By Steven J. Hogan
~ A Saturday Morning Post # 175 ~
In times of distress, whether it’s personal, or out in the world, we need God’s word, we need His answers to these problems, and this is especially true at this juncture, one of the most explosive and evil times in U.S. history. Psalm 2 gives the big-picture answer, and it relates to prophecy, that during this sinful age, human kings are ruling and rising up against God – but the good news, especially as we see this present rebellion in our country, is that Christ the King is returning to judge the world and establish His glorious kingdom on earth. Now the answer for each individual is to take refuge in Christ, and eternally experience His mercy and blessing, instead of rejecting Him and eternally experiencing His wrath. Matthew 25:41, 46; John 5:24
Psalm 2:1-3 tells us about the wicked and their rebellion against God. Four groups are described – there are the nations, the different countries, and they are in an uproar, a rage, a tumult. There are the peoples, the individuals who live in these nations, and they are plotting and scheming. But it’s vanity, for what they are doing is worthless and comes to nothing. There are the kings, the Presidents, and they are taking a stand, declaring their positions, and making policy. Then there are the rulers who are working together and carrying out the desires of their king. But notice what it says? They are actually counseling together against the Lord, against God Himself, and they are also against His Anointed, the Messiah, that is, Jesus Christ. Revelation 13
Now it’s not like leaders in the US, the EU, or the UN are meeting together with their fists literally raised up against God, but if they’re not fearing God, if they act like there is no God, if they are not following His lead, then their hearts are raised up in opposition to God, resulting in sinful and worldly actions that affect the lives of many other people. A leader’s and all mankind’s main problem, like the devil himself, is that they are proud – they doesn’t fear God, seen in that they don’t worship God and obey His will, but rather, do what they wants, do what is wrong. Genesis 11:1-9
Psalm 2:3 illustrates a person’s sin, his defiance of God, his insubordination, his pride. An unsaved person hates and rejects God, and does not want to be under His authority but, instead, wants to tear off what he believes are fetters, are chains – he wants to be completely free from God’s rule in and over his life. The Bible describes different authorities God has established – people are to fear God, children are to obey their parents, wives are to submit to their husbands, citizens are to be subject to the governing authorities, and slaves (workers) are to obey their masters (employers). One of the quickest ways to find out if a person fears and obeys God is to see if he fears and obeys the authorities God has placed over his life. Colossians 3:18-25, 1 Peter 2:13-3:9
It doesn’t take long to see that the resistance and rejection of authority is rampant in this country, and is taking place at all levels, in families, at workplaces, in the government, and on the streets. Do you see how people are disregarding and disobeying the law? Do you see the lawlessness and anarchy, people destroying and stealing property, and rebelling against the police? It’s obvious that people don’t want to be told what to do, but want to do their own thing, want to be “free” from these God-given authorities that, if obeyed, will result in peace, harmony, order, and prosperity.
Psalm 2:4-6 tell us God’s response. He laughs, He scoffs – He knows that people are but fools when they rebel against Him, that they are like little ants attempting to rise up against man. Sinful people don’t realize who God is, that He is holy and just, and can quickly and powerfully crush any rebellion. But God is not just thinking these things to Himself (i.e. the Trinity), for “He will speak to them in His anger.” God wants people to know that He is righteously angry because they have rejected Him and, in fact, He is furious, and will not put up with this human rebellion.
Psalm 2:6 declares God’s plan, that He has already installed His King as ruler over the world. During this evil age, the devil has been given limited power to rule the world (1 John 5:19). But Christ is sovereign over the devil’s work and is now, at this same time, building His church. In the age to come, we will literally see Jesus Christ in Zion, in Jerusalem, and with us, He will build His kingdom on this earth. Psalm 47, Matt. 6:9-10
Psalm 2:7-9 tell us how God the Father and Christ His Son are working together to execute this decree, this plan, what Christ wants the whole world to understand, one that will be carried out during the coming kingdom age. These verses give us a glimpse into the intimate relationship that Christ has with His Father, His submission to Him, and how the Father wants to bless His Son with a special gift, a redeemed and restored world filled with godly people. This passage closes with God’s promise to Christ that, with a rod of iron, He will powerfully judge the sinful world we now live in (the day of Lord), and then will fulfill His Father’s plan on this earth (the millennial kingdom). This is our hope, and what we need to be looking for, especially as see how this world is becoming more and more evil. John 17; Rev. 8-9, Rev. 19:11-21, Rev. 20
Psalm 2:10-12 is the Spirit’s sobering instructions to this sinful world, especially to kings and judges. He tells them to wise up, to get smart, and warns them that the coming judgment He has just spoken about will come upon them if they don’t fear God. Indeed, our first and foremost duty is to fear God, to worship and serve Him, and to rejoice in Him alone. Romans 1 tells us the same thing, that God’s wrath will be poured out upon all those who don’t honor and thank God, who won’t and don’t worship Him. Prov. 1:7, Mark 12:30
The Holy Spirit makes it clear that it’s not just loving the Father, but loving the Son, showing homage to Him, that is, kissing Him. What the Spirit is saying is that the only way to be saved, to not be judged for your sins is through Jesus Christ – the only way to know the Father is through the Son. If you don’t show homage to Jesus, if you don’t kiss Him, spiritually speaking, then Jesus, as your righteous judge, will have to punish you, and you will perish forever. These last few verses are present tense, meaning this passage applies to what is going on in our country today, that God and Christ at this time, in June of 2020, are warning this world of their need to repent of their sin and turn to Christ, before it’s too late. The final and concluding phrase speaks not of God’s justice, but of God’s mercy, for it promises that all who take refuge in Christ, all who trust in Him, will be blessed, now and forever, in this age and in the age to come, when we will literally be reigning with Christ the King over this world. “The Lord Most High is to be feared, a great King over all the earth” (Psalm 47:2). “Thou hast made them to be a kingdom and priests to our God, and they will reign upon the earth.” Revelation 5:10
P.S. You can’t understand what’s going on in the world around you, if you don’t understand God’s word. Psalm 2 is one of many prophetic Psalms that speaks about our present situation. I encourage you to read “Prophecy Psalms for the Jews and for You” – Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3. It’s obvious that many things are changing in our country, but you haven’t seen anything yet – please read, “Everything on This Earth is Going to Change.”