The Rebellious Folly of Man Crushed In Jesus

Ps. 2

Jay Horsley

The second psalm is clearly Messianic (predictive of the Messiah), but it also teaches any who would presume to oppose the wisdom, plan and revelation of God.

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!"

The rebellious spirit common to human nature is expressed in the attitude of those who are gathered against “the Lord's anointed.” Men at the highest level of political power and religious education counseled together to do evil. They wished to supplant God's will for their own. This certainly was fulfilled in the plots Jews against Jesus and His crucifixion at the hands of the Romans, as proved by the apostles usage and quotation of this passage in Acts 4:25-28. But the universality of truth (along with the habitual repetition of the sins by man) indicts those of many other generations as well.

4-6 “He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them.

5 Then He will speak to them in His anger And terrify them in His fury:

6 "But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain."

Compare the omnipotence of God to the will of rebellious men. God laughs them to scorn, derides them, for their sinful folly. The greatest commentary that can be made concerning the outcome of this war of wills between God and man is seen in vs. 6. After the most powerful of men consult and conspire together and act cooperatively together with all their force, the outcome is simply “But...” (or “Yet...” as other versions give). In spite of all they do God still reigns – and now through a new King in Zion. No explanation the work of God is needed; no long, hard battle must be detailed. They lose, God wins and all their pretense simply left to the history books. As God acts they will be terrified and distressed at the overwhelming fury of God.

7-9 "I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, 'Thou art My Son, Today I have begotten Thee.

8 'Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Thine inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Thy possession.

9 'Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron, Thou shalt shatter them like earthenware.'"

In contrast to the inept rebellion of man is the great statement of the divinity of the Messiah. He is the only begotten Son of God. This is a passage quoted repeatedly in the New Testament (Acts 13:33; Heb. 1:5; 5:5 - and all the times that Jesus referred to as “only begotten Son”). He shall be given all the world and the power to rule it. Compare His strength to the weak play for power made by men – this is why those who oppose Him cannot win. He will go through them like an iron bar swung through pottery.

10-12 “Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth.

11 Worship the LORD with reverence, And rejoice with trembling.

12 Do homage to the Son, lest He become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!”

The only reasonable and eternally rewarding course is to be “wise and instructed” (NKJV) or “discerning and warned” (NASB). These “wise and warned” will serve the Lord with the awe, reverence and a sanctified heart of rejoicing. They will seek out the Son of God and worship Him. All others will perish. Perish or be greatly blessed - its up to you and which wisdom you follow – God's or man's.

With whom will you take your stand? Whose wisdom rules your life? Is it the man made wisdom of this age or that of the only begotten Son of God that you daily choose to follow? The fact that Jesus reigns at the right hand of God is certain proof of whom we should follow. But some ignore this fact just as they do this and other predictive prophesies. This is the insipid and vamped wisdom of the world that Jesus has destroyed. Only the fool knowingly walks the path of destruction.