One King to obey and honor; and know His blessing, Psa 2.

Class Outline:

Thursday October 20, 2022

 

Zoom cancelled tomorrow.

 

Psa 2

Why are the nations in an uproar,

And the peoples devising a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth take their stand,

And the rulers take counsel together

Against the Lord and against His

Anointed:

3 "Let us tear their fetters apart,

And cast away their cords from us!"

 

As we see the application of this first stanza in the prayer of the infant church in Act 4, the nations will refer to Gentile nations and their kings, and the “peoples” are sadly a reference to the Messiah’s own peoples, the Jews

 

The first stanza is an expression of amazement and even indignation at the rage of the peoples. The word “rage” can be used to describe something like the raging sea, but here it is the tumultuous meeting of rebels who plan an attack. The present tense tells us that it is going on at the time of the coronation of the king.

 

“Devising” is the same verb used in PSA 1:2 translated “meditates.”

 

While the righteous are meditating on the Scripture day and night (1:2) the raging ungodly are devising plans of overthrow (2:1).

 

What the rebels plan is described as a vain thing (an empty thing).

 

Peter and the infant church in Jerusalem prayed this very prayer after Peter and John were tried and persecuted by the religious leaders for preaching the gospel in the Temple.

 

They prayed out of their own hearts and from the psalm.

 

I would confidently say that the effective prayers of others are given to us in the Scripture so that we may be guided in a similar manner.

 

Psalms 1-2 are to set us up to be ready for the life of Christ in our own practice.

 

ACT 4:23-31

When they had been released, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and the elders had said to them. 24 And when they heard this, they lifted their voices to God with one accord and said, "O Lord, it is You who MADE THE HEAVEN AND THE EARTH AND THE SEA, AND ALL THAT IS IN THEM, (PSA 146:6) 25 who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said,

 

'WHY DID THE GENTILES RAGE,

AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS?

26 'THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND,

AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER

AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.'

 

27 "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur [a fulfillment of the Psa 2 as the rulers and the people stood against God’s anointed and failed]. 29 "And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and grant that Your bond-servants may speak Your word with all confidence, 30 while You extend Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders take place through the name of Your holy servant Jesus." 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness.

 

Their prayer has two psalms, their own commentary on Psa 2 in vs. 25 who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said…, stating to God the recent history of Jesus Christ and God’s decree in Psa 2 being perfectly fulfilled, and then their own petitions for their own effective ministry. Note how they pray for their ability to speak God’s word with confidence and not for selfish things like fortune and comfort.

 

They see themselves living in the reality of God’s victory in the conflict that He chooses to allow to continue. The know there will be difficulty and need, but they also see God’s sovereign plan of which they are a part and desire more than anything to succeed in.

 

Peter and all reveal to us in real time how we apply Psa 2 to our own lives. The Lord didn’t fight against Pilate and Herod, but only submitted to the Father, knowing the decree that in no way could the rulers, nor the religious leaders, nor the people in the square shouting out “Crucify Him,” succeed. Peter and the infant church did the same. They claimed the promise, not taking up arms or plotting revolts or terrorism, but simply submitting to the life that was given to them by Christ.

 

Psa 2 pits mortals against deity and earth against heaven. No wonder the writer (and God) is amazed.

 

PSA 2:1-3

Why are the nations in an uproar,

And the peoples devising a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth take their stand,

And the rulers take counsel together

Against the Lord and against His

Anointed:

3 "Let us tear their fetters apart,

And cast away their cords from us!"

 

“take their stand” has an antagonistic meaning of “against.”

 

The ungodly think they are standing against the people of the church, but it is against the Lord.

 

1SA 8:7

for they have not rejected you, but they have rejected Me

 

1TH 4:7-8

For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification. 8 Consequently, he who rejects this is not rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you.

 

So pray for them. The Lord Jesus, the very King of Psa 2, gave these words while He was on the earth that was full of those who would devise a vain thing and take their stand against Him.

 

LUK 6:27-28

“But I say to you who hear, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28 bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you.”

 

The “anointed” - mashiyach = anointed (Anglicized = Messiah). He is the chosen King - the Son.

 

For the peoples and the nations to overthrow the anointed King would be to try and overthrow the plan of God. As the prophet Jeremiah says:

 

JER 31:36

"If this fixed order [sun, moon, stars, oceans] departs

From before Me," declares the Lord,

"Then the offspring of Israel also will cease

From being a nation before Me forever."

 

Do you see who your Lord is? Do you see who your anointed King is? Do you know, believer, that you are united to Him in marriage forever and that He has placed you in the very sphere of the fellowship of the Trinity in their joy and love? Why do you fear anything outside of not pleasing Him? Why do you look with gloom upon yourself and your future?

 

Php 4:4-7

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication [deesis = asking, “petition” in EPH 6:18; “prayers” in Php 1:4, 19; used in 16 verses in NT] with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

 

In PSA 2:3, the resolution of the tumultuous meeting is “Let us break their bonds and cast their cords from us.” The bonds are chains and the fetters are ropes; both speaking of dominion of the king. They are not in prison or prisoners to the king, but they feel as if they are.

 

PSA 2:3

"Let us tear their fetters apart,

And cast away their cords from us!"

 

So many in the world think they are in bondage, but they have no idea of a real prison (judgment from God).

 

This principle also applies to believers who imagine that their life is hard and their complaining leads them to various sins that accompany all who are discontent. We all can do this. Our Father will then reveal to us that we have it all wrong and will reveal to us reality, HEB 12:5-13.

 

To the world, God’s law is the fetter and cord.

 

JER 5:5

“I will go to the great

And will speak to them,

For they know the way of the Lord,

And the ordinance of their God."

But they too, with one accord, have broken the yoke

And burst the bonds.”