Psalm 2

Corey Fabricatore

Psalm 2 • Sermon • Submitted a year ago • Presented a year ago

The Great Tribulation

0 ratings

· 3 views

Notes

Transcript

Thesis

Jesus, Speaking through the Psalmist, with his inevitable Millennial Reign in mind, is warning the unregenerate in the worldly system, specifically those in the tribulation period, to turn away from their rebellious plots against YHWH, and to come under the subjection of himself before its too late.

OT passages regarding the Tribulation

Isaiah 7, 30, Ezekiel 13, Zechariah 14; Joel 1, 2; Zephaniah 1.

OT passages regarding the Millennial Reign

Isaiah 9, 11, 16, 35, 55; Micha 4

Context

V. 5 and 6 set the context. God’s wrath and fury against them (the kings of all the earth [v.2]) coupled with the kingship of the Anointed One (Jesus) speaks of this being in the tribulation into the Millennial Reign, because Christ’s coronation does not occur until the Millennial Reign.

some supporting verses id like to address:

i) Notice in Psalm 2:2, and this is key to understanding the context of the Psalm, it is all of the rulers and all of the Kings of the earth

ii) Theroughout history, most of the rulers of the world, even as we see it today, are predominantly secular and against, and even hostile against Christ and the Father. But has there been a time in history as we know it where ALL of the rulers and kings of the earth conspired together for the purpose of autonomy, and conspiring against God? I would advocate for no on that. I would propose to you that because this has never happened, that this still has yet to occur. and I think we see when this even takes, and its in Revelation 19. I would further observe that the context of V.5 and 6 that this is in a time where god is pouring out wrath and fury, and inaugurating a King in Zion.

iii) **Have someone read Revelation 19:17-19

iv) Have someone Read V.20, and tie it back to V.1

v) Make it clear that these verses are affirming the context of the tribulation time frame

Speaker

: Although David is confirmed as the writer of this Psalm in Acts 4:24-26, after looking at the grammatical structure of Psalm 2, I believe the “I” which starts verse 7 is the speaking in the first 6 verses of the Psalm, as well as the rest of the Psalm. The details in verse 7 paint a very clear picture that the person speaking here is non-other than the pre-incarnate Jesus in the first person through the Psalmist. Some object to this saying the speaker is King David because verse 12 makes clear references to Jesus in the second and third person. But I personally do not find an issue with this. *READ John 3:14-15; Mark 13:26-27* These are just two instances where Jesus while in his earthly ministry referred to himself in the second person, so this is consistent with Psalm 2:12. In fact, I would propose to you that this occurs far more frequent in the Psalms than scholars care to admit. Just off of the top of my head, Psalm 16, Psalm 22, Psalm 110, and all of the imprecatory Psalms of which there are 14, just to name a few that I am more familiar with.

However, Just to be sure this is an appropriate conclusion, let’s turn to the prophet Isaiah 13 and we will be looking at verses 9-13. In this context, the prophet Isaiah is writing about the fall of future Babylon in the 7-year tribulation or what is also called the Day of the Lord. Keeping in mind Isaiah is writing this I see some very interesting observations in the text. V, 9 sets the context

V.11 “I (first person singular) will punish the world… I will put an end to pomp

V.12 “I (again speaking in the first person singular) will make people rare”

V.13 “I will make the heavens tremble”

So there are only two options to consider here, either the prophet Isaiah speaking about himself is going to punish the world, put an end to all pomp and arrogance, execute judgment that has a massive death toll on the earth, and make the heavens tremble, Or Jesus, like I suspect in Psalm 2 is speaking through the hands of the prophet about a future time, and by the way David is confirmed as a prophet in the New Testament (Acts 2:30). Allow me just read this to you, Peter is speaking here on the sermon of Pentacost saying: “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. 30 Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, 31 he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption.”

1) In V.1-3 The Psalmist exposes the folly of the unregenerate who align themselves with the creation and not with Jesus. They vainly try to undercut his authority, despite his sovereignty.

a) In V. 1 at the beginning of the Psalm, we see a rhetorical question being asked by Christ which implies negative connotation, and this question is why do the nation’s rage and conspire against Jesus. The word that’s used for rage, which can also be translated the “nations noisily assembled” is actually the same exact word that’s used to describe how people came thronging in to accuse Daniel in Daniel 6 when they conspired to have no one but the king worshipped for 30 days.

Satan is described as having authority over the world systems, he is called the prince of the power of the air, the god of this age and many more like it, it should come as no surprise that the governments of the world, its institutions, ran by those who are blinded by Satan would naturally be in opposition to God as their default status, just as we were prior to our regeneration and conversion. As a result, since the beginning the nations rage against YHWH. 30 seconds of watching the news, you see that today is no different. Scripture tells us that even at the end of the tribulation period at the battle of Armageddon and at the end of the millennial reign of Christ at the final satanic rebellion, nations will seek to conspire and rage against God.

b) He follows this up with its all in vain. God accomplishes his will always, 100% of the time. In fact, God said through the Prophet Isaiah in the 55thchapter, that when words leave God’s mouth, they do not and cannot return to Him as void. God will accomplish his will because he is sovereign and totally in control of every conceivable circumstance. In fact, he will even make you think your accomplishing your will so it makes you react in a certain way, so it will accomplish his will (Revelation 17:17)

i) Cross reference Psalm 2:1 with Revelation 11:18

c) In V.2 We see Jesus painting the picture and elaborating a little bit more on the rhetorical question he asked in V.1 elaborating on the rhetorical question he asks in V.1. In other words, Jesus made a claim by the asking of the rhetorical question, and in v.2 He is presenting the evidence to said claim.

All of the kings and rulers of the earth are united As previously discussed, from old testament Pagan days, to King Herod and Pontius Pilate in Jesus day, from then to today and in the future, there are few in power that align themselves with God, they most often align themselves against God.

V.2 makes a clear distinction that they are specifically against both YHWH (the Father) and YHWH’S Anointed One (the Son). We should know that Jesus is the Anointed One from God as described throughout the Bible. Phillip and Nathaniel did not have the entire cannon of scripture like we do today, but just with the Hebrew Bible, our Old Testament, John 1:45 tells us that they dogmatically knew Jesus was the anointed one the entire Old Testament spoke of. John wrote in 1 John 2:23 “No one who denies the Son has the Father. Whoever confesses the Son has the Father also.” So if this Messianic Psalm is future prophetic, which I believe it is, these kings and elite of the earth during that time put themselves against the Father because they refuse to repent and accept Jesus and come to him for their salvation instead of relying on idols such as the god of self, or the god of the creation. They did it at the first advent as indicated by Acts 4:25-28, and they will do it again at the second advent.

d) In V.3 we see that these same people are trying to interfere with God’s will, and act in complete autonomy from God. The imagery in V.3b is literally tearing off God’s chains of bondage and oppression, to be free from God, because the depraved human being is not capable of being accountable to, serving, or being under dominion of any other god but the god of self.

2) In V.4-6 The feeble plan of the worldly kings is laughable, despite their best attempts, God will inaugurate Jesus as King.

a) V.4 comes as a comfort to me as it should for you. Despite everything in the prior passages, we still see God on the throne in total control. This is very amusing and we see the Father ridiculing these people because they actually think they can thwart his sovereignty. The depravity of man who think they can thwart the will of a God who merely spoke, and the universe that they worship came into existence Ex-nihilo, out of nothingness. this is laughable to God.

i) This same imagery speaks of the same event in another Psalm.

ii) Have someone read Psalm 37:12-15.

b) In V.5 we see exactly what Pastor Brent has been warning us about in Romans. We see what we have been studying the last few months in Revelation. God’s long-suffering has ended, it’s time to judge, and V.5 is the culmination of Revelation chapters 5 through 19. So much so that these wicked people acknowledge that God’s wrath has finally come in Revelation 6:6.

c) After the seven seals, the seven trumpets, and the seven bowls, after God has judged the whole earth, and God’s wrath, fury, and terror have ended on earth, the scene shifts with v.6.

d) After the seven-year tribulations, the crowning of the Father’s anointed one, Jesus Christ occurs. Jesus is crowned as King Jesus as the Millennial Reign of Christ is inaugurated, and Jesus will take his rightful seat on the throne of David and rule perfectly for 1000 years on earth with his saints assisting him.

3) V.7-9 The Father sets forth a legal declaration/proclamation of Jesus Kingship over the nations, his dominion over the nations will crush the rebellious people

a) In V.7, we see another evidence that this is Jesus speaking in the first person quoting the decree He Got from God the Father affirming that this will indeed take place, and the authority by which it will occur. I do not believe this is King David, I believe this is an allusion to 2 Samuel 7:12-16

“When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’ ””

b) This is furthermore confirmed by the new testament authors in:

Acts 13:33 “this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, “ ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’”

Hebrews 1:5 “For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”? Or again, “I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son”?”

and Hebrews 5:5 “So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, “You are my Son, today I have begotten you”;”

All of which confirm Psalm 2:7 is speaking of Jesus, and as we discussed at the beginning, the “I” in V.7 is Jesus speaking, and therefore this Psalm is about him in its entirety.

b) V.8 we see God placing all things, including all of the nations under Christ’s authority and rule. V8b we see some references to other portions of Old Testament scripture where Jesus is prophesied to an inheritance of all nations. Psalm 89, Psalm 72, and Daniel 7.

i) There is also confirmation of this in the New Testament Have someone ready Hebrews 1:2

c) in V.9 This idea of Jesus breaking or ruling people and the nations (depending on the translation) with a rod of Iron is quite frequent in scripture (Isaiah 30:14, Revelation 2:27, 12:5; 19:15). The imagery here is all who oppose Jesus, they will be absolutely destroyed, obliterated and unrecognizable from its former structure. This is exactly what will happen over the tribulation. After 7 years of unprecedented wrath, fury, and annihilation of the earth, its government, and its institutions, when Jesus returns he will smash like pottery all who oppose him at the slaughter of Armageddon.

As a side note, as I have matured in my studies of Revelation over the years, I no longer call it a battle, because a battle implies some sort of resistance or conflict with at least a slight degree of unpredictability. This will not in anyway be the case, when Jesus returns it will be a very one sided slaughter by the words of his mouth.

4) V.10-12 Having been sternly warned over what God will accomplish by his sovereign will, the Psalmist urges the foolish rulers to come under subjection of Christ’s kingship before its too late and God pours out his wrath.

Jesus came to earth the first time in peace as a sacrificial lamb. When Jesus returns the second time, He comes wielding the sword of his mouth which he will use to slaughter all who stand against him at the battle of Armageddon with a single word. All throughout the tribulation, God’s wrath and fury has been being poured out on earth. Revelation 6 tells us that these stiff-necked people know in all confidence that these judgement are coming from an angry God. But, unlike today where people are suppressing the truth about God, in this time of future history, everyone both small and great of society will know these judgement are from God and will thumb their noses at him in sheer defiance.

5) The end of verse 12 is a common theme in scripture, and has offered comfort to the righteous throughout the ages.

Our refuge is in Christ Jesus. I can stand up here for hours and talk blessings we have in this life and the next when Jesus is your refuge. Even in the midst of the 7 year tribulation, those who seek refuge in Christ will not be disappointed. Jesus is totally in control, and he will always do it right. Even in the Millennial Kingdom, we see that the Kings of the earth will flock to Jerusalem to kiss the son, or pay homage to King Jesus at that time. This is how I believe those who are in physical bodies will be able to avoid God’s wrath for sin at that time, by faith, they will come under his authority and pay homage to him and worship him. But not only to worship him, but do it in a spirit of fear and trembling as V.11 says to. Today, as in the Kingdom, as it always has been, having a healthy fear of the Lord, knowing he disciplines those he loves, is a very healthy perspective. Yes as we mature in our walk with Christ, love should be the primary motivator, but I do not think its in any way spiritually immature to fear the Lord and his told ability to punish sin even his elect. Remember even believers can be handed over to Satan to perish in their rebellion 1 Corinthians 5:5 “you are to deliver this man to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord.”

Application: Believers need not fear or worry about the future. Our faithful God tells us everything we need to know ahead of time in the scriptures:

God is sovereign and in control

We will be out of this world for the worst part of the chaos

Jesus will be on the throne, Jesus will have the last word.

Judgment is coming, so it’s imperative we reach as many people with the gospel as we can.

We ourselves especially when times get tough, and let me assure you, our best days are behind us, need to trust God’s word, trust his sovereignty, and subject ourselves to his will without anxiety or fear. This psalm, everything we have been studying in Romans, and everything we have studied thus far in Revelation should be of comfort to the believer! God has told us the end game. The hostility towards God and his people will end, and God will be the one to crush it. Righteousness will prevail. These are all promises that you can take to the bank all day long!

But if you take one thing away from all of this today, Gospel, Gospel, Gospel! Pray for the lost, especially government leaders, and evangelize at every opportunity you get. Although I cannot say this with complete dogma its quite possible that the generation that will experience the 7 year tribulation are alive on the earth today. Its quite possible the eventual Antichrist is walking around as a child today. Folks, judgment is near, its very near, and the world as we see it today will soon be rattled and shaken. The world has no clue of the terror and carnage that’s looming right around the corner, and when it arrives, it’s going to hit them like a freight train. Jesus said if those days were not cut short, not a single person would survive it. This same Jesus that is going to judge and judge fiercely and justly is on the same token the only hope for the lost. Lets make sure people hear of God’s grace in the age of grace before time is up and their dashed into pieces like pottery with a rod of iron as we would be if it wasn't for God’s grace towards us, so lets not take that for granted, lets pray………..

Related Media

Related Sermons