENTILES RAGE, AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS?
‘THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.’ (See also Eph 1:21-23)
Psalm 2 & Proverbs 2
N.T. Wright once wrote of special occasions in his reading of the Psalms.
Trying to pick out individual psalms and their particular impact is like trying to remember particular breakfasts that I have eaten. Cereal and toast, bacon and eggs, pancakes and syrup, coffee and juice—whichever it is, it’s important, and if I have to skip it for whatever reason, the day gets off to a bad start. I remember the breakfast I had in the observation car on a Canadian Pacific train as the sun came up over Lake Superior. I remember staying with my grandparents in the country and having boiled eggs freshly laid by the hens that morning. I well remember breakfast on the first morning of our honeymoon. It’s the special occasions that stand out. So if the psalms I’m now going to talk about have to do with particular occasions, that doesn’t mean that they haven’t all sustained me, day by day and week by week. These are just a few small snapshots from what could be a much larger album.
Often people site the 23rd Psalm as one that is not only memorable but meaningful in their lives. I on the other hand, have a different take on it from an early formation in my young adult years.
One such memorable experience is when I preached at a nursing home on Psalm 23. I may have taken have told you the story but as I begin to preached I remember hearing a woman in the back of the room at the Wesleyan healthcare begin to cry out loud, “Nurse, nurse! Get me out of here!”
She got louder until finally one of the staff assisted her by pushing her down the hall. I figured that I would preach through that situation because that was part of my training and I didn’t think that it mattered to me.
I remember what crossed my mind however, making this memorable, …at the very moment that I heard the woman yell from down the hall, “I can still hear him!” I thought…
…to myself, “maybe I need to look for a different Calling!”
The Psalms are like that. There are times in our lives when we are dependent upon the nature of God‘s word to speak to us as an individual.
Let me share a bit of an overview.
Today we want to talk about three main characters in this book (Psalm 2 & Proverbs 2).
Ps 1 is a summary and overview of the “list of songs” compiled by Solomon.
Psalms 1:1 is a theme passage:
Oh, the joys of those who do not
follow the advice of the wicked,
or stand around with sinners,
or join in with mockers.
—
Perhaps the first Psalm of David’s...
Ps 1 is Solomon’s preface!
https://newsandpews.com/my-life-with-the-psalmsby-john-shelby-spong/
1. The kings of the world :: Rebellion.
Psalms 2:1
Why are the nations so angry?
Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
That was in 2018…
Related to this and more recently, the president said that he would resign if just one person could prove to him that there is a God!
Recorded;
“The 73-year-old leader said if there’s “one single witness” who can prove, perhaps with a picture or a selfie that a human was “able to talk and to see God”, he will immediately resign.”
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/2154205/duterte-vows-resign-if-anybody-can-prove-god-exists
“The 73-year-old leader said if there’s “one single witness” who can prove, perhaps with a picture or a selfie that a human was “able to talk and to see God”, he will immediately resign.”
https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/southeast-asia/article/2154205/duterte-vows-resign-if-anybody-can-prove-god-exists
This psalm, like others are woven throughout the Old Testament and the New Testament. Even referenced by Paul in the book of acts.
Psalms 2:2
The kings of the earth prepare for battle;
the rulers plot together
against the LORD
and against his anointed one.
the rulers plot together
against the LORD
and against his anointed one.
Matthew 24:7
Nations will rise against nation, and Kingdom against Kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places.
Why do people reject the only answer for their troubles?
Why do people ignore the solution?
Psalms 2:3
“Let us break their chains,” they cry,
“and free ourselves from slavery to God.”
People reject biblical answers that begin with God!
Proverbs 2:14-15
They take pleasure in doing wrong,
and they enjoy the twisted ways of evil.
Their actions are crooked,
and their ways are wrong.
2. The Lord (God) : The Righteous One!
Psalms 2:4
But the one who rules in heaven laughs.
The Lord scoffs at them.
Man’s wisdom is foolishness to God!
Proverbs 2:22
But the wicked will be removed from the land, and the treacherous will be uprooted.
New Living Translation
This foolish plan of God is wiser than the wisest of human plans, and God’s weakness is stronger than the greatest of human strength. - 1 Cor. 1:25
Yet, in Jesus we find a different response. Consider Luke 9:51…..
“As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. He sent messengers ahead to a Samaritan village to prepare for his arrival. But the people of the village did not welcome Jesus because he was on his way to Jerusalem. When James and John saw this, they said to Jesus, “Lord, should we call down fire from heaven to burn them up?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them.”
Luke 9:51-55 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/luk.9.51-55.NLT
Psalms 2:7
The king proclaims the LORD’s decree:
“The LORD said to me, ‘You are my son.
Today I have become your Father.
Psalms 2:8
Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,
the whole earth as your possession.
The cross is the answer! Ie :: Kairos cross given as we surrender our identity.
The Lord the king being Jesus
“Now he is far above any ruler or authority or power or leader or anything else—not only in this world but also in the world to come. God has put all things under the authority of Christ and has made him head over all things for the benefit of the church. And the church is his body; it is made full and complete by Christ, who fills all things everywhere with himself.”
Psalms 2:9
You will break them with an iron rod
and smash them like clay pots.’”
This speaks to his final coming when he will destroy those who stand in opposition in that final day.
Proverbs 2:5-6
Then you will understand what it means to fear the LORD,
and you will gain knowledge of God.
For the LORD grants wisdom!
From his mouth come knowledge and understanding.
—-
Proverbs 2:4-6
If you seek her as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Then you will discern the fear of the LORD
And discover the knowledge of God.
For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
3. The King of kings! : Redemption.
Psalms 2:11
Serve the LORD with reverent fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
To the earthly Kings we are being told that they should repent and turn to the King of Kings!
Psalms 2:12
Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry,
and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities—
for his anger flares up in an instant.
But what joy for all who take refuge in him!
Proverbs 2:4-6
If you seek her as silver
And search for her as for hidden treasures;
Then you will discern the fear of the LORD
And discover the knowledge of God.
For the LORD gives wisdom;
From His mouth come knowledge and understanding.
Proverbs 2:21
For the upright will live in the land
And the blameless will remain in it;
Read part 2 of this study: When The World Is Against You…
