LISTEN! GOD IS LAUGHING!

Transcription

1 LISTEN! GOD IS LAUGHING! Psalms 2:1-12 Return To Psalm Master Index Page In contrast to the Blessed man in Psalm 1, we see the Rebellious man in Psalm 2. Psalm 2 portrays the ongoing rebellion of a lost world against God and His Son, the Lord Jesus. It is a cosmic revolt as old as the Garden of Eden when the first man, Adam, rose up against the supreme authority of God. But man can never succeed in tearing down the authority of God. Psalm 2 has been called the drama of the ages man's rebellion against God. Psalm 2 is a Messianic Psalm, along with 8, 16, 22, 23, 40, 41, 45, 68, 69, 102, 110 and 118 (13 of them). The test of a Messianic Psalm is that it is quoted in the New Testament as referring to Jesus (Luke 24:27, 44). It is also a royal Psalm, referring to the coronation of King Jesus. If we fail to see Jesus Christ in this Psalm, we miss its message completely: His death (2:1-3; Acts 4:23-28), His resurrection (2:7; Acts 13:33), His ascension and enthronement in glory (2:6), and His return and righteous rule on earth (2:8-9; Revelation 2:9, 27; 12:5). Other royal Psalms are 18, 20, 21, 45, 72, 89, 101, 110 and 144. Psalm 2 is quoted or alluded to at least 18 times, more than any single Psalm (Matthew 3:17; 7:23; 17:5; Mark 1:11; 9:7; Luke 3:22; 9:35; John 1:49; Acts 4:25-26; 13:33; Philippians 2:12; Hebrews 1:2,5; 5:5; Revelation 2:26-27; 11:18; 12:5; 19:15.) According to Acts 4:25, David wrote this Psalm. It speaks about a universal kingdom and a throne established forever. This can be fulfilled only in Jesus Christ, the Son of David (Matthew 1:1). When we come to Psalm 2, we find that the Spirit of God uses two cameras in a dramatic way beyond the imagination of man. First, the camera on earth comes on, and when it does, we hear the voices of the masses. We hear little man speaking his little piece, playing his little part as he struts and frets his little moment on the stage of life, shaking his midget fist in God's face in rebellion. Then the camera on earth goes off, the camera in heaven comes on and we heat God the Father speak. After He speaks, the camera shifts to His right hand and God the Son speaks His part.

2 Then the camera in heaven goes off, the camera on earth comes on again, and God the Holy Spirit has the last word. Each of the four scenes is shot in exactly three verses: 2:1-3 Conspiracy The Voice of the Nations 2:4-6 Mockery The Voice of God the Father 2:7-9 Victory The Voice of God the Son 2:10-12 Invitation The Voice of the Holy Spirit David invites us to hear these four voices and understand what they are saying. I. The Voice of the Nations Defiance Psalm 2:1-3 David didn't expect a reply when he asked this question, because there really is no reply. It was an expression of astonishment: When you consider all that the Lord has done for the nations, how can they rebel against Him? God has provided for them, guided them, determined their histories, kept them alive, sent them a Savior to bring forgiveness and eternal life. Instead of rejoicing in God's blessings, the nations of the earth are rebelling against God's rule over them. They want to be free of God's control over their lives. The one thing the nations can agree on is We will not have this man to reign over us (Luke 19:14). The word rage speaks of a deep-seated inward feeling of hate against God. The people imagine a vain thing... They have set themselves against God. That means they are ready to go to war against God. Their minds are made up! Leading this resistance against God were the political and national leaders of the world ( the kings ) as well as the religious rulers. Both religious and political leaders join together. What are they protesting? Whom are they against? Against the Lord, and against His anointed. The word anointed here means Messiah or Christ. This is a great worldwide movement that is against God and against Christ. Now, when did this movement begin? Acts 4: The movement began when Pilate, the political leader, joined up with the religious rulers and Herod in order to put Jesus to death. This movement against God and Christ has been snowballing as it has come down through the centuries, and it will break out finally in a worldwide revolution against God and His Christ. Religious leaders showed their resistance against God and His Anointed in Christ's arrest, trials, and condemnation at the hands of Annas, Caiaphas, and the Sanhedrin.

3 How are religious leaders today in rebellion against Christ? Have you ever stopped to think that the Jesus of liberalism, the Jesus the world thinks of, actually never lived? The Jesus of the Bible and the Jesus of liberalism are two different individuals. And the Jesus of liberalism never lived at all. J. Vernon McGee gives an example of what I mean. He said that for many years when he was pastor in downtown Los Angeles, the liberal in the area pastored a church nearby. Dr. McGee said that he actually had great respect for him because he was one liberal who was honest. For instance, he would just come out and say he did not believe in the virgin birth. He didn't beat around the bush about it. He had a question-and-answer program on radio and Dr. McGee had a question-and-answer program on radio, and listeners would feed questions to both of them in opposition. One Christmas season both were invited to a banquet, and both of them were seated next to each other. Dr. McGee got there first and sat down. In a minute the other man came in. The man put his arm around Dr. McGee and said, You know, Brother McGee, you and I ought to be much closes together. We preach the same Jesus, and he sat down. Dr. McGee said to him, Are you sure we preach the same Jesus? Let me ask you some questions. Was the Jesus you preach virgin born? Of course not. Well, the one I preach is virgin born. The Jesus you preach did he die on the cross for the sins of the world? Of course He died on the cross, but not for the sins of the world. The Jesus I preach died a substitutionary, vicarious death for the sins of man. Do you believe that Jesus rose bodily? Oh, no, of course not. Obviously then, you and I are not preaching about the same Jesus. Listen, the Jesus that the world believes in today never existed. He never lived. The Jesus we preach is the Jesus of the Bible, and He is the one against whom there is opposition in today's world. The Jesus of the world would never say anything negative against Islam. In fact, he would say that we are all one; that we all worship the same loving God; that we are all going to heaven, just in different ways. The Jesus of the Bible would never co-exist with the Jesus of the world or with Islam. He said, I am THE, way, THE truth, THE life, and no man can come to the Father except through ME. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Psalm 2:3 Here we see the cause of this revolt. They do not want to be told what they should do and should not do. They want no restraints, no laws, and no regulations. They want to do their own thing. Sound familiar? What are some of the bonds God has put on the human family? Marriage is one. God has ordained marriage for the welfare of mankind. Whether you are a Christian or not, God has given marriage to mankind. Our society today wants to get rid of the bond of marriage. Why can't we just start living together? Why does marriage have to be between one man and one woman? Why can't it be between two men or two women if they love each other?

4 Also, Let's cast away their cords from us. The Ten Commandments are cards. God gave them and He gave them to protect mankind. Yet, today they are thrown out the door. Mankind is moving toward getting rid of all restraints. In the POLITICAL world there is CONFUSION; In the MORAL realm there is CORRUPTION; In the SPIRITUAL realm there is COMPROMISE and INDIFFERENCE. II. The Voice of the Father Derision 2:4-6 How does God feel about puny man's rebellion against Him? Is He threatened? Intimidated? Worried? Depressed? God's response is, He laughs! This is not the laugh of humor. He is not being funny. It is the laugh of derision, mockery, and contempt. Look at it from God's viewpoint little man down there parading up and down, shaking his midget fist in heaven's face and saying, Come on out and fight me! I'm against you! God looks down at the puny little creature. It's utterly ridiculous! He looks down and laughs. What effect will man's opposition have upon God and His program? God is going forward to the accomplishment of His purpose. What little man does down here won't deter Him, detour Him, or defer Him at all. God's ANOINTED has been APPOINTED, and He shall not be DISAPPOINTED! God is running on schedule and nothing will stop Him, nothing can cause Him to change His plan. III. The Voice of the Son Declaration 2:7-9 God the Son now speaks and declares that man's devices cannot change God's decrees. God gives man freedom even to rebel, but man's rebellion can never thwart God's eternal purposes. The declaration in these verses reveals several important truths: 1. Jesus Christ is God: Thou art my son. This statement is echoed at our Lord's baptism (Matthew 3:17) and Transfiguration (Matthew 17:5; Acts 2:29-36). 2. Our Lord's enthronement was a very special event: This day have I begotten Thee 2:7 This is not a reference to His birth at Bethlehem. According to Acts 13:33, this is a reference to our Lord's resurrection. The empty tomb gave birth to the glorified Son of God. Jesus Christ was begotten into a whole new kind of life at His resurrection and ascension, for in

5 Him glorified humanity permanently entered heaven. 3. Jesus Christ is not only the Son of God and the reigning King, but He is also the Judge. One day He shall return and smash the nations into pieces the way a potter smashes useless pottery. Those who submit to Christ will one day share in His Victory and His Kingdom. Those who rebel will be cast into outer darkness forever. IV. The Voice of the Holy Spirit Decision 2:10-12 These closing verses are an appeal from God for man to stop rebelling and to trust Him. First, He appeals to the Mind 2:10 Be wise...be instructed In other words, Get Smart. The wise thing to do is to surrender to Christ and trust Him. The Holy Spirit's second appeal is to the Will 2:11 The Spirit's third is to the Heart 2:12 Kiss the Son is the Old Testament way of saying, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved (Acts 16:31). All hail the power of Jesus' name! Let angels prostrate fall Bring forth the royal diadem, And crown Him Lord of All. Ye chosen seed of Israel's race, Ye ransomed from the fall, Hail Him who saves you by His grace, And crown Him Lord of All. O, that with yonder sacred throng we at His feet may fall! We'll join the everlasting song, And crown Him Lord of All! Return To Psalm Master Index Page