Clergy/Leaders’ Mail-list No. 3-057 Sunday 23 Mar 2003

Psalms on Sundays Reading: Psalm 2 – He Shall Reign

Pray for Christ’s rule to come to the most anti-Christian ruler and regime you know about.

Who is the king whose coronation or its anniversary (v 6) this psalm commemorates and celebrates? To begin with we may think of David and Solomon and their successors; but Peter and John were clear that it referred to Christ, and they took courage from the buoyant faith of the psalmist. (Acts 4:23-31; Matt 3:17; 17:5) It is instructive to note from this and other New Testament passages, how the early Christians used the psalms: the psalms are not just bits of historical information. Under punishment and threat, the disciples lift up their voices in praying this psalm, asking for, and receiving, a similar joyful boldness.

Kings and people plot and rage against God’s just and gentle rule (Hos 11:3), but their arrogance is laughable and will not deter God from his intention to install his king in Zion. Place and person were of God’s choice and his timing. The king (apparently) responds in verse 7. The words transcend any application to an earthly king of the Jewish people; and Hebrews 1:5 indicates that the angels also do not qualify for such a designation – only the Son.

What emotions are depicted in this psalm? Is the psalm more daring than we permit ourselves to be – in its pictures of divine derision, trembling submission, flaring anger? Is our restraint a godly one, transposing Christ’s rule into spiritual activity (2 Cor 10:4) and a fear of unrighteous anger? Or have we just ‘dumbed- down’ God’s unassailable repulsion at sin, and Christ’s anger which blazed up at times although he was meek and lowly in spirit? In submission to the Son lie our joy and peace, and liberation from a false fear. ‘There is no refuge from him; only in him’ (Kidner, Psalms 1-72).

Use this psalm to enter into the emotions of those who are persecuted for their faith and join them in their longing for the establishment of Christ as King.

– Howard Peskett

Copyright Scripture Union, 2003, Encounter with God

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