Psalm 2, 2of5

~ Psalm 2 Seen As 4 Speakers ~

Introduction  ~  This is one of the many psalms that King David wrote (see Acts 4:25).  It shows the rebellious nature of mankind.  The theme is “God’s King” and it has also been described as “Christ—The Mighty Prince.”  It is the first of the Messianic Psalms and has been referred to as “A Hymn of the Coming Messiah.”  From a global perspective it is about the Messiah’s triumph and kingdom (see Acts 4:23-31 which quotes part of Psalm 2).

Outline  ~  The 12 verse psalm can easily be divided into four sections of 3 verses each.

1        Rejection (the people speak—rebellion)  ~  ”Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, ‘Let us break their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords from us’” (Psalm 2:1-3).

2        Return (God the Father speaks—retribution)  ~  “He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision.  Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: ‘Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion’” (Psalm 2:4-6).

3        Reign (the Son of God speaks—repossession)  ~  “I will declare the decree: the Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.  Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession.  You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel’” (Psalm 2:7-9).

4        Remonstrance (the Spirit of God speaks—reasoning)  ~  “Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth.  Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.  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).

Summary  ~  In the Treasury of David the “Prince of Preachers” Charles Haddon Spurgeon wrote that the whole psalm “Shows us the nature of sin, and the terrible results of it if it could reign.”  It refers to the deity of the Coming Messiah (2:7) and to the Messiah’s ultimate reign (2:8).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Psalm 2, 1of5

~ Psalm 2 Viewed As 4 Behaviors ~

Introduction  ~  This is one of the many psalms that King David wrote (see Acts 4:25).  It shows the rebellious nature of mankind.  The theme is “God’s King” and it has also been described as “Christ—The Mighty Prince.”  It is the first of the Messianic Psalms and has been referred to as “A Hymn of the Coming Messiah.”  From a global perspective it is about the Messiah’s triumph and kingdom (see Acts 4:23-31 which quotes part of Psalm 2).

Outline  ~  The 12 verse psalm can easily be divided into four sections of 3 verses each.

1        Rebellion  ~  ”Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?  The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, ‘Let us break their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords from us’” (Psalm 2:1-3).

2        Rebuke  ~  “He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision.  Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: ‘Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion’” (Psalm 2:4-6).

3        Response  ~  “I will declare the decree: the Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.  Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession.  You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel’” (Psalm 2:7-9).

4        Redemption  ~  “Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth.  Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.  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).

Summary  ~  In the Treasury of David the “Prince of Preachers” Charles Haddon Spurgeon wrote that the whole psalm “Shows us the nature of sin, and the terrible results of it if it could reign.”  It refers to the deity of the Coming Messiah (2:7) and to the Messiah’s ultimate reign (2:8).

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .

Spiritual War, 4of20

~ Spiritual War: Basic Training ~

Our Trainer  ~  “For who is God, except the Lord?  And who is a rock, except our God?  It is God who arms me with strength, and makes my way perfect.  He makes my feet like the feet of deer, and sets me on my high places.  He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze” (Psalm 18:31-34).

“Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle—my lovingkindness and my fortress, my high tower and my deliverer, my shield and the One in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me” (Psalm 144:1-2).

Our Coach  ~  “When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches.  Because You have been my help, therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.  My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me” (Psalm 63:6-8).

Our Supplies  ~  “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).

Our Requirements  ~  “You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.  And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.  You therefore must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.  No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier” (2 Timothy 2:1-4).

The Bottom Line  ~  We are to maintain our endurance—we must maintain our focus as soldiers and not become tourists in a world that hates our Savior.  

~ Robert Lloyd Russell, ABUNDANT LIFE NOW

NOTES:

(1)     The current TOP 10 ALN posts are listed at the very bottom of this home page.

(2)     There is an INDEX of all ALN posts accessed by scrolling down the left column.

(3)     You may LINK to any ALN posts on your own blog or website. 

(4)     You may COPY any ALN post, but please credit ALN as the source by prominently displaying the following statement:  Reprinted from “Abundant Life Now,” a free blog which offers inspiring moments, thought-provoking comments, and solid Biblical insight at http://RobertLloydRussell.blogspot.com/ .