Psalms 2 pt I
- this morning we're going to be looking at a very important,
and a very Timely Psalm--thats Psalm 2 -- let me invite
you to turn there in your Bible.
- just to help us see how timely the message of this Psalm
is--let me ask you to think about this for a moment:
- Practically everyone in our country in the next couple of
weeks is going to be thinking about What? (Christmas)
- you'd just about have to crawl in a box--because
reminders of Christmas are all around us.
- and that’s not just true in our country, but in many
other countries around the world as well.
- everybody's thinking about Christmas//and we probably
even need to strengthen that -- many folks would
even say that this is one of their favorite times of
the year.
- and that many of their favorite memories are from
Christmastime.
- INPUT - now let me ask you this--What are some possible
dangers of the fact that Christmas is such an accepted
and popular holiday?
- I think we could summarize all of this by saying that one
of the greatest dangers of the popularity of the Christmas
season is:
- a person thinking they know and understand God
- or thinking they're in right relationship with God
- simply because they've gotten involved in a holiday
that has some sort of religious significance.
- in fact—that’s one of the reasons we started the Living
Nativity:
- first, just to help folks bring Christ into Christmas,
period -- for some, even that’s a step
- next, to help all of us focus on the full meaning of
Christmas
- not only that He came, but WHY HE CAME.
- now, the point of all of this is--Psalm 2 helps us do the
same thing
- because this Psalm gives us a more complete picture
of who Jesus is -- and what our relationship with
Him is to be like.
- that kind of information is always helpful, but perhaps it
will be especially helpful at Christmas time.
- now, let's read this Psalm together. (notes?)
- Psalm 2 is written by David.
- we know that because Peter quotes this Psalm in Acts 4
and says these are David's words.
- we also know that the fulfillment of this Psalm is Jesus
Christ -- because the NT quotes this psalm in several
places and relates it to the life, death, burial, and
especially the resurrection of Christ.
- now, a very important question to ask is -- what did David
understand these verses to mean?
- it's very important when we're studying the Scripture
to ask things like:
1) who wrote these words?
2) who was he writing to?
3) how would these words have impacted the original
audience?
- the reason we need to ask those kinds of questions is
because that helps us determine how the Psalm applies to
us, and how we should change as a result.
- Psalm 2 is a coronation Psalm
"I have set my king upon the holy hill of Zion"
- the idea is that God had promised David that one of his
descendants would be the Messiah
- and this Psalm looks forward to that day.
- so the context is, the promises (or in this case, covenant)
God made to his servant David.
- now I only want to take a minute on this, but it is
important -- the idea of biblical covenants is an
important theme in the OT.
- and there are four major ones that students of the
Scripture need to know.
1) Abrahamic - Gen. 12
- God promised Abraham (on white board)
- to give him a land.
- to multiply his seed.
- to bless him.
2) Palestinian - to Moses - Deut. 29
- especially develops the promise of the land
3) Davidic - II Sam. 7 (please turn there)
- especially develops the promise of the seed
4) New - Jer. 31
- especially develops the idea of "blessing"
- read II Sam 7:8-17
- the point of all of this is that the context of Psalm 2 is
that God has promised David that the Messiah would come
from his family line
- and that there would be a day in which the Messiah
would be universally followed and universally
worshipped and would be universally adored.
- now think with me about that for a minute--that would have
to creates an automatic tension in David's mind.
- the tension is -- Lord, I'm determined to BELIEVE
everything you've promised to me -- but it's hard to
believe as I look at the events around me.
- he says, as I look at the way those who don't believe
in you live, and how they speak about you and relate
to you
- when I look at the way many even our own nation
live and relate to you...
- THERE'S A TENSION BETWEEN WHAT YOU'VE PROMISED AND WHAT I
OBSERVE.
- and you and I face the exact same issue.
- what do you do in the interim period between the time
God's promises are made, and the time God's promises are
fulfilled?
- that's what Psalm 2 does for us
- while Psalm 1 emphasized God's law
- Psalm 2 emphasizes God's Son who will be King.
- now, you may have noticed as we were reading that the Psalm
breaks down into some natural divisions:
- David begins by telling us we must:
I. Recognize Man's Sinfulness
A. Characteristics in this passage
INPUT - what do you see in verse 1 about the
characteristics of those who don't believe in God?
(rage, NASB - in an uproar, imagine a vain thing)
- by the way, the word imagine in Psalm 2:1 is the
same word as "meditate" in Psalm 1:2.
- those who know God meditate on his law, those who
don't imagine (plot, devise) things that are
vain.
- he tells us in verse 2 who that plotting is against
- INPUT - Who? (the Lord and His anointed.)
- see, we're talking about a battle
- we're talking about two clear sides
1) The Lord and his anointed, and all those who
believe in Him
2) Those who don't, those who won't
- those who want nothing to do with the God of
the Bible
- we're talking about a battle
- now you might say--PV, don't you realize that this is
Christmas!
- don't you realize that we're supposed to talk about
pleasant things like peace on earth and good will to
men?
- that’s one of the great dangers of Christmas.
- we can't talk about peace until we talk about getting
the problem solved that led to the lack of peace to
begin with.
- cf. Soviet/Iraqi peace
- point is--Psalm 2 helps us to think about the war that
exists between the God who created this world, and those
who refuse to believe in Him.
- now verse 3 tells us what it is about the Lord that people
in this world who don't know Him object to the most.
INPUT - what is it?
(his law, his requirements, his way of life)
- the Lord knows exactly what way of life is best for you
and me.
- and it has a lot to do with self-control.
- it has a lot to do with denying self and seeking to love
and minister to others.
- that’s the best way of life.
- that's what it means to live for Christ.
- Jesus' yoke is easy and his burden is light--but it is a
yoke and it is a burden.
- there are some requirements and standards that go with it
- no to earn salvation--but as an evidence of salvation
- see, people who don't know God don't want to hear anything
about that.
- don't want to hear anything about self-control
- don't want to hear anything about restrain or standards
- don't want to hear anything about honoring authority
- even if that authority is the very God of heaven who
knows what is best for you and me.
- we will not have this man to rule over us
- we want to be free to live however we want
- of course the problem with that is--man's freedom always
brings bondage--the Scripture teaches that in many places.
- see, that’s what verses 1 - 3 are talking about.
- men and women vainly thinking, vainly plotting:
- to rid themselves of God
- to rid themselves of God's anoited Son
- to rid themselves of God's standards
- now let think about:
B. Examples in Biblical history
- ... of how specifically people tried to destroy the Savior.
(we could broaden this way out, but think specifically of
how verses 1-3 have come true even in the life of Christ)
INPUT? (Herod, Pharisees, crucifixion)
- one that we could add to this in the next period of
biblical history is found in Acts 4
- let me ask you to take the time to turn there
- (teach through verse 13-31)
- point is-- Peter quoted Psalms 2, saying that we live in a
world where some folks, even when clear undeniable
evidence is set before them about the truth of Christ
- the free gift of salvation in Christ
- the wonderful joy and privilege of knowing Christ and
living for Him.
- some will still reject it
- some will still try to suppress it
- some will still say--we don't want that to be any part of
us
- we don't want anything to do with that
- "You can't talk way around here"
- I Think you realize—that’s exactly where we are today.
- in fact, I'm sure if I opened it up at this point to
hear ways you've seen Psalms 2:1-3 evidenced today, we
could spend the rest of our time just citing examples.
- let me just mention one we saw this week, of people who
have concluded.
- cf. - wife having an affair with another man
- apparently she said--I don't care what God says about
being faithful to my marriage vows
- I'm not going to be restrained by that
- her husband found out about it
- apparently he said--I don't care what God says about
murder.
- I'm not going to be restrained by that.
- you may have read about the grisly result of that in
this weeks paper--where the man got a machette--cut off
the head of the lover, put in a plastic bag, and put it
next to his wife's bed.
- "you've come a long way, baby!"
- look where unbridled freedom has taken us as a
society.
- see, God promised David that the Messiah would come out of
His own lineage, and that men and women would love the
Messiah, and worship the Messiah, and live for the
Messiah.
- like David, we might be tempted to say--Where's the
evidence?
-now, before we leave that idea-I think we need to
strongly remind ourselves that the characteristics of
Psalms 2:1-3 could be true of you or I to some degree.
- see, can you think of areas of life where you have not
given Jesus Christ the place of prominence He deserves?
- as a husband this week, was it very evident that you
considered being a Christ-like husband a high priority?
- a burden that was light and a yoke that was easy?
- as a wife--was it obvious that you desired to be like our
submissive savior in your relationship to your mate?
- and we could go on and on through all sorts of
relationships, but you get the point--you and I are not
immune from habits that would say--"God's way in this
situation would just be too restrictive"
- I know the Bible says "such and such," but in this
situation my way is best!
- and David says to our unbelieving world, and even to us
when we're not living for Christ:
II. Hear God's Response To All Of This
- if you didn't know the God of the Bible, you might
think that all of this scheming and planning and
ignoring WOULD INTIMIDATE HIM.
- maybe He'll change His plans--maybe He'll change His ways
- maybe He'll crumble in the face of all this opposition!
- what does verse 4 say?
- He sits in the heavens.
- one writer said this verse pictures "calm and serene
dignity that characterizes Him that is so far removed
from the littleness of men."
- What else does the passage tell us? (He laughs)
- not that He's laughing at sin.
- the next verse says God will show His anger at sin.
- Our Savior wept at the sinfulness of men
- this is not some joke
- but the point is -- look at how absurd and ridiculous this
scene is
- of men and women who were created by God, living in
His world
- yet trying to live apart from Him.
- verse 5 says God speaks in anger.
- it angers God when men and women don't acknowledge His Son
- it angers Him when they don't live for His Son.
- illus - painting of wealthy art collector's son.
- point is--men and women can choose to live like the
characteristics outlined in verses 1-3, but they can't do
so without invoking the anger of God.
- the Lord finishes that part of the response in verse 6 when
He said -- "I have set my king upon the holy hill of Zion"
- "I have installed my king upon Zion, My holy mountain"
- in other words--David "it's a done deal"
- we can speak about it as if it's already happened.
- you can mark it down--regardless of what men say or how
they respond
- Jesus Christ is the King.
- now, the next three verses help us to:
III. Grow In Our Understanding Of Him
- verse 7 says: (READ)
A. God loves His Son
- there are several times in the life of Christ where
this message is proclaimed very clearly.
INPUT - can you think of some times where the Father
communicated audibly that Jesus was His Son?
1) baptism
2) transfiguration
- Peter in Acts 4 ties these words to the resurrection.
- see, we know a lot more about these verses than
David did, because we know they are being fulfilled
in the life of our Savior.
- and thinking through the argument of this Psalm helps us to
understand the Christmas message.
- we're not just talking about a babe in a manger and
peace on earth and everyone ought to feel real good
and have a great time.
- we can't have peace until we have the problem solved.
- men and women are born with a war going on in their own
souls of opposition to God and His Son.
- it may be active opposition--it may just be passive
opposition
- but the Scripture says
- God laughs at attempts to ignore Him, or suppress Him
- and God is angry at attempts to ignore Him or suppress Him
- there's a real problem here
- but God has also done something about it
- He's set His Son "upon the Holy Hill of Zion"
- now, some folks might say, "well, I don't see Jesus
reigning today."
- hey, don't be so sure
- it's true that these verses will ultimately be fulfilled
when Christ establishes his millennial kingdom on this
earth in the future...
- but the Scripture very clearly teaches that Christ is
ruling and reigning in the hearts and lives of men and
women who have trusted Him as savior right now.
- that’s why Paul told the Colossians -- God "hath
delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath
translated us into the kingdom of His dear Son."
- that’s what verse 8 is all about (read Psalm 2:8)
(B. Many will trust Him and become His inheritance)
- verse 9 tells us that those who don't believe will be
severely judged.
C. Those who don't will be severely judged
- now, the question is--how should all of this affect us?
- how did David want it to affect his readers?
- he tells us that in the last three verses:
IV. Fulfill Your Responsibilities to Him
- INPUT - what's the first expected result of this
according to verse 10?
A. Be wise
- people who move away from the characteristics
listed in verses 1-3 are wise.
- as you and I recognize the vanity of trying to live
apart from God and His principles -- and make the
changes that go along with that recognition--we're
growing in wisdom.
- as you and I change from seeing the Word of God
and the law of God as something that is "BINDING"
and "RESTRICTING" to something that is freeing and
liberating--we're growing in wisdom.
- the Word of God "makes wise the simple."
- the Lord wants the full message of Jesus Christ to
result in wisdom.
- what's the next result according to verse 11?
B. Serve the Lord with fear
- we're not talking about "cowering fear"
- but the concepts we're talking about this morning
ought to produce a reverence and an "awe" of God
and His plan.
- it's the opposite of serving the Lord in a
- "nonchalant" fashion.
- INPUT - what would you say are some
characteristics of a person who serves "non-
chalantly?" (tie to the Nativity)
C. Rejoice with trembling
- what we're talking about this morning is cause for
great joy.
- but why might that joy be mixed with trembling?
D. Kiss the Son
- INPUT - what does it mean to "kiss the Son"
(give the respect He deserves)
- INPUT - how might a person "kiss the Son" this
week?
E. Trust in Him