Psalms that Pspeak – Psalm 2 Our Vision: Let’s see what God can do Mission: Riverside exists to create life-changing encounters with Jesus. Psalm 2 is in four sections. Part one he talks about the angry nations standing against God. Part two he talks about God’s reaction to these nations. Part three talks about God’s son being the king. Part four he talks about “kissing the son.” Psalm 2:1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” The words paint a picture. Nations that are raging. Confusion everywhere. Conspiracies flying. Chaos. People, kings, rulers, who want autonomy. Governments thirsting for power and dominance. Our world is living this out. North Korea. The Middle East. The Russian and Ukrainian war. China. Israel and Palestine. And, in these verses, where are these kings and rulers directing their anger? Against the Lord. Against his anointed one. Here’s what this means; God has set up his king, King Jesus, and we don’t like this. This is the core of sin; whether it’s a whole nation or just one single person, the core of sin is that we want to be God. We want to write our own rules. We don’t want any constraints. Romans 1:18 But God shows his anger from heaven against all sinful, wicked people who suppress the truth by their wickedness. 19 They know the truth about God because he has made it obvious to them. 20 For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God. 21 Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. 22 Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. 23 And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles. 24 So God abandoned them to do whatever shameful things their hearts desired. As a result, they did vile and degrading things with each other’s bodies. 25 They traded the truth about God for a lie. So they worshiped and served the things God created instead of the Creator himself, who is worthy of eternal praise! Amen. Psalm 2:4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” 7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” God is sitting. God is laughing. God is ridiculing their arrogance. And God is setting up his own king. King Jesus. Jesus will have the last word. God will have his way. John 19:10 “Why don’t you talk to me?” Pilate demanded. “Don’t you realize that I have the power to release you or crucify you?” 11 Then Jesus said, “You would have no power over me at all unless it were given to you from above. Now we get to the final frame of Psalm 2. Psalm 2:10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. If God is truly enthroned. If God is truly in control. Then what are we to do? We are to act with wisdom. We are to be warned. We are serving God. We are to rejoice. But mostly we are to “kiss the son.” Let’s see what GOD can do! Pastor Brian Harrell