Sermon Notes: "The Installation of the Son"--Psalm 2

A Reasonable Connection Between Psalms 1 and 2:The Way of the Ungodly is the Way of Rebellion

David presents his theme of the ideal King, the Messiah, in four scenes.

First Scene on Earth: The psalmist questions why enemies would think up a plot that could not succeed (vv. 1-3).

Second Scene in Heaven: The psalmist declares the Sovereign LORD’s attitude toward His opponents (vv. 4-6)

Third Scene in Heaven: The psalmist quotes the Son’s affirmation (vv. 7-9)

Fourth Scene on Earth: The psalmist exhorts the heathen (vv. 10-12)

A. Keep in mind present-day historical events (v. 1)—Indirectly Messianic

B. Recognize future aspect only—Peter applies Psalm 2:1 to his time (Read Acts 4:23-28). This is a "directly predictive" prophecy.

• Compare similar verb in 1:2 b—“And in His law he meditates day and night.” “The people imagine, plot, meditate upon, devise vanity or emptiness.”

• Contrast purpose: While the blessed man meditates upon Torah, the Gentiles and the people meditate upon emptiness.

• The righteous man wants to deepen his fellowship with and understanding of the LORD; the wicked want their independence, so they rebel against the LORD’s anointed.

C. The enemies encourage one another to throw off the authority of Yahweh and His King (v. 3)

Herod with “chief priests and scribes of the people” (Matt. 2:3-4). Battle for freedom from Messiah’s rule; wanted to retain their power and “prosperity”

General Application: All unsaved people want to maintain authority over their lives.

Second Scene in Heaven: The psalmist declares the Sovereign LORD’s attitude toward His opponents (vv. 4-6)

A. Present conditions (v. 4)

1. Contrast: Spiritual Status

• While the rebels experience unrest (v. 1), the LORD sits (is enthroned) [v. 4a; cf. Is. 6:1]

  2. Comparison: Contempt

• Just as the mockers scorn religious people (1:1), so the LORD laughs at and mocks (v. 4b) those who rebel against Him. God expressed His ideas with anthropomorphic terms to accommodate Himself to our limited understanding.

B. Future wrath (v. 5)

1. Comparison: Anger

• While the rebels stand in defiant and angry opposition (vv. 2-3), the LORD will respond with burning anger (v. 5).

C. Future installation (v. 6)

1. Contrast: Official Action

• Even though the kings and rulers seek to overthrow him/Him (vv. 2-3), the LORD will install His king/King in Zion (v. 6; cf. Ps. 87:3).

Consider the Evolution of Kingship in Israel

Third Scene in Heaven:

David quotes the Son’s claim that He holds His kingly office by divine decree (vv. 7-9)

A. David reveals the Messianic king’s resolve: “I will recite the statute that declares Me to be the Son of God” (v. 7)

1. decree: An inscribed ordinance that cannot be violated

2. 2 Samuel 7:13-16 is the oldest proclamation of this decree. Spoken to Solomon—ultimate fulfillment in Christ

3. Three places in the NT where the writers cite this decree.

Psalm 2:7 in the New Testament

B. David states the Messianic king’s claim: the LORD has promised to give Him the right to inherit the Earth (v. 8)

1. Note the parallelism:

a. the nations-->the ends of the earth

b. for your inheritance-->for your possession

C. David quotes the king’s strong declaration: the LORD has instructed Him to smash the rebellion (v. 9)

Psalm 2:9 in Revelation 2:26-27

Psalm 2:9 in Revelation 12:5

Psalm 2:9 in Revelation 19:15

Note:

“You shall break them with a rod of iron” (Ps. 2:9) (MT). And He Himself will shepherd (rule) them with a rod of iron (19:15) [LXX]. Normally the verb poimeno has a gentler meaning; here it does not.

Fourth Scene on Earth:

David exhorts the rebels to submit to the Son (vv. 10-12)

A. He tells them to heed his advice (v. 10).

B. He advises them to worship Yahweh (v. 11).

C. He counsels them to do homage to Yahweh’s king (v. 12).

Conclusion

The Who, What, When, Where, Why, and How of the Messianic Kingdom

The psalmist exhorts the rebellious heathen to worship Yahweh and to do homage to His king, because Yahweh will soon resolve to install His king upon Zion to whom He has willed the Earth with instructions to smash their rebellion.