August 12, 2005
KISS THE SON!
Psalm 2
The world has recently witnessed the transfer of power in a Middle Eastern monarchy. The king of Saudi Arabia died after a lengthy illness. His brother was immediately declared to be the new king. Following the funeral of the old king, the many princes and tribal and clan leaders of the kingdom came to appear before the new king, and to announce their fealty, their allegiance to the new ruler.
These very recent events give us a context for understanding the psalm we are studying today. Psalm 2 is coronation psalm. It was a psalm that was written to be used at the ascension of a new king in Jerusalem. It is written in carefully constructed poetry, consisting of four strophes or stanzas. In the first stanza, it is assumed that the ascension of a new king is often a time of turmoil and shifting loyalties, a time of rebellion and restlessness in the affairs of nations. The first verse is spoken by either a narrator or a chorus, and describes this turmoil. (Read verses 1-3)
In the second stanza, the words of the narrator or chorus turn our eyes to heaven and God’s view of these efforts by the nations. (Read verses 4-6). The clear message of this section is that God is sovereign. He is on the throne of heaven. He will determine what happens among the kingdoms of the earth. All efforts by men to deny God’s authority and to overthrow his king will ultimately come to nothing. In fact, man’s efforts are so puny as to cause God to laugh. I am reminded of the words of Isaiah, the prophet in Isaiah 14:26: This is the plan determined for the whole world; this is the hand stretched out over all nations. For the LORD Almighty has purposed and who can thwart him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?
In the third stanza, it is the new king himself who speaks. He declares that his authority, his place on the throne is established by appointment from God himself. (Read verses 7-9) This especially picks out the very special role that the kings of Israel played, when they ascended to the throne. Their relationship to the God of the universe was that of a son to a father. They exercised their rule under his banner, as his representative on earth.
In the fourth stanza, the speaker once again is the narrator or the chorus, turning to the assembled leaders and people who have gathered on this Ascension Day. It warns them of the dangers of rebellion and invites them to take the oath of allegiance to the new king. (Read verse 10-12). The picture here of “kissing the Son” describes this expression of allegiance or loyalty. It may have involved kissing the hand, or possibly even the feet. The cultural expression is not what is essential, but the commitment of submission and obedience to the new king is what is important. It also gives words of great assurance and comfort to those who do give their allegiance to the new king. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. The idea of taking refuge is essentially that of coming under the new king’s protection. Just as these ancient lesser kings and rulers expressed their loyalty and service to the new king, they also would enjoy his loyalty and protection.
So, what is the purpose of such a psalm? Apart from being an interesting historical artifact, what does it mean to us today? Apart from giving us a glimpse into God’s purpose and the divine potential of the theocractic monarchy in the Old Testament, how is it relevant? Of all the 150 psalms I could have chosen, why have I chosen this one to preach on today?
Here is a fact that may interest you. Psalm 2 is quoted in the New Testament more times than any other psalm. Does that surprise you? Clearly there is something more going on here than simply a coronation of an Old Testament king. To understand the link between this psalm and the New Testament, turn with me to II Samuel 7.
In the context here, David has declared his intention to build a house, a temple for God. But God sends the prophet Nathan back to David to tell him that he is not going to build a house for God, but rather that God is going to build a “house” or permanent dynasty for David. Part of this great promise was fulfilled in David’s own lifetime. (Read II Samuel 7:8-11a).
Part of this great promise was fulfilled in the lifetime of his son Solomon. (Read II Samuel 7:11b-13a) But in the rest of this great text, God’s promises expand beyond Solomon into the promise of an eternal dynasty. (Read II Samuel 7:13b-16) “A son from your own body will sit on your throne and rule before me forever.”
This passage of Scripture is called, by Bible scholars, the Davidic Covenant. It is one of the great declarations of God’s purpose in history that shape God’s redemptive plan as it unfolds in the Scripture and in the history of the world. This promise shaped the hopes and expectations of devout Jews for generations. Turn back to Psalm 2 and verse 2. Did you notice that as we read it? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. Did you see that? Do you know what the Hebrew word is there for “Anointed One”? Messiah! Do you know what the Greek translation is? Christ!
Suddenly, certain New Testament passages start to shine with new light and ring with new insight. Matthew begins his Gospel, and takes great pains to trace the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David. When Jesus first began to preach and proclaim the kingdom of God, one question arose and swirled around his ministry. Could this be the Christ? The Messiah? And when Jesus was baptized, a voice from heaven spoke. What did it say? It is a quote that rings with echoes from Psalm 2. “This is my Son…” And again when Jesus entered Jerusalem in triumphant procession, what was it the people cried? Hosanna to the Son of David. These titles: Son of David, Son of God, Anointed One, Messiah, Christ, all speak of the fulfillment of God’s promises to David, to put his Son, the Anointed One, Messiah, on his throne and to establish his kingdom forever and ever.
So, with this prophetic dimension of this psalm in mind, let’s look at it again. How will the world, the kingdoms of this earth, respond to his sovereign Lordship? (Read Psalm 2:1-3). They will reject his authority and attempt to cast off his rulership. How did the apostles apply this Scripture? (Read Acts 4:18-20, 23-27)
What about God’s reaction to their rebellion? (Read Psalm 2:4-6). Compare that with Acts 4:28: They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. They thought they were thwarting the plan of God, but instead they simply carried it out! God could laugh at their futile efforts to defy his sovereign plan!
But let’s keep going in Psalm 2:7: I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me: “You are my Son, today I have become your Father.” Literally, it says, “This day I have begotten you.” I do not believe the primary reference here is to the virgin birth, or even the eternal Sonship of Christ. It goes back to the reference of this psalm as a royal or coronation psalm. When did the Old Testament kings assume this honorary title as Son of God? When were they considered to be “begotten by God”? It was when they were declared to be king and ascended to the throne. When did this happen in the case of Jesus’ earthly ministry? I believe we gain insight into this question in Paul’s writing in Romans 1:1-4. Notice the echoes of Psalm 2 in his words: Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God – the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Paul, I believe, has Psalm 2 in mind as he wrote this. What he is saying is that the official proclamation or coronation decree that Jesus, descendant of David was the Anointed One, installed as King forever on Zion, took place when Jesus rose triumphant from the dead.
But it is also important to keep in mind that God has not finished fulfilling this great Messianic psalm. (Read Psalm 2:8-9) This extension of the rule of Christ to all nations, and the expression of his wrath against the nations that refuse his authority has not yet happened. But according to the Book of Revelation, that day is coming. (Read Revelation 19:11-16)
He came the first time as Savior. He died for the sins of the world. His appointment as King and Son of God in this ceremonial sense was declared by his resurrection from the dead. He is coming a second time, to rule over the nations and to judge those who will not submit voluntarily to his reign. It is to this second coming that Paul referred in Philippians 2:9-11: Therefore God exalted him to the highest place, and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The psalm ends with a plea to the rulers and nations of the earth to submit voluntarily to the rule of God’s Anointed One, to come humbly and joyfully and to give the Son the kiss of loyalty and submission. (Read Psalm 2:10-12). The final verse is a promise that is as applicable to the individual as it is to kings and rulers and nations: Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
So, Psalm 2. A coronation psalm for the kings of ancient Israel? Yes, I believe it was that. But it is more than that. It is a prophetic psalm it which God in heaven states his purpose and plan to install his Messiah on the throne as King of Kings and Lord of Lords. So, how do we apply the truth of this psalm to our lives? What lessons or truths can we take away with us to meditate on and ponder during this coming week? Let me suggest several.
First, 1. Opposition to God’s rule and to kingdom work should not surprise us. It is clear from this great prophetic psalm that resistance to God’s rule and to his Anointed One is not new. It was there in the days of Israel’s kings. It was there when Jesus walked on earth. The opposition crystallized and came to full flower when the rulers of Israel themselves took counsel with Gentile rulers to conspire against the Messiah and put him to death. This opposition will continue until Jesus, the Messiah, returns to earth to subdue the nations with the wrath of his judgment. So as the church of Jesus Christ we should not be surprised if we experience opposition as we engage in kingdom work.
The second truth counterbalances the first one. 2. Opposition to God’s rule and to kingdom work should not dismay us. This opposition to God’s work should not cause us to throw up our hands in despair and defeat. Remember the picture of God in heaven, laughing at men’s efforts to thwart his will. Mere mortals cannot stop the work of God. His kingdom shall prevail. As Jesus said to his disciples: I will build my church and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Rather than be dismayed, we should take our cue from the apostles in Acts 4. (Read Acts 4:29-31) Opposition did not make them timid. It made them more bold! Psalm 2 tells us clearly that we are on the winning side. God shall prevail.
Let me cite just one example from recent history. In 1949, the nation of China was taken over by the Communist Party. At that time, after over 100 years of missionary work, it is estimated that there were less than one million believers in all of China. It was part of the Communist manifesto to stamp out all religion. Churches were closed. Christians were persecuted. Many died for their faith. Some thirty years later, as China began to open up again to the rest of the world, and Christians from the west could once again contact Christians within China, do you know what they found? Many estimates placed the number of Christians within China somewhere between 30 and 50 million! I think I can hear God laughing!
The third truth is simply this: 3. The vision of Christ on his throne should inspire all of us as believers to renew our pledge of allegiance to him as our King and to redouble our efforts to spread his kingdom.
The instructions that are given to the kings in Psalm 2 can also be applied as a challenge to us as individuals. Be wise…Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling…Kiss the Son…There is no greater security, there is no better way to invest your life, than in service to the King who shall reign forever and ever. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
The New Testament states it this way: Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness…and all these things shall be added to you. There are many ways to invest our lives, our time, our resources. As we move into a new school and ministry year, there will be many competing voices vying for our loyalty and attention. But none is more important than this. Seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness. It is a fundamental principle that spreads out to permeate every area of life and every choice we make. The king is seated on his throne. To each of us, he extends his hand, wearing the official ring of office. He calls us each by name, asking us for our decision. Where does your loyalty lie? Whom will you serve? Kiss the Son!