Kiss the Son: Psalm 2:10-12

Posted on May 29, 2012 | 1 Comment

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.”

Psalm 2:10-12, NKJV

Our behavior in the bright light of Psalm 2 should be adjusted. This psalm has been a veritable feast and there are no leftovers! All of what we have read and considered has enriched us.

These last three verses seem to top everything off quite nicely. They deal with the tragic rebellion of our own hearts. Exhortations are being made, but we are not always willing to surrender, and the Psalmist resorts to a plaintive cry.  Keep in mind dear one, this is being written to Christians!

“Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.”

1 Corinthians 5:20 

Commentary

V. 10, “ Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.”

Teachableness is hardly a character quality for a ruling monarch. I suppose a spiteful arrogance is much more seen. Being wise and teachable might be great in theory, but quite often things work against anything being put in practice.

These things are a choice we must make. We decide exactly how humble we will be. We make the decision to be wise, and to receive instruction. It’s up to you.

V. 11,  ” Serve the Lord with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.”

We are to do certain things, but with “modifiers.” We serve, but with fear. We rejoice, but with trembling.  Far to often, we won’t use these modifiers, (how often have you trembled when you were rejoicing in your worship time at church?)

Serving and rejoicing are both critical places to be. And “fear and trembling” turn our service and praise into things of great value to the Lord. After all, He is great and mighty, and we are puny and small. I doubt if there can be a true worshipper who is not a God fearer first.

V. 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.”

This is my favorite verse in Psalm 2. “Kiss the Son,” no matter what happens, or what brutal situation comes. Kiss Him. Your love at this point is critical, and it has more value than you realize. Find Him, and kiss Him.

There are sad and ugly things if you won’t. Perishing and a kindled wrath are things to anticipate if you refuse. I hope you won’t. There is a place of blessedness to everyone who places their trust in Him. This is a prime place to be, and nothing compares to it.

ybic, Bryan


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Over 4000 Hits!

Posted on May 27, 2012 | 2 Comments

Just a bit of news. Psalmslife.com has just surpassed 4000 hits! We have a deep understanding  of His Grace on us. And each Psalm is embedded with His presence.

I completely understand His goodness on each post. His presence is both elegant and strong as I write. I love Him for all that He does. I do sense His special presence within each and every post.

I really hope you are blessed with each and every post. But each one that is written, has a profound sense of God’s presence saturating it. Be truly blessed and quite aware of His presence.

ybic, Bryan

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Given the Nations: Psalm 2:7-9

Posted on May 25, 2012 | 1 Comment

7 “The king proclaims the Lord’s decree:
“The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son.[b]
    Today I have become your Father.[c]
8 Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,
    the whole earth as your possession.
9 You will break[d] them with an iron rod
    and smash them like clay pots.’”

Psalm 2:7-9, NLT

When the Father talks about His son, it is very hard for Him not to ‘proclaim.’ Almost every parent sees their children with special eyes. We think they are the best thing since ‘sliced bread.’ But in Jesus’ case, it was the truth.

This section, (vv. 7-9) seems to lack a cohesive point. But I contend that this is because we don’t really see Jesus as Lord of all. If you should venture out into this, your paths should lead you into the Book of Revelation, chapter 2. This is where Psalm 2:9  is quoted. And the context is Jesus’ authority. He rules over all we see, or all we will see.

Commentary

V. 7, “The king proclaims the Lord’s decree:
“The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son.
    Today I have become your Father.“

Two thing are critical to understand this verse.

  1. The Lord’s decree being spoken of is the revealing of the Davidic covenant. This was a specific promise made to David in 2 Samuel 7:16. God chose to make these covenants with several men. I think of them as God’s extension pole, that starts small and then ‘telescopes’ out. Each covenant gets pulled out, and the pole gets longer with each new section.
  2. There is a very close relationship. Specific words are “Father,” and “Son.” And although this is applied to David (on his coronation day) but it is an authentic reference to the Lord Jesus Christ.

V. 8, “Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,
    the whole earth as your possession.”

I see this ‘mirroring’ Abraham’s choice of land to occupy. Lot chose first, and got the best. But the Lord intervened and gave Abraham more. This verse 8, is an invitation to take ‘all the marbles.’ God loves the nations, the gentiles, the whole earth! The word ‘possession’ is key. It means control or ownership.

V. 9, “You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.’”

 A ministry of “break” and “smash.” This is the work of the Messiah, and it is not ours. It is a response of judgement. Keep in mind that the world and its government are in rebellion to God. Clay pots are smashed quite easily, they have no defense against an iron rod. Governments will collapse. “Humpty Dumpty, sat on a wall…”

We look forward to this day. We anticipate Jesus’ total victory, over our evil and wicked governments. Personally, I no longer stand when the national anthem is played. I will sit. I choose only to acknowledge Jesus, the true messiah. I can’t pledge my allegiance to a nation that kills millions of their babies, and goes to war against third world countries. I won’t stand, never. I am waiting for Jesus the King.

ybic, Bryan

Footnotes:
  1. Psalm 2:6 Hebrew on Zion.
  2. Psalm 2:7 Or Son; also in 2:12.
  3. Psalm 2:7 Or Today I reveal you as my son.
  4. Psalm 2:9 Greek version reads rule. Compare Rev 2:27.
  5. Psalm 2:12 The meaning of the Hebrew is uncertain.
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The Messiah Enthroned: Psalm 2:4-6

Posted on May 24, 2012 | Leave a comment

4 “But the one who rules in heaven laughs.
    The Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then in anger he rebukes them,
    terrifying them with his fierce fury.
6 For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne
    in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.”

Psalm 2:4-6, NLT

When we read this, we are made very much aware that the conspiracies of the lost are of no consequence. He sees, He acknowledges them,  and then He laughs. Whatever they conjure up is of very little significance. He is aware, but is never vulnerable.

We hear a laughter coming from the throne. The Father is amused at the efforts of men, who seek to dispose of Him. There is something comical about what they are doing. It is a joke. There are many who believe they can dismiss God, and they try very hard to nullify and to sidetrack His presence.

Commentary

V. 4, “But the one who rules in heaven laughs.
    The Lord scoffs at them.”

He is a ruler. His rule and reign is never, ever threatened by the machinations of men. There is absolutely not a single thing that we can do about it. Our strategies are only an amusement to heaven. We try so hard to “zero” out Him, but He continues to influence, and rule over us.

This is disturbing to secular man. We have developed over time, a society of complete resistance to the ‘idea’ of a God. Teachers and philosophers have advanced ‘workable’ ideas to dethrone Him. We encounter this militant attitude on a daily basis.

V.5, ” Then in anger he rebukes them,
    terrifying them with his fierce fury.”

This is a strong and active response to those who have tried to hijack our civilization, and turn from Him enmass. There is a laughter, but with it an anger.  We shouldn’t minimize His reaction. We may love Him for many things, but are we really aware of a wrath that is ‘terrific’ to those in opposition?

Over time and through many centuries, we have cultivated this ‘fear’ of God. We simply do not see Him as He really is anymore. If we believe that God exists at all, we make Him out to be an insensitive ogre, malicious and beastly. There are few that understand His true nature.

V. 6, “For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.”

There is an agenda, that we seldom understand. It has to do with God deciding and then willing His choice of King. He has fixed the messiah on a throne. This is a place ‘fit for a chosen king.’ This particular King is not to be trifled with, He rules completely even in spite of our shrill protestations.

This verses are ‘messianic’ even if we are not. They teach us that the Kingdom of God is not a democracy. We can’t vote on a ‘messiah.’ It is not our decision to make. The choice has already been made. Period, end of discussion.

ybic, Bryan

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The Word is Rebellion: Psalm 2:1-3

Posted on May 22, 2012 | Leave a comment

Michelangelo’s “David”

“Why are the nations so angry?
Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
2 The kings of the earth prepare for battle;
the rulers plot together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.
3 “Let us break their chains,” they cry,
“and free ourselves from slavery to God.”

Psalm 2:1-3,  NLT

This particular Psalm is frequently overlooked. It doesn’t have the charisma of its other brothers— like Psalms 23, or Psalms 51. But even a cursory look should change our minds about this. Let us put weight on what our Father puts weight on. This is wisdom.

This one of King David’s creations. It has several facets that we should note:

  • It is a “messianic psalm.” It points directly to Jesus with two direct references, “You are my Son” and a case for the resurrection.
  • It is a “prophetic psalm.” Many look back into the history of Israel. But this looks forward into the future of the world. It reveals in a poetic form what we can expect to see.
  • It is a “beautiful psalm.” It is elegant and exceptional in its composition. When I read it I think of Michelangelo’s  statue of David, in Florence, Italy. For me it has the same beauty.

Commentary

V.1, “Why are the nations so angry?
Why do they waste their time with futile plans?

There is a madness ingrained in the heart and minds of men. An anger that is always there, often just under the surface. Every so often it gets loose and nasty, ugly things happen. We have an aversion of God’s rule in our lives. I think of the story of the tower of Babel when I read this. Genesis 11 carries this story of an intelligent effort to escape God’s rule. But it is doomed to failure as the Lord’s sovereignty is never, ever questioned.

David has an ‘epiphany’ and asks why. “Why” is a good question to ask, as it deals with questions that most ignore. I love it when a young person starts asking “why?” This is a necessary step in the right direction. We need a church that will ask “why?” more often than it does.

V. 2, “The kings of the earth prepare for battle;
the rulers plot together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.”

And again we see a “preparation and a plot.” There is an organizing of sorts going on around us. We also see rebels consulting with each other about how they can actively resist God on a systematic level. This is something quite native and innate residing within.

This is a significant rebellion ‘ratcheted up’ to a satanic level. Most of humanity is busy doing Satan’s will. Jesus once spoke this—

“For you are the children of your father the devil, and you love to do the evil things he does. He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies.”

John 8:44, (also Eph. 2:2)

V. 3, “Let us break their chains,” they cry,
and free ourselves from slavery to God.”

The earnest cry of so many is too be free. Many revolutions, coups, terrorism, and assassinations have occurred in order to wrench out an imagined liberty. But our history repeatedly shows that we only replace one system with another that is just as corrupt.

We like breaking things. Government, art, literature, etc: can be summed up concisely as “breaking” things— we like the cutting edge, the ‘freshness’ of new ideas, music, art and entertainment. But all it is, is a rebellion that only perpetuates confusion and dashed hopes.

God’s kingdom is the only one that will last for an eternity.

ybic, Bryan

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You Are Being Mocked: 1 Samuel 17

Posted on May 20, 2012 | 1 Comment

 

From 1 Samuel 17

Young David stood and looked at Goliath ‘face-to-face.’  Physically there was hardly a comparison.  Goliath was almost 10 feet tall, a warrior since birth, armed to the teeth, we read of his armor–he was like a human tank!  David was nothing,  a pesky boy, nothing more.  Goliath preened and strutted into the field of battle with real and solid experience, and David was stepping up for his first try.

Goliath begins to blaspheme.  He boasts and mocks.  In his mind he is superior.  His arrogance knows no bounds.  The center of the universe is the Philistine army, and he is their champion.  Nothing can compare, the glory is his, for he believes he is the ultimate warrior on planet Earth.

“As the Philistine moved closer to attack him, David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him.  Reaching into his bag and taking out a stone, he slung it and struck the Philistine on the forehead. The stone sank into his forehead, and he fell facedown on the ground”. 

1 Sam. 17:48

I find David to be exceptional.  His reaction to the human mountain of Goliath was to run directly at him.  This is astonishing.  Goliath is a human wood chipper.  Everyone who has faced him has been destroyed.  There have been no survivors to speak of.

Many of us face a giant called “despair”.  He has marched out on the field of battle confident of his ultimate triumph over us.  We have been tutored that there are enemies that can destroy us.  We’ve been indoctrinated to accept the inevitable slavery with a spirit of sheep-like meekness.

For some reason, the concept of going to war has not been passed on to us.  The ‘enemy-giant’ of despair is real and brutal.  Our destruction is inevitable in his mind.  Despair believes he will destroy us.  Its just a matter of time. As soldiers, we are inclined to stay in the safety of the camp. In the Army, we spread among ourselves the GI wisdom, “Never volunteer for anything.”

So many believers, cowed and intimidated, surrender to the boastings of the giant Despair.  Hope, and faith are drained out of our being, and we become a empty spiritual shell.  The “warfare” dimension gets nullified, and soon irrelevant.  Despair reaches us and has the full intention of taking total control.

David ran to the battle.  He passed through the dark intimidation and influence to approach Goliath.  There was no passiveness or doubt to cloud his mind.  David took a spiritually aggressive position, he took on the confusion and ran directly at the giant Goliath.  His spirit was untouchable.

As believers, we desperately struggle and foolishly pout.  We turn our hearts over to despair.  We become available to the enemies workings.  And the confidence we might have through faith is dissipated into doubt and confusion.  But the victory we have in Christ allows us the liberty, through the Blood of Him who defeats the goliath of despair.

ybic, Bryan

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Lightning Rods: Psalm 34:19-22

Posted on May 16, 2012 | 1 Comment

19 The righteous person faces many troubles,
    but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.
20 For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous;
    not one of them is broken!

21 Calamity will surely overtake the wicked,
    and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
22 But the Lord will redeem those who serve him.
    No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.

Psalm 34:19-22

“How frail is humanity!
    How short is life, how full of trouble!”

Job 14:1

“If you will call your troubles experiences, and remember that every experience develops some latent force within you, you will grow vigorous and happy, however adverse your circumstances may seem to be.”

John Heywood, (English Playwright and Poet, 1497-1580)

The conclusion of this psalm is a description of the believer’s troubles. I daresay there is as much tribulation and trial in the Bible as the subjects of grace and love. We will find a freedom in the Lord once we stumble upon this realization. It seems I am always in “hot water,” but it keeps me clean!

“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” 

John 16:33

Commentary

V. 19, “The righteous person faces many troubles,
    but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.”

To deny that there are difficulties for the believer is silly. We seem to generate new ones on a daily basis. This is God’s work bench. And He seems to be quite comfortable with this arrangement. Only He calls them “trials.” We shouldn’t think we will eventually mature and attain some powerful wisdom. (I wish this was so.) Maturity is not the absence of issues, but the result of going through them.

The Lord is into “search and rescue.” The rescue part is great! Each of His children have this knack (or grace) in their lives. This is the doctrine of “the perseverance of the saints.” God is active and in every situation He brings deliverance and extrication.

V. 20, “For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous;
    not one of them is broken!”

In the Midwest, almost every home and barn has at least one lightning rod. I have seen three or four on bigger barns. Since there are so many thunderstorms, people have to protect their homes from strikes. You haven’t lived until you have seen lightning hit these rods.

We are much like this. We seem to attract all kinds of things. We are afflicted, but we have hope. Nothing can remain broken.

“He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.”

2 Corinthians 1:4

V. 21, “Calamity will surely overtake the wicked,
    and those who hate the righteous will be punished.”

This awesome dynamic only works for believers. For those still separated from God, we should only expect trials to hurt and break. The unbeliever can only expect his/her trials to harm and injure. It is a sad thing to watch, but there are so many who are in pain. “The wages of sin is death.” I’m glad I’m no longer on that particular payroll.

V. 22, “ But the Lord will redeem those who serve him.
    No one who takes refuge in him will be condemned.”

Redeem and Refuge. Both words require some interesting initiative on our part as believers. The ‘redeem’ phrase puts out the idea of service. When we set our live to be His servants He runs out to meet us (a.k.a. “the Prodigal Son” in Luke 15.)

The ‘refuge’ phrase works off the idea of the cities of Refuge in the O.T. Someone guilty could flee to them for safety. What was literal in the O.T. is a figurative (or spiritual) in the N.T. We have committed sins, indecencies, and rebellious acts. But there is a rescuer, a redeemer most gentle and kind.

ybic, Bryan

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