Sermon Cloud

In his 2002 state of the union speech, president Bush in the wake of September 11, 2001 gave his justification for going to war with Iraq, by lumping Iraq and the nations of Iran and North Korea together with their terrorist allies and calling them “an axis of evil arming to threaten the peace of the world.” The president was using a traditional rhetorical convention used by presidents in the past to make their case for war. Such presidents present themselves as the hero with extraordinary presidential powers as the commander in chief standing up to oppose evil forces in the world. As a result, “dissent is minimized, enemies are vilified, and the nation is once again united under God.” The impression that it leaves in our minds is we are the good guys and they are the bad guys and most importantly – God is on our side and will help us defeat the Axis of Evil. When we come to Psalm 2 we often do something similar – we vilify and apply these warnings to “evil” figures like Adolf Hitler, Sadaam Hussein, Osama bin Laden and nations like Iran, Syria and Sudan, and North Korea or even political movements such as fascism, communism, or the tyranny of kings and dictators. The truth is we would not be wrong to do so. It applies to any nation or ruler that rejects the message of the gospel. But the message of Psalm 2 is much broader for it describes the cosmic conflict between the kingdom of God and rebellious fallen humanity. Therefore the warnings apply not only to such nations and political figures but to each one of us. Therefore Psalm 2 gives us some bad news about our rebellious ways. But it has some good news too. Which would you prefer to hear first?

1. The Bad News First

   1. We are all rebels – each and every one of us.

      • Humanity's rebellion began with the very first human beings

1.  
   1.  

      • Adam and Eve knew God's requirements but raised their fists toward his throne.

1.  
   1.  

      • They placed themselves in the position of God and decided for themselves what was right and wrong.

1.  
   1.  

      • This was rebellion – an act of treason against their maker and king.

      • Ever since, humanity has been in rebellion against God.

   2. The Psalmist wants to clearly state this fact: God has appointed a day when he will bring all rebellion on earth to and end!

      • As the rebellious nations and rulers take their stand against the Lord and his annointed one, a laugh is heard from heaven.

      • What we can discern from this laugh is that this act of rebellion is futile.

      • As Pilate sat in judgment of Christ: “Don't you now I have the power to release you?”

      • But Jesus corrected Pilate: You would have no authority over me unless it had been granted to you from above.”

      • These kings and rulers have been put there by God.

      • Their power and authority comes from him – what can these people do to God?

   3. Here also God shows common grace towards rebels.

      • Every molecule in Eve's arm was held together by God's power when she took a bite of the forbidden fruit.

      • The very breath they use to speak their rebellious speech and curses of God could be taken from them in an instant.

      • But God, in his mercy allows them to speak and their sin to go unpunished until the great day of judgment.

   4. The Psalm begins with a question: Why are they rebelling? What is the basis for this?

      • They view God as a threat to their independence and autonomy.

      • They believe to be under authority is to be in bondage – to be chained and shackled.

      • Do they have a legitimate case? NO! God's justice is perfect and his reign righteous. (S)

      • Children sometimes misinterpret a parents authority as oppression.

      • If the parent will not allow them to have their way the might say they are being “mean”.

      • So the tendency is to break off parental chains and to stand against them.

      • Yet it is out of a deep love for their children that parents make rules and set boundaries for their children.

      • Being submissive to their parents authority often results in great freedom where rebellion has the opposite effect.

      • When rebellion occurs in the home the response is often some form of punishment.

      • IN this case the punishment is very severe – it is pure righteous justice.

   5. To rebel against the divine authority is to imagine a vain thing.

      • The One enthroned in heaven will laugh at your silly rebellion.

      • God owns everything, as Psalm 24:1 states: “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.”

      • We belong to him. He made us for HIS glory alone! We don't exist for ourselves.

      • Its when we think we ARE here for ourselves that we rebel and this is sin.

      • Romans 6:23 – The wages of sin is death. True justice says we deserve to perish.

      • Therefore you kings, be wise; be warned you rulers of the earth. Don't even bother!

      • Don't you see – his son is on the Zion's throne and all the earth belongs to him!

2. Who is the Son in Psalm 2? He seems to be at the center of whats going on.

   1. This is known as a royal Psalm and it describes the nature of kingship in relation to God.

1.  
   1.  

      • Cultures of the Ancient Near East believed kings were established by divine appointment.

      • Some were seen as having been engendered by their chief god.

      • In the Bible this relationship between the king and God is one established by a covenant – the father/son language is covenantal.

      • We see this with Adam – he is placed in a position where he represents God as a lieutenant-king to all of creation as his image and has been given authority over the animals.

      • For Example: God made a covenant with David saying of his offspring: “I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son.” (2 Sam 7:13-14)

      • This was an important declaration for now we know that this was ultimately fulfilled by our Lord Jesus Christ. (This Psalm is quoted more in the NT than any other Psalm!)

      • He is the King whose throne has been established on Mt. Zion.

      • He is the Son of God and has been give all authority in heaven and on earth.

   2. This Psalm then gives us a perspective on Jesus that we often overlook.

      • We often view him in soft light – just a nice guy who said nice things.

      • We've tamed him therefore he no longer ravishes or amazes us!

      • CS Lewis had the right idea: Beavers speak of Aslan the Great Lion - “Is he safe?”

      • Yes he came the first time in humility – he made himself nothing.

      • But we read in Revelation when he comes again he comes as judge!

      • Every eye will see him coming and all the tribes of the earth will mourn.

1.  
   1.  

      • And in Revelation 6:15 we read: “¹⁵ Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. ¹⁶ They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! ¹⁷ For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?”

      • Jesus said: All authority has been given to me.” (Matt 28:18)

      • He rules today and holds an iron sceptre in his hand.

1.  
   1.  

      • When King Jesus returns he will engage in battle and “dash them to pieces like pottery.”

1.  
   1.  

      • (There is only one way to demonstrate this).

1.  
   1.  

      • What a dreadful day that will be when King Jesus we shall see.

1.  
   1.  

      • No, Aslan is not a safe or tame lion...but he is good.

      • He desires not the destruction of the wicked but their repentance.

      • Therefore his coming doesn't have to be dreadful! And that's where the good news comes in!

3. The Good News

   1. A good grasp of the seriousness of the warning leads us to fully appreciate the way out.

      • The same King who is coming to judge is the way out of trouble!

      • How will you escape the wrath of the LORD's son the king?

      • The Son! Pay homage to him – fall on your knees and kiss his holy feet!

      • Acknowledge your rebellious spirit and your sinful disposition!

      • Pour contempt on your treasonous heart and cry out to him who can rescue you!

      • Maybe you are hearing this and are tempted to harden your heart against his majesty!

      • Such hardness will cause you to sink deeper into sin and rebellion.

      • Remember the thread Mike mentioned last week: Going forward seems to lead us into danger but the truth is its the only way out!

      • Therefore don't turn back. Don't run away from him.

      • Instead run TO him in humbleness, follow the thread which leads to his throne of grace!

      • Fall down at his feet and freely receive his mercy and forgiveness.

      • Worship him and receive the grace he wants to pour out on rebels like you and me.

   2. The last verse says “How blessed are all who take refuge in him!”

      • The English word “blessed” does not fully capture the Hebrew word used in the Psalm.

      • “How happy!” This word communicates “a heightened state of happiness and joy, implying very favorable circumstance and enjoyment.” (DBL)

      • It implies that the “blessed” ones are so happy in their circumstances that those on the outside looking on are jealous of their happiness!

      • How do we enter into such a state of happiness and blessedness?

      • We take refuge in the Lord's Son the king.

      • To take refuge means to go to a place where one will find safety, rest, or comfort.

      • This implies the place of refuge is a place to be trusted to keep one safe. (DBL)

      • Have you been living in rebellion towards the king?

      • If you have, be honest with yourself: are you happy or miserable?

      • Be miserable no more! Take refuge in the Son!

      • Confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Rom.10:9)

      • “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” (Rom. 10:13)

When we take refuge in the Son, looming judgment becomes a comfort! If you are a refugee in Jesus, expect his enemies to aim at you now. Jesus said: “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. ^19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. (John 15:18) Those rebelling against King Jesus will persecute those who are loyal. The earliest Christians experienced this and suffered for their faith and found encouragement in the fact that though it seems the whole world is out of control and evil prevails everywhere, God is on his holy throne. He has established the throne of Christ and has placed all authority and power under him. Fear not, Jesus reigns. He has not lost control, but is patiently calling for rebels like you and like me to repent and take refuge in him before that dreadful day of judgment comes. And he has commissioned us to go and tell other rebels where to find safety and true happiness. He calls those who have received this grace and pardon to tell others that only in Jesus will they experience true happiness. There is no better thing than to experience the Lord's favor and to know his love.