Y All Better Get Used to It

Y’all Better Get Used to It

“He who sits in the heavens shall laugh…”

Psalm 2

Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? 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 break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us." 4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. 5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: 6 "Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion." 7 "I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.' " 10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges 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, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. (NKJV)

Intro- If Psalm 1 is intentional in its position in the book (the overall first Psalm) then Psalm 2 is just as intentional in its setting. Psalm 1 begs the individual to know where he/she is going, and the inevitability of the path that they take. Psalm 2 makes the same appeal but on a universal level. This Psalm is considered a royal psalm which celebrates God as the true “King” of the world. There is a two-fold purpose for this Psalm in that it is meant to ease the minds of Israel who are dealing with the troubles caused by surrounding nations, as well as a calling to those nations to repent because God’s Kingdom is going to stand forever. Don’t fight it, God Reigns- Y’all better get used to it!!

The Apostates- The psalmist open with 3 rhetorical questions. Why do the nations (gentiles/heathen) rage (assemble tumultuously), the people plot (meditate) in vain, and kings take counsel together? Their attempt is to throw off God’s rule (Jer. 5:5/1 Pet 2:7-8). Earthly kings have long considered themselves part divine, and often refuse to give God glory (Dan 4:28-38).

The Almighty- However, God mocks the earthly kings with laughter knowing that their efforts to outlast His control are futile (Psalm 37:12-16). God holds them in derision (teasing/to imitate a foreigner). Because of His displeasure, God responds to them in anger all those who walk away from his instruction (Psalm 50:16). God also responds by declaring that “He” has set up His kingdom to be ruled by His Son (Dan. 2:44/Mic. 4:7).

The Anointed- In verse 7 the speaker changes and the Son says that God has crowned as King. It is here were we find Christological references in the Psalms. God has decreed that it will be His Son that will reign forever (Acts 13:28-33/Psalm 110:1).

The Advice- He is a wonderful reference to the gospel of Jesus Christ in the OT. The psalmist ends by calling all of the ungodly nations to repent and to serve God. Verse 10 says be wise and listen to the instruction (Law) of God (Psalm 1). Verse 11 says, Serve the Lord with reverence, and pay homage (kiss) to the Son lest He respond in wrath (Phil 2:10-11).