The One Enthroned

If you caught the start of the BBC’s coverage of the Olympic Games you may have seen their attempted interview with a Chinese pastor of a non state registered church. They’d followed the authorities’ rules and agreed a place and time to meet. But still the Chinese police got to the pastor first and so all the reporter could do was shout a couple of questions up to the window where the pastor was being held. One of the questions was, “Why won’t they let you talk to us?” The pastor shouted back, “Because of what I might say about their record on human rights and religious freedom.” The police then took the pastor away and held him for seven hours before letting him go. One wonders what would have happened to that bold pastor if the cameras had not been there.
Psalm 2 must be a great encouragement to pastors like him as it declares who is ultimately reigning and in control and who will triumph - Jesus Christ the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. God says in v6:

“I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill… [and said to his King, v8]… I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron sceptre; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.” (Psalm 2.6)

And this is a great encouragement to us too as we see the nations rage including our own, the peoples plot and rulers gather together against the Lord and his Anointed One. Psalm 2 was certainly an encouragement to the first believers when they faced opposition from the chief priests and elders in Acts 4. They quoted it as they looked to the Sovereign Lord in prayer and asked that he would enable them to speak the Word of God with great boldness in spite of the threats they faced. By God’s power the church in Jerusalem grew very large – maybe as large as 100,000 - and in China today the church is growing rapidly too in spite of persecution. The Bible Society reckons that 100,000 are being added to the church every week in China. The nations rage and the people’s plot in vain (v1). We need to pray and work for this nation and its leaders to turn to Jesus and serve him as their true King – to kiss the Son – as it’s put in v12 and know the blessedness of taking refuge in him instead of being dashed to pieces like pottery. Unlike the leaders of the nations who come and go Jesus is the King who stands forever and who rules with love and justice.
You see the Psalms don’t just help us in times of need they also point us to Jesus and tell us about him. In fact the book of Psalms is the most quoted book in the New Testament. And Jesus himself taught that the whole Bible including the Psalms were actually about him. And Psalm 2 is no exception. It is referred to 18 times in the New Testament. Acts 4:25 tells us that it is by David. In its original context it was probably a coronation psalm, sung to the new King as he sat on his throne. But the Apostles saw that its ultimate fulfilment is in Jesus Christ.

Firstly THE REJECTION OF THE KING v1-3

David asks:

Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?"(Psalm 2.1)

And who is that rebellion against:

The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and his Anointed One." (Psalm 2.2)

Now in its original context, the anointed one was David. Kings and rulers were revolting against Israel and her king. And behind the earthly king was God, the holy one.

Let us break their chains”, they were saying, “and throw off their fetters." (Psalm 2.3)

Let’s break away from David’s rule and have it our own way. And notice that to break free from the anointed one is to break free from God. To reject God’s King is to reject God himself. And the New Testament sees the anointed one to be Jesus. God’s King is now Jesus. He’s the Christ. And still today, the nations and rulers plot and rage against him. They see God’s rule as slavery. They want to break off the fetters.
And all over the world sin is being called good. What is hated by and what is an abomination to God is being endorsed. Mass infanticide in the form of abortion is legal in many countries. Recently at the U.S. Presidential Faith Forum at Saddleback Church, Barack Obama clearly stated that he is Pro Choice when it comes to abortion. And there’s growing legislation in this country which makes it harder for the Christian view to be even heard never mind being taken seriously. At the Olympics it was stated that the Games were for the glory not of God but of sport. All this is the natural consequence of nations plotting against God and his holy one Jesus. And yet it’s not just the nations. Its individuals across the world. All of us in our hearts are natural rebels. We are plotters and ragers against God. We want to shun the fetters of God’s morality. Each one of us is naturally disposed against God and his Anointed One.
And where does that ultimately lead? Well the early church in Acts 4 saw these verses fulfilled at the crucifixion of Jesus. The rulers and kings were those who put Jesus to death. God’s anointed one was openly and publicly rejected. They were literally plotting against him and it led to his death.

“Herod and Pontius Pilate”, they said, “met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city of [Jerusalem] to conspire against God’s holy servant Jesus, whom [God] anointed."(Acts 4.27)

That’s the natural extension of man’s hostility to his God. In the end we put him to death. And each one of us is in some way responsible. We too played our part. We too have rejected the King. But look again at v1.The peoples plot in vain. How long will this rebellion go on? Well here we see that God’s answer is not forever. For such plotting, whilst evil, is ultimately in vain. Why? Well that brings us to my next heading.

Secondly THE AUTHORITY OF THE KING v4-9

This plotting is ultimately in vain, because Jesus is the King who has been given power and authority, and he will triumph. Look at what God thinks of man’s plotting and rebellion:

The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them." (Psalm 2.4)

God looks at kings and governments, men and women shaking their puny little
fists at him, and he just laughs. He mocks and scoffs at their pathetic attempt to usurp his authority. It’s laughable. And yet it’s not funny. It’s deadly serious:

God rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath." (Psalm 2.5)

God won’t just laugh, he’ll punish. As we’ll see later those who continue in rebellion against God and his anointed King Jesus will suffer the consequences. And that should encourage us. As we look out on our world, we see rebellion everywhere. And yet one day God will deal with it forever. The plotting is in vain. God laughs at it and then deals with it. But how will God show this power and authority? Well the answer is through his anointed King, the Lord Jesus Christ. And his authority is seen in four ways. First, Jesus’ Enthronement. God says:

I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill." (Psalm 2.6)

The ‘I’ is emphatic. I have done this, says God. You may try all sorts of things against me, but I am God, and I am doing this. At first it would be the earthly King David in Jerusalem. But now it is King Jesus in heaven. He is the true King of kings. This is how God stops the rebellion. He puts his King in place. And how is Jesus shown to be the King? Through his resurrection and ascension. In Philippians 2 we read that:

"God has exalted Jesus to the highest place and given him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.

Whether you like it or not, Jesus is King. Do you bow to him willingly? For one day you will whatever. Far better to do it now willingly.
Second, Jesus’ Sonship

I will proclaim the decree of the Lord: He said to me: ‘You are my Son, today I have become your father.’"(Psalm 2.7)

Now God had promised to Israel that they would be his son, and to David in 2 Samuel 7 that he would be the son in a special sense. And yet God’s promises to David and the people of Israel would never be seen in the fullest extent. But in the NT, the first Christians were convinced that Jesus was the Son of God par excellence. He was that King who had been promised throughout Israel’s history. And throughout Jesus’ life he receives great commendations from his Father that he is the Son of God in the fullest possible sense – at his baptism, at his temptation, at his transfiguration and at his resurrection and ascension. There can be no doubt whatsoever that Jesus is God’s Son. But you might be asking why does the psalm say ‘today’ (v7)? Surely Jesus is the Son forever? At the beginning of Romans Paul says that Jesus "is declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead." It’s not that Jesus becomes the Son in terms of who he is. Rather it refers to his position as King. He has always been the Son of God and the King of kings, but his resurrection and glorious ascension show to the whole world that he’s that Son and King promised in the Old Testament.
Three, Jesus’ Inheritance – v8. His inheritance is the nations of the world, and the ends of the earth. Jesus is the King over the whole world, and everything is his. But it’s far more than territory. It’s people he’s inheriting. People like you and me are the nations of his possessions. God’s promise to Israel was that they would be a blessing to the nations. And it’s through Israel’s Messiah Jesus that blessing comes. We too can become part of his inherited people through his gospel, through faith in him. We too can become his possession. And of course that’s a wonderful incentive for evangelism. Jesus is King over the whole world and people like you and I, if we’re trusting in him, are his possession through the gospel. We need not experience the punishment our rebellion deserves. Jesus took the punishment we deserve on the cross so that those who put their trust in him will not face punishment. He can make us part of his glorious inheritance.
Four, Jesus’ Rule :

You will rule them with an iron sceptre, you will dash them to pieces like pottery." (Psalm 2.9)

He will destroy his enemies. Eternal punishment awaits those who continue to rebel against him. But it’s a mark of his love that he tells us. He wants no-one to be cut off from him forever. He longs for all to be present with him. And that is why he is so blunt. Don’t rebel, he says. Come back to me. Otherwise you will have to face eternity under my wrath. You will be dashed to pieces like pottery. For he rules not just with love but also with justice. That’s why the nations plot in vain. For the King’s authority is established and one day he will crush his enemies. Is this how you see Jesus? As the King installed by God, the promised Son of God, the one who has the nations and the one who rules with an iron sceptre? Is this the Jesus you know and love? Well this Jesus is the Jesus of the Psalms and indeed of the whole Bible.

Thirdly THE DEMAND OF THE KING v10-12

As King of Kings and Lord of Lords, Jesus rightly demands our very all.

Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment."(Psalm 2.10-12)

In the light of this King’s staggering authority, what must the rulers of the earth do, what must we do? Well says the psalmist, they and we must be wise. They and we must serve the Lord with fear and rejoice in him. We’re to kiss the Son. Calvin wrote that

the beginning of true wisdom is when man lays aside his pride and submits himself to the authority of Jesus Christ.

Well let me ask have you done that? Have you bowed the knee before him, have you kissed the Son, as the psalmist puts it? You see to kiss a ruler was a sign of submission and service. And we’re to pray for and invite those in authority to do so too. Paul tells us to pray for our leaders in 1Timothy 2. It’s partly what we pray for when we pray, “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name”. And we’re planning to invite some local leaders to the Christianity Explored Taster Sessions in January. So do be praying and inviting those you know.
Jesus is king. "Therefore ... be wise ... be warned ... serve the Lord ..." We are to serve the Lord totally and completely in all of life. For example, in our workplaces we’re not to work for our own glory but for the glory of God. The 400m Olympic gold medallist Christine Ohuruogu ran to win for the glory of God.

She said,“Just before the race I got a text with a Bible verse which inspired me. “It says 'I can do everything through him who gives me strength'. I just thank God for everything.”
Jesus is king; He is a demanding king. He demands our all. He wants us to totally serve Him in every area of life. He wants us to hold no area back. There’s a story of a man in Haiti who wanted to sell his house for £1,000. Another man wanted very badly to buy it, but because he was poor, he couldn't afford the full price. After much bargaining, the owner agreed to sell the house for half the original price with just one condition: he would retain ownership of one small nail located just over the front door. After several years, the original owner wanted the house back, but the new owner was unwilling to sell. So the first owner went out, found the carcass of a dead dog, and hung it from the single nail he still owned. Soon it became impossible to live there, and the family was forced to sell the house to the owner of the nail.
What’s the point of that story? The point of the story is that if we don't surrender all of our life to the control of King Jesus, if we give Him all but one small nail, then Satan will hang his rotting garbage on it and make us unfit for Christ. If Christ is not Lord of all then He’s not Lord at all.
But look at v11 - what kind of service is it? It is both fearful service and joyful service. We’re to serve him with fear and joy. Yes he’s the awesome King of kings and we are to come before him with trembling. And yet he’s also the Lord who delights in our service, who longs for us to delight in him. Serving him isn’t bondage as the nations would have us believe. It is a delightful and joyful experience. What service can you do for him this week, this coming term?
But look at the last line of v12. Yes Jesus is the one from whom we can’t take refuge yet he’s also the one in whom we can take refuge.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him." (Psalm 2.12)

We cannot flee from him, but we can flee to him. If we come to him we need not fear his wrath. The cross has made that possible. The king who reigns in majesty is the same King who died for us on a cross. You may have seen the fires raging across California on the News earlier this summer. Well one story coming out of those fires was of a mother hen who had been caught up in the flames. Her body was completely blackened by the awful fire around her and she’d died. And yet as the flames passed by, two little chicks had nestled under her wings and were kept safe from the fire. And when the fire was over, these two little chicks were able to come out and live their lives. They’d been saved from the fire by the sacrificial act of their mother. They’d taken refuge from the flames under the arms of their mother. “Blessed are all who take their refuge in Jesus”. Jesus is the King who if you like has borne the fire of God’s wrath for us, so that we need not take it ourselves. What he asks is that we come to him and live for him, in the light of that sacrifice, serving him faithfully and joyfully. For that is the demand of the King and in doing so there is great blessing. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.