THE DEATH OF CHRIST
Psalm 2: 1-12 & Acts 4: 23-31
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A PRESBYTERIAN PSALTER - by Pastor Max A Forsythe |
The first point that I need to make this morning is the fact that the Greek word for "Christ" is the same in meaning as the Hebrew word "Messiah". In fact we may translate both in the real sense of meaning "the Lord's anointed." Same title and logically I believe, the same person, even Jesus whom we now know as The Lord's Anointed". I do not believe as some of my former critics believed that there is a distinction between the expected Christ and the real Christ. I do not think that I demean the Old Testament by finding Jesus the Christ constantly referred to in passage after passage. Isn't the real purpose of the Old Covenant to point us constantly to the real God/King who would come at the appointed time?
Tragically, the Jewish nation expected the kingly role to be played out on a more worldly stage rather than a heavenly one. Even today, the worldly stage is of much greater importance than any possible heavenly one. Just this week, that great theological magazine, Time magazine printed several related articles to the concept of heaven. I hope I am being fair to the several authors and theologians by using their correct terminology "concept of heaven." After all, the biblical reality is shunned by practically everyone who appears to have studied the subject seriously. And about the most enthusiasm that can be worked up is a commitment that if heaven didn't exist someone would have had to invent the idea!
To be fair, there were more substantive hints at something more than just imagination but a full blown investigation of the reality would only divide people instead of helping us to build a heaven on earth! You see, if the truth be told, the vast majority have no hope in heaven because their hearts and minds are set against the God of heaven. And while there is a growing crowd who believe that the concepts of heaven and hell might be helpful in defining wicked behavior from goodly behavior, they would rather not have the biblical teachings that define such! Well do Peter and John quote from our psalm this morning to show us the worldly mind which is set indeed against the Lord's Anointed.
The Second Psalm falls naturally into four divisions of three verses each. Each division is a separate scene with a different speaker. We may summarize each briefly. Scene one describes the nature of the world in opposition to our God. Scene two is set in heaven and we hear the Lord's reaction to the worldly and see that he has a purpose. Scene three gives us the proclamation of God's Sonship and the promise made to Him. The last scene we might describe as the witness of true Israel or in our time Christ's own Church.
Certainly we can read this and apply general meanings in the sense of David's kingdom in Israel. However, we must appreciate the messianic implications of this Psalm in its prophetic application of Jesus as Lord. Let us turn to the first scene for our beginning point. Here we have in the same sense as the book of Revelation and other scenes in both Testaments a description of a restless sea of humanity. Our psalmist asks: "Why do the nations conspire and the people plot in vain?" The verb here is not one of internal feeling but of outward agitation. This verse also describes a past and future sense of conspiracy which has not changed throughout history. We would do well to reflect on the revelations of the Scriptures that such conspiracy and raging is not accomplished because God wills that events will turn out according to His plan. We know that the Herod and Pilate took their stand and conspired against the Anointed One prophesied in verse two.
Even today people like these ancient kings conspire to throw off the perceived chains of God's law and purpose. I once read how the Dayton, Tennessee Evolutionary case was planned carefully to discredit Christ's Church. And I recently read of a national concern amongst a great number of people who do not want any censorship on their right to determine free speech on the internet or anyplace else. So we see that there is really nothing new under the sun since David's time at all.
We turn to scene two to hear of God's reaction. And what is it? "The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them." A few years back a petty tyrant at one corporation tried to use an administrative position as a stepping stone to greater promotions. It was so evident how this person viewed her self importance. One day a foot was stamped in irritation at the improper understanding of the peasants in attendance to her wisdom . This prompted an outbreak of uncontrollable laughter. That event finished the local career of that one individual, she was promoted to a better place! How much more so will the laughter of our God and King rebuke the minor potentates who view the world as unlivable without their management? In verse five we see that God goes further and rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them with the announcement that His own King has been installed in Zion.
This leads us to hear the words of this king as reported in scene three: "I will proclaim the decree of the Lord." And that decree is intimate in its relationship. God has indeed said to Jesus Christ "You are my Son". And it is he who is presaged here in this passage. Like the habits of the lesser kings of earth we hear that God's favored one may "Ask of me" and God will put all things under His feet. All of those who would conspire are within His inheritance. The ends of the whole earth of His possession. And at the last trumpet when the age shall end, all of those who conspire will be broken like pottery forever.
We come to the fourth scene. Here is the proclamation that must be made by all who take refuge in Christ. This is to be the witness of the Anointed One's followers. This warning must be given to the worldly and those who rule without benefit of God's law. "Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling." In this fear and rejoicing we are to be wise. The wisdom called for here is in the sense that we are willing to be instructed. And this instruction is for our well being. It is for our salvation. You see, our natural tendency is to stand with the group described in verses one through three. We all to a certain extent would like to see less restrictions on our activities from God's Holy Word. Yet, His word has life for us. In fear and trembling we come before our God and King and admit that His word is indeed precious and necessary for our salvation.
We must according to the sum of both Old and New testimonies decide what we will do with Jesus Christ. The words "Kiss the Son" in verse twelve indicate that we ought to embrace him and depend upon him. Of course we might in a human sense see this kissing in the sense of a scene in the Godfather film where one errant servant is compelled to kiss the ring of the ruling Don. That scene is one of relationship between a superior and an inferior. Our proper understanding of this "Kiss the Son" should be in the sense of love and adoration which we give in our regular worship of Jesus Christ. If this is our relationship than we can hope in our refuge in Him. The psalm closes with a blessing for we who do indeed worship the Lord's Anointed One who is clearly described here almost nine centuries before He appeared among us.
To this One who was not yet known, our psalmist directs our attention. He would have it known early on in the Psalter that there is indeed coming One to the throne of David, God's own Messiah. And so as we see in our passage from Acts, the Lord's Anointed came, was crucified and then raised up from the dead. Now He is ruling the Kingdom of Heaven from on high. Even as we earnestly desire to be with Him, we are reminded that until that great day, we are charged to speak the word of God boldly to this generation! Yes, just like Peter and John, there are growing threats against the true proclamation of the Gospel.
Yet, like the early church, we are encouraged to be in constant prayer for a real spiritual reformation and revival in our day and time. I know that there is more than a passing interest within this little body for such a modern outpouring of the Lord's Holy Spirit, and we are willing to do what we may. As we look around the room, we are sometimes dismayed at the smallness of our crowd even though we know that Jesus Christ is in our midst. May He give us courage and wisdom to proclaim the Gospel and the Glory of Himself which He has given to us for our time and place. Amen.
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Resources Used: |
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Berkhof, Louis |
Manual of Christian Doctrine. | |
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Spurgeon, C.H. |
The Treasury of David. | |
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Van Biema, David |
"Whatever Became of Heaven", Time (24 Mar 97) | |
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Foundation for Reformation. New Geneva Study Bible . (1995) Thomas Nelson, Inc. New King James Version. (1982) | ||
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Psm 02b |
17 June 90 & 23 March 97 | |