THE LORD REIGNS FOREVER (Psalm 2:1-12)

This is a Psalm of David (Acts 4:25). It reveals the settled sovereign purpose of God to establish His Kingdom on earth and to have His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, to be King over all. Despite opposition from men and devils, it reveals the eternal reign of Jesus Christ as King in God’s Kingdom. David wrote this Psalm because he experienced something similar in his own life. He too was anointed as king despite the opposition of men. He was rejected by his brothers, by King Saul and by his own son, Absalom. David was about 15 years when he was anointed as king by prophet Samuel. King Saul persecuted him for about 15 years. Eventually, at the age of 30, he became king. David remains the greatest king Israel ever had, a man after God’s heart. God sets kings and God removes kings! “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding” (Dan 2:20, 21). Psalm 2 is prophetic revealing the coming of Jesus Christ, who is of the lineage of David. The world rejected Jesus. Men killed Him on the Cross. The rulers of this world did not know God’s plan. By His death, Jesus destroyed the power of death, that belonged to the devil. Jesus will come again in power and glory to destroy what He has defeated. At that time, God’s Kingdom will be visible to all! In Psalm 2 we see the empty rage of men against God and His anointed, Jesus Christ; we see God’s reaction to this opposition; we hear the declaration of God’s Son, the King of kings; and we read the final warning of God against all rebellious men on earth!

1-THE EMPTY RAGE OF MEN

The nations ‘rage’ against God and His Kingdom. All men are born sinners. In this fight against God all the people and their kings are in it together. They ‘rage’ against God the Father and God the Son! The word ‘rage’ means a loud confusing noise of a great crowd. God’s Kingdom brings peace, prosperity, healing and freedom. You expect men to happily welcome these blessings. Why do men hate God and His Kingdom? They do not have a good reason. The only explanation is that unbelievers are ruled by the devil, who is the god of this world. Men love the blessings but hate God, the Giver of the blessings. This is a spiritual battle between heaven and hell and is manifested on earth. It is a cosmic conspiracy to break God’s bands of agape Love towards men.

God says of Israel: “I drew them with gentle cords, With bands of love, And I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them” (Hos11:4). But they did not appreciate God’s Love for them. The devil uses men to fight God and all that is good. They rejected Jesus as their Savior, Lord and King. “But his citizens hated him, and sent a delegation after him, saying, ‘We will not have this man to reign over us” (Lk 19:14). The men of this world, religious and political, have rejected and killed ‘this Man’ called Jesus. Despite the opposition, God declares that the unbelievers’ fight against Him and His Kingdom is ‘a vain thing’; an empty, worthless thing. It has no value and no victory. Lesson: Religion cannot help. Jesus died to reconcile us to God. Separate yourself from the unbelievers’ losing battle against God, Jesus Christ and His church! To fight God is foolish and dangerous because God always wins!

2-GOD’S REACTION TO THE EMPTY RAGE OF MEN

Totally separate from the noise of men on earth, God sits enthroned in heaven. No man and no devil can remove God from His throne. Watch the quiet royal dignity of God on His throne. This is the truth: either willingly or un-willingly, man must bow to God. Sited on His throne, God initially laughs and mocks the men who in vain fight His choice. He has declared that His Son Jesus Christ is eternally the King of glory! God can never lose. God does not need to stand from His throne to fight the opposition. His breath is enough to quench any battle against Him. By His Word God created all things. By the same Word God can kill any man. Suddenly, God changes from laughing to holy anger. None can withstand His wrath. God shakes the things on earth and burns the chaff. The purpose is to prove that His Kingdom is unshakable. “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. 29 For our God is a consuming fire” (Heb 12:28,29).  In His anger, God speaks: “Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion” (Ps 2:6). Oh, the powerful word ‘yet!’ What God says is final! God’s choice, King David, must be king in Jerusalem, on the holy hill of Zion. Against all odds, as God wished it, King Saul is removed, and David became King in Zion. God has already done what the enemies were planning to prevent. God cannot be taken by surprise. His plans are sovereign and eternal! Amen!

Prophetically, this psalm says that Jesus Christ is God’s choice to be the King in His Kingdom. Jesus did not make King by Himself. Men did not choose Him. God the Father declared His Beloved Son to be King. Spiritually, Zion is a symbol of the Living Church. Christ is the King in His Church. He is the King of God’s Kingdom in the hearts of the believers who come together to worship the Living God. Since the Day of Pentecost when the Church was born, millions have come to worship God and to listen to God’s Word in Zion. “Many people shall come and say: Come and let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, and we shall walk in His paths. For out of Zion shall go forth the law” (Isa 2:3). Jesus “shall see the travail of His soul and be satisfied” (Isa 53:11).

Lesson: Jesus, the Lamb upon His throne, is seated in power and glory and reigns forever in the hearts of all the believers in the Church!

3-GOD’S SON DECLARES HIS STAND

Jesus Christ, God’s Beloved Son, stands to declare His relationship with God the Father. Jesus is not an adopted Son like us. He is the only begotten Son of God. Jesus is 100% God and 100% Man. Therefore, Jesus is perfectly entitled and qualified to be King in God’s Kingdom. The fullness of God the Father dwells in Christ, who is the Fountain of all wisdom, power, and authority. Christ died to create the Church. His Blood is stronger than any opposition. “The Gates of Hell cannot prevail against His Church where He is King” (Matt 16:18). By His Grace, Christ makes the believers to be kings, priests and co-heirs with Him. We sit on the throne with Him. We are His Ambassadors and Key-holders in His domain. All worship to God must pass thru God the Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord! The Son of God declares that God told Him: “Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel” (Ps 2:8).  Jesus is asking God the Father to give Him as a royal gift the very people who are fighting against Him. By His grace and through His Agape love, His enemies will become His servants and worshippers. Those who will not bend, must be broken. Christ is King not just by name. He has the power to subdue all opposition. Christ said: “All authority (all power of absolute rule) in heaven and on earth has been given to Me” (Matt 28:18; AMP).

4-FINAL WARNING TO THE UNBELIEVERS

This is a grace warning to all who oppose Christ. They are commanded to ‘be wise’! Wisdom means to stop fighting and surrender to Christ. If not, they will surely perish. They will go to hell! All must come to the throne of mercy and grace and kiss the hand of the Son of God. They must accept the truth that their fight can never succeed. The ruler of this world, the devil, is a liar. He gives sinners false hopes. They must forsake the devil’s camp and cross-over to Jesus. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (PV9:10). As for you, child of God, rejoice with trembling in the mercy received. Fear without joy is torment. Joy without holy fear is presumption and foolishness. Both need to be together. Those who resist the Holy Spirit and continue to rebel against Christ shall perish. Those who have faith in Jesus Christ, shall find mercy and they shall live. Choose life!!! Worship the Lord!