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Psalm 2 was one of the
"Royal Psalms" Israel sang at coronation ceremonies for kings descended
from David. During the ceremony, the prophet or priest anointed the new
king with oil, which represented God's empowering Holy Spirit (see
Bare Roots 6.4). This set the king apart as
God's "anointed one" (English) or "messiah" (Hebrew) or "christ" (Greek).
During the ceremony, the Lord also "adopted" the new king, making him a
"son of God" (see Bare Roots
6.2).
King David had subdued the surrounding Gentile nations, forcing them to
pay tribute to Israel (see, for example, 2 Samuel 8). Whenever a new king
took the throne, the leaders of those subject nations hoped for a weaker
ruler and a chance to break free from his control.
Against this background, the worship leader and/or choir sang the first
part of Psalm 2:
Why do the nations (or "Gentiles" -- Hebrew
goiim, Greek ethne) conspire and the peoples plot in
vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather
together against the LORD and against His anointed one. "Let us break
their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters."
The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the LORD scoffs at
them. Then He rebukes them in His anger and terrifies them in His wrath, saying, "I
have installed my king on Zion, my holy hill." (Psalm
2:1-6, NIV)
Next, the newly-crowned
davidic king stood and chanted the second part of the song:
I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said
to me, "You are my son; today
I have become your Father. Ask of me,
and I will make the nations (or "Gentiles") your inheritance, the ends of the earth
your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces
like pottery." (Psalm 2:7-9)
Then the choir concluded the hymn with a warning
to anyone plotting rebellion:
Therefore, you kings,
be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with
fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the son, lest he be angry and you
will be destroyed in your way; for his wrath can flare
up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
(Psalm 2:10-12)
A thousand years later, the first Christians
recognized Jesus as the ultimate Messiah or Christ, whom God publicly
anointed with His Spirit at his baptism (see Matthew 3:16). They
recognized Jesus as the
ultimate Son of God, who was conceived in a virgin by
God's Holy Spirit apart from a human father (see Matthew 1:18-25; Luke 1:26-38;
compare Hebrews 1:4-5; 5:5). They knelt before Jesus as the ultimate Davidic King and the
rightful Lord of all nations (see Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 2:36).
However, many powerful people rejected King Jesus and his Rule, and
their opposition reminded early believers of Psalm 2. For example, Acts 4
describes how the high priests and other Jewish leaders arrested Peter and
John, threatened them, and commanded them to stop speaking in Jesus'
name.
When [the other Christians] heard this, they
raised their voices together in prayer to God. "Sovereign Lord,...You
spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father
David: 'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings
of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the
Lord and against His Anointed One.' Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate
met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to
conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed...Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to
speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and
perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant
Jesus." After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were
all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God
boldly. (Acts 4:24-31)
Those who oppose the Son of David often direct
their wrath toward his followers. However, King Jesus offers a promise to all who stand firm with him:
To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give
authority over the nations -- "He will rule them with an iron scepter;
he will dash them to pieces like pottery" -- just as I have received
authority from my Father. (Revelation 2:26-27; compare
19:15)
Reflect...
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Early Christians called Jesus "Messiah," "Christ,"
and "Son of God." Against the background of Psalm 2, what do these
titles
mean?
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Is it possible to stand "against His Anointed
One" but not "against the LORD"? Why or why not?
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Where do you see opposition to King
Jesus today, and why do so many reject him?
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What are some specific ways you need to "kiss the Son,"
showing loyalty to him? | 