The Returned King (Ps 2.7)
In Psalm 1 we have the Lord Jesus portrayed in His moral glory as the happy (blessed) man. Psalm 2 brings us farther on in time and reveals the Lord in His official glory as the honoured King. In the former psalm He is likened to a tree, in the latter He is sitting upon the Throne. Psalm 1 begins with "Blessed" while Psalm 2 ends with blessing. What is unique about the second psalm is the fact that v.7 is the only numbered reference to any Old Testament passage in the New Testament (Acts 13.33), confirming the thought that even the placing of the psalms is of a divine order. Also very noticeable is the fact that this unique Messianic Psalm is quoted seven times in the New Testament (Acts 4.25-26; 13.33; Heb 1.5; 5.5; Rev 2.27; 12.5; 19.15). It is a psalm bringing us to "the Day of the Lord," when in power and majesty He shall come to reign, whose right it is to reign. As in all prophecies, we have in this psalm a partial (near range) fulfilment and a complete (far range) fulfilment, the former being at the trial of Christ ere going to Calvary (Acts 4.25-28), the latter yet to commence at the end of the Great Tribulation.
This psalm also affords us four titles of our Lord: the Anointed (v.2), My King (v.6), My Son (v.7) and the Lord (Jehovah) (v.11) bringing before us the absolute deity of Jesus our Saviour. Being a song, this psalm is divided into four stanzas of three verses each. The raging nations assembling against God (vv.1-3); a laughing God, and His reply against them (vv.4-6); a proclaiming Christ, declaring God’s decree (vv.7-9); an advising Holy Spirit calling for the nations to submit, and thus emphasising the Godhead’s relationship to man (vv.10-12).
Man’s attitude toward God has not changed through the years of so called "advancement". In our day the anti-Christian confederacy is forming rapidly. The hatred of the human heart against God is only too evident, and characteristics of the Great Tribulation are forming now before our very eyes! "Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us" (v.3) is even the cry today! "Let us be free to commit all manner of sin, away with restraint!" As Eve acted on the lie of the serpent and dethroned God in her heart, so today we find the same attitude in the hearts of fallen humanity. The "bands" are that which fasten the yoke to the neck of the animal, and the "cords" are the reins which guide and keep the animal under control. Man seeks in his heart to cast these off individually now, but in that coming day the nations will throng together, or "tumultuously assemble" (the meaning of the word "rage" in v.1) seeking to accomplish this very thing nationally. The kings of the earth shall "set themselves" (v.2). This is in the present tense, indicating a continual, deliberate and hostile attitude toward God. The rulers will "take counsel" (past tense) showing that this conspiracy and confederacy will precede the mustering of their armies. The whole scene is one of hatred and rebellion against God.
Now the second stanza breaks in. "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord (Adonai) shall have them in derision" (ridicule, scorn) (v.4). It is not as Jehovah, the covenant God of Israel, but as Adonai, the sovereign ruler of the world that He will look upon all their efforts with contempt. How futile all their attempts will be, enough to cause the Almighty to laugh. God laughs, then speaks. Unlike mortal men, divine persons accomplish their desires simply by speaking. God will vex them in His wrath (v.5) seen in the final series of judgments of the book of Revelation. God has determined, and all the forces of hell cannot stay it, that He will set His King upon His holy hill of Zion (v.6).
Christ in the third stanza speaks. "I will declare the decree." He makes a public announcement of what has been eternally predestined and appointed in the everlasting covenant. "The Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee" (v.7). In other words, "This day I have declared and manifested Thee to be my Son by investing Thee with Thy kingly dignity and placing Thee on Thy throne". Thus Christ proclaims the Father’s counsel concerning Him. He always was the eternal Son, but in that day, ere He sets up His earthly kingdom, God, in His salute, will make public manifestation of Christ’s Sonship. His second coming will be the most complete vindication of His Sonship. Before the Lord went to Calvary He prayed not for the world but for His own children (Jn 17.9), but when His redeemed are finally at home with Himself (the Rapture) His priestly ministrations will cease and then He will ask for the world, and receive from His Father’s hand its kingdoms. With a rod of iron He will subdue the rebel nations with stern, irresistible rule. He will dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel - their ruin will be certain, irresistible and complete. Then, with a golden sceptre, He shall rule His people, as a priest upon His throne, in righteousness and peace.
The Holy Spirit completes the song with the fourth stanza (vv.10-12) exhorting men to be wise, to serve the Lord with fear, and to rejoice with trembling - a mingled experience as also found in Matthew 28.8: "fear and great joy". "Kiss the Son." Judas bestowed upon Him the kisses of deceitfulness and disloyalty. The kings of the earth and their rulers will be called upon to give their expression of their homage and loyalty to the Son. The word "Son" in v.7 is "Ben" (Hebrew, such as "Ben-jamin" - son of the right hand) while the word "Son" in v.12 is "Bar" (Chaldee, such as "Bar-sabas" - son of rest or return). Thus we have His relation to God (v.7) and to the Gentile governments (v.12) as Son. What a wonderful day for our blessed Lord is yet to come!
In Acts 13; Hebrews 1; Hebrews 5; and Psalm 2 we see the superiority of God’s Son over David, angels, present-day saints and nations. Let us adore Him for His grace, His greatness, His glory and His coming day of governmental rule over all.
Concluded.
