The Messianic Psalms

Psalm 2 – The Coming Messianic Kingdom

 

By I Gordon

 

 

The first Psalm that speaks directly of the Messiah is Psalm 2, and while it is one of the very first Psalms listed in our Bible, it takes us to the very end of the age in which we currently live – to the return of Jesus Himself!

 

Psalm 2:1-3 ‘Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?  The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One.  “Let us break their chains,” they say, and throw off their fetters.” 

 

The Psalm starts then where Humankind has been since the fall of Adam – that is, in open rebellion towards God. Although this time there is a difference. Here we see the nations conspiring together to openly stand against God Almighty, and against His anointed one, Jesus Christ. A partial fulfilment of this verse was seen in the crucifixion of Jesus as quoted by the early church in Acts 4:25. But when we read the entire Psalm we see a different scene emerging. We see another time in the not too distant future when the nations will once again unite in rebellion against God. This event, where the kings of the earth will join to rebel against God has been prophesied in both the Old and New Testaments.

 

Daniel 7:23-25 ‘The fourth beast is a fourth kingdom that will appear on earth. It will be different from all the other kingdoms and will devour the whole earth, trampling it down and crushing it.  The ten horns are ten kings who will come from this kingdom. After them another king will arise, different from the earlier ones; he will subdue three kings. He will speak against the Most High and oppress his saints.”

 

This same ten-kingdom confederacy, which from Daniel is seen to be a last days revival of the Roman Empire, is also seen in the book of Revelation where they make war against the Lamb (Jesus Christ).

 

Revelation 17:12-14  ‘The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast.   They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. They will make war against the Lamb…’

 

So we have seen from Daniel that they will oppress God’s saints of that time, and Revelation even tells us they will openly make war against Jesus Christ, the Lamb of God. Quite obviously, God has a lot to be worried about wouldn’t you think? Not likely!

 

 

Psalm 2:4-5 ‘The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath…’

 

What is God’s reaction to this final rebellion of mankind? Laughter. This united opposition is, to God, laughably pathetic! And here is the reason why - The word ‘Lord’ in verse 4 is the Hebrew name ‘Adonai’ meaning ‘sovereign’. It portrays the one who controls and works out all things according to His will. (Eph 1:11) Even the united will of mankind, under the control of the Antichrist is no match for the sovereign Lord. But God does more than just laugh for the quote goes on to say that He terrifies them in His wrath. For thousands of years the ‘day of the Lord’ has been prophesied about. The day when the full fury and wrath of God will be poured out against those oppose and hate His name. Both Revelation and Daniel amongst other prophetic scriptures give a glimpse of this day.

 

Revelation 6:15-17 ‘Then the kings of the earth, the princes, the generals, the rich, the mighty, and every slave and every free man hid in caves and among the rocks of the mountains. They called to the mountains and the rocks, “Fall on us and hide us from the face of him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb!  For the great day of their wrath has come, and who can stand?” ‘

 

Rev 19:11-16 ‘I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice he judges and makes war.   His eyes are like blazing fire, and on his head are many crowns...Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. “He will rule them with an iron scepter.” He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written:  KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS.”

 

 

Psalm 2:6 “I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.”

 

Here we see the Father speaking of His plan in that day for His son. The sovereign and almighty God will install and set up His King, the Lord Jesus Christ, on Zion, the holy hill. So what exactly is this speaking of then? In verse 5 of Psalm 2 we saw God rebuke the nations in His wrath. Here in verse 6 we see the next scene to be played out and it is the establishment of the Messianic Kingdom on earth in Jerusalem. This is the fulfilment of many prophecies that both Jews and Christians have longed for over thousands of years. It is the day when righteousness shall reign and justice will prevail and the glory of God will shine upon the earth. Many scriptures speak of that great day and specifically about Jerusalem being raised high above the other mountains, from which the glory of the King and His city shall shine. Lets look at a few of these.

 

Joel 3:16-18 ‘The LORD will roar from Zion and thunder from Jerusalem; the earth and the sky will tremble. But the LORD will be a refuge for his people, a stronghold for the people of Israel. ‘Then you will know that I, the LORD your God, dwell in Zion, my holy hill. Jerusalem will be holy; never again will foreigners invade her. ‘In that day the mountains will drip new wine, and the hills will flow with milk; all the ravines of Judah will run with water. A fountain will flow out of the LORD’s house and will water the valley of acacias.”

 

Isaiah 2:1-4 ‘This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:  In the last days the mountain of the LORD’s temple will be established as chief among the mountains; it will be raised above the hills, and all nations will stream to it. Many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.” The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples. They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks. Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore. ‘

 

Zechariah 14:9-11 ’The LORD will be king over the whole earth. On that day there will be one LORD, and his name the only name.  The whole land, from Geba to Rimmon, south of Jerusalem, will become like the Arabah. But Jerusalem will be raised up and remain in its place… It will be inhabited; never again will it be destroyed. Jerusalem will be secure. ‘

 

Isaiah 62:1-4 ‘For Zion’s sake I will not keep silent, for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines out like the dawn, her salvation like a blazing torch. The nations will see your righteousness, and all kings your glory; you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will bestow. You will be a crown of splendor in the LORD’s hand, a royal diadem in the hand of your God. No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah (my delight is in her), and your land Beulah (married).

 

 

Psalm 2:7 ‘I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.’

 

In the last verse we saw the declaration of the Father that He would install His Son upon Zion. Here we see the response and testimony of Jesus Christ as He proclaims that which His Father has spoken to Him. Namely, that He is the Son of God. This decree is spoken of in the New Testament as it relates to Jesus’ resurrection (Acts 13:33-34, Rom 1:4, Heb 1:5). But it seems the entire fulfillment of this verse awaits His return where once and for all, the nations will see the Son of God manifested in all His glory,

 

Isaiah 9:6-7 ‘For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the LORD Almighty will accomplish this. ‘

 

 

Psalm 2:8-9 ‘Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.” ‘

 

Here we see the Father, in turn, responding to the Son. The entire earth and all the nations upon it will come under the authority of the Son of God. What is it that Jesus has to do for this to be accomplished? Only this – He simply needs to ask the Father! The timing of this event brings us to the seventh and last trumpet in the Book of Revelation.

 

Revelation 11:15 ‘The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:  “The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he will reign for ever and ever.” ‘

 

We quoted earlier from Daniel chapter 7 to show that the kings of the earth will unite under one leader, the antichrist, to oppose both the Messiah and His saints. But that is not all Daniel saw!

 

Daniel 7:13-14 “In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all peoples, nations and men of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed. ‘

 

As we have just seen, Daniel was also given a revelation of the Father (the ‘Ancient of Days’) handing all authority and sovereign power over the nations into the hands of Jesus Christ – the one ‘like a son of man’. Everything was created through Jesus Christ and He is also the heir of all things. (Hebrews 1.2) And the day will surely come when He asks of the Father to receive His inheritance and from the presence of the Ancient of Days Jesus shall be given all authority and power over the heavens and the earth. As wonderful as that is however, Daniel also saw what becomes of the saints – those who believe in Jesus as the Messiah.

 

Daniel 7:27 ‘Then the sovereignty, power and greatness of the kingdoms under the whole heaven will be handed over to the saints, the people of the Most High. His kingdom will be an everlasting kingdom, and all rulers will worship and obey him.’

 

We shall also reign in the Messianic Kingdom on earth with Jesus, just as it was promised to the church in Revelation 2:26-27, 3:21.

 

 

Psalm 2:10-12 ‘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. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.’

 

In view of everything that we have seen, what is the critical need for the rulers and kings of this earth? It is to serve the Lord with fear and trembling, and to kiss (or do homage) to the Son, lest He become angry. This psalm ends in stark contrast to how it began. It started with a united rebellion against God and ends here with the most solemn of warnings to the world to be in full submission to the Son of God. How extraordinary that mankind believes they could rebel against God and win! But we see from this study the exact opposite. God’s plans and purposes cannot be stopped and will be fulfilled exactly as they have been laid out in scripture. And to those of us who do believe in His name, this Psalm ends with encouragement – ‘Blessed are those who take refuge in Him!’ What an understatement that will be when we live and rule with Him in His Kingdom! The whole world stands or falls depending upon their attitude towards the Messiah, Jesus Christ. As the Bible tells us in Romans 9:33 –

 

“Behold, I lay in Zion a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense,

And he who believes in Him will not be disappointed.”   

 

To those who stubbornly will not believe, Jesus is a rock and stone that causes them to stumble. But to those who do believe, God is preparing His Kingdom, and, most certainly, we ‘will not be disappointed!’