Jesus throughout the Scriptures: Psalms 1 (2)
Pray Psalm 2.1-3.
Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
“Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us.”
Sing Psalm 2.1-3.
(Agincourt: O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High)
Why do the nations vainly rage, conspiring together from age to age?
Earth’s kings and all of their couns’lers stand against the LORD and His Right Hand:
“Now let us cast His yoke below, His Kingdom authority overthrow!
Cast off His Law, reject His Word; no more be governed by this LORD!”
Read Psalm 2; meditate on verses 4-6.
Preparation
1. What were the nations doing?
2. How did God respond?
Meditation
Neglect, indifference, or mere superficiality in matters of faith are as abominable to God as outright rebellion. Nations, peoples, governments, institutions, cultures, and individuals who come under any of these categories are subject to the condemnation and wrath of God. And putative Christians who reject the Law of God had better think twice about where they stand in relationship to Him.
The psalms are as relevant to our day as any, for they help us see, not only into our own hearts but into the heart of our world as well. And our world and its hubris, its flippancy toward God, and its rejection of His Law put them in the firing line of His wrath. God mocks the rebellious of this world. But before He comes to pour out His wrath in judgment, He offers them the great gift of grace—The Messiah (v. 2), our Lord Jesus Christ.
God pointing to Jesus in Psalm 2 is what this entire series, “Jesus throughout the Bible”, is all about. In every place in Scripture, many more than we have pointed out thus far, God points the wrong-believing world to Jesus, offering them grace for salvation but warning of judgment to come.
And how does God do this? Through us, His appointed ambassadors and witnesses. Our generation has dropped the baton that was handed to us by the generations of witnesses who preceded us and who even now watch us stumbling and fumbling along in our race (Heb. 12.1, 2). We must take up the baton of witness-bearing, my friends, that the race of faith may continue in the generations to come.
Embrace your Personal Mission Field and work it day by day, pointing your world, like our heavenly Father did, to Jesus.
Treasure Old and New: Matthew 13.52; Psalm 119.162.
The sad wrong-believing world, plus a raft of wrong-thinking and wrong-behaving Christians, are all in dire straits with God. Do any one of them want to be derided and laughed at by God? Is their hubris preventing them from hearing it? “They are like the deaf cobra that stops its ear, which will not heed the voice of charmers, charming ever so skillfully” (Ps. 58.4, 5).
But mistaken thinking, or willful ignorance, does not prevent a thing from being true. And truly, God is greatly displeased, angry even, when anyone does not love and respect His King, His only begotten Son, His Jesus.
“Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little” (Ps. 2.12).
So, why would anyone knowingly poke this bear? Why would it ever be a good idea to rage against God, or to plot vain things against Him and His people? How could this ever be a good idea?
Elihu broached the question of why with Job: “Why do you contend with Him?” (Job 33.13).
And really, as Job eventually saw, there is no sensible answer to that question.
Questioning God, being hubristic with Him, striving against Him, is as useless and silly as the preposterously posing guards at the tomb of Jesus. “So they went and made the tomb secure, sealing the stone and setting the guard” (Matt. 27.66). Right. Who could stop the resurrection? Absolutely no one. Who can contend with God? No one.
And as an aside: those bonds and cords that the Psalm 2 rebellious were cavalierly throwing aside?
The Law of God (Ex. 20.1-17) and the Word of God (Jesus).
And God’s words to Jesus? God’s words of encouragement. God’s Fatherly wrath understood:
“The LORD said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool” (Ps. 110.1).
God will not look favorably on those who are the unrepentant enemies of His Son.
God’s will, will be done on earth as it is in heaven (Matt. 6.10).
“I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion” (Ps. 2.6).
“You are My Son, Today I have begotten You” (Ps. 2.7).
Because of Jesus, we can approach the Father, not with a question, but with a hopeful boldness (Heb. 4.16):
“Hear my prayer, O LORD,
Give ear to my supplications!
In Your faithfulness answer me,
And in Your righteousness.
Do not enter into judgment with Your servant,
For in Your sight no one living is righteous” (Ps. 143.1, 2).
And yet. We are through Jesus. Only Jesus.
And we have the joy of pointing ourselves, and those in our Personal Mission Field, to Jesus.
He is the power of God to salvation for everyone who rightly believes (Rom. 1.16).
“For all the promises of God find their Yes in Him” (2 Cor. 1.20 ESV)!
Reflection
1. How can you know when you are ignoring or just drifting away from God and His ways?
2. Why is this not a good pattern for your life (Heb. 12.3-11)?
3. How can believers help one another to stay on the Jesus Path and not listen to voices that want to pull us off our proper course?
The Lord Jesus has all power both in heaven and in earth, and is Head over all things to the church, notwithstanding the restless endeavors of his enemies. Christ’s throne is set up in his church, that is, in the hearts of all believers. Matthew Henry (1662-1714), Commentary on Psalm 2.1-6
Pray Psalm 2.4-12.
Pray that Christians everywhere will be revived and emboldened to proclaim Jesus to the world. Pray for those you will see today and for an opportunity to speak and point them to the Lord.
Sing Psalm 2.4-12.
(Agincourt: O Love, How Deep, How Broad, How High)
The LORD in heaven laughs in wrath at all who embark on this cursèd path.
His angry Word to them is plain: “Yet shall My King in Zion reign!”
I will declare the LORD’s decree. He said, “My Son I have begotten Thee.
Ask Me, and I will give every land for You to rule as I have planned.”
Be wise, O kings, O judges, hear, and tremble with joy, serve the LORD with fear.
Embrace the Son, keep His wrath at bay, or you shall perish in the way.
His wrath is kindled like a flame at all who refuse to bow to His Name.
Beware His anger and judgment grim: How blessed are all who trust in Him!
T. M. and Susie Moore
If you have found this meditation helpful, take a moment and give thanks to God. Then share what you learned with a friend. This is how the grace of God spreads (2 Cor. 4.15).
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Except as indicated, all Scriptures are taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. For sources of all quotations, see the weekly PDF of this study. All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter.
