THE HEATHEN RAGE--SO WHAT?
Text: Psalm 2:1-12
Intro: Whole Psalm. Shows us the nature of sin,
and the terrible results of it if it could rule.
Probably David wrote this Psalm after he had taken Jerusalem from the
Jebusites, and made it the head of the kingdom; 2 Samuel 5:7-9.
The Philistines,
hearing this, encamped in the valley of Rephaim, near Jerusalem.
Syria, Phoenicia (today’s Lebanon), and other warlike people united
their armies to those of the Philistines in order to destroy David
before he had strengthened himself in the kingdom.
David, having INQUIRED OF THE LORD, 2 Samuel 5:17-19,
totally overthrew his enemies.
First. we may suppose that this Psalm was written to celebrate the
taking of Jerusalem, and the overthrowof all the kings and chiefs of the
neighboring nations.
Second, we find from the use made of this Psalm by the apostles, Acts 4:27,
that David typified Jesus Christ; and that the Psalm celebrates the victory of
the Gospel over all opposition.
_______________Adam Clarke Commentary
Theme: This Psalm gives us hope in the fact that Jesus will reign
over all his enemies.
I. (This Psalm will be best understood if
it is viewed as a four fold picture.
1-3 The nations are raging.
4-6 The Lord in heaven derides them.
7-9 The Son proclaims the decree.
10-12 Advice is given to the kings to yield
obedience to the Lord’s anointed. )
A. (v.1) Why are the people from other nations so angry?
Why are they making foolish plans?
The zenith of human sin is man’s hatred of the Mediator.
"rage" outward agitation to which the verse refers.
May be a reference to the rolling and roaring of the sea,
often used as an emblem of popular commotion, both in the
Scriptures and the classics
_____________Treasury Of David
illu: man’s anger toward God...more disastrous than the following:
As a passenger boarded the Los Angeles-to-New York plane, he told the flight attendant to wake him and make sure he got off in Dallas.
The passenger awoke just as the plane was landing in New York. Furious, he called the flight attendant and demanded an explanation.
The fellow mumbled an apology and, in a rage, the passenger stomped off the plane. "Boy, was he ever mad!" another crew member
observed to her errant colleague. "If you think he was mad," replied the flight attendant, "you should have seen the guy I put off the
plane in Dallas!"
H.B. McClung.
B. (v. 2) Their kings and leaders joined together to fight against the Lord and against the king he chose.
1. When writing this Psalm David was like a man in a storm.
a. hearing only the roaring of the tempest
b. seeing nothing but the raging billows threatening destruction on every side
c. Yet his faith enabled him to say,
2. The people imagine a vain thing.
They cannot succeed.
They cannot defeat the counsels of heaven.
They cannot injure the Lord’s Anointed.
__________David Pitcairn, 1851
C. (v.3) {Those leaders said,} "Let’s rebel against God and against the
king he chose. "Let’s break free from them!"
1. Let us break their bands asunder.
2. "Let us be free to commit all manner of abominations.
3. Let us be our own gods.
4. Let us rid ourselves of all restraint."
5. With no shame, they continue to vocalize their rebellion
by adding -- let us cast away; as if it were an easy matter --
"let us fling off their cords from us."
6. illustrate rebellion: Rudeness is the weak man’s imitation of strength.
_________Eric Hoffer, The Passionate State of Mind
The proud will sooner lose than ask their way.
-Charles Churchill
D. (v.4) But my Master, the King in heaven, laughs at those people.
(v. 5) Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath,
and vex them in his sore displeasure.
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1. They scoff at us. God laughs at them.
2. First a laugh then a smite
3. Try to mock the lightning, one may perish under its stroke.
4. Pharaoh mocked the parted sea only to be consumed by it.
5. God smiled at Dagon and Dagon fell down and broke into pieces.
6. The proud will sooner lose than ask their way.
_____________Charles Churchill, English Poet
II. (v. 6-9) God is angry and he tells those people, "I chose this man to be king!
And he will rule on Mount Zion. Zion is my special mountain."
And that makes those other leaders afraid. 7) Now I will tell you
about the Lord’s agreement.
The Lord said to me, "Today I become your father!
And you are my son. 8) If you ask me, I will give the nations to you.
All the people on earth will be yours! 9) You could destroy
those nations like an iron rod shattering a clay pot. "
1. God says I’ve had enough
2. God’s ANOINTED has been APPOINTED
and He shall not be DISAPPOINTED
3. THE REIGN OF THE KING
a. His Relation to the Father - vs. 7
1) The “begetting” here does not refer to
His birth but to His resurrection.
2) We find this in Acts 13:33 “God, hath fulfilled the
same unto us their children,
in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also
written in the second Psalm,
Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.”
4. His Receiving from his Father - vs. 8
5. His Retribution for his Foes - vs. 9
a) Nothing will stand in the way of God’s decree.
b) Certain and complete destruction will be the
lot of all who seek to resist,
oppose, and revolt against the Word of God.
III. 10) So, you kings, be wise. All you rulers, learn this lesson. 11)
Obey the Lord with much fear.12) Show that you are loyal to God’s
son. If you don’t do this, he will become angry and destroy you.
People who trust the Lord are happy.
{But other people should be careful.}
The Lord is about ready to show his anger.
IV. THE RECOMMENDATION TO THE NATIONS (10-12)
- He says be wise. He says you need to make the right choice.
A. The Counsel of the King ought to be Heeded - vs. 10
1. The Wicked are urged here to pause and think.
2. In light of the Word of God, their plans are hopeless.
3. David is saying take warning, submit while there is time,
withdraw from an impossible position, and seek forgiveness
while it may be found.
4. Isaiah 55:6, “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found,
call ye upon him while he is near.”
5. Why remain an enemy of God when you are welcome to become his friend?
B. Our Conduct before the King ought to be Holy - vs. 11
1. The fear of the Lord is not only the beginning of wisdom (Prov. 1:7),
but it is also the beginning of spiritual joy.
2. When you walk in the fear of God, you will be walking holy.
A Holy life is a spirit filled life.
3. You can only be spirit filled by holiness.
4. So to walk in fear is actually to walk in the comfort of the Holy Ghost.
That’s why we can rejoice with trembling.
C. Our Conversion to the King ought to bring Happiness - vs. 12
1. Give the Son of God honor now by accepting him as Lord and Saviour.
2. The “kiss” is a sign of affection and allegiance..
3. In other words David is saying, embrace the Lord
Conc: Very beneficial to inquire of the Lord during decision-making times.
Some kiss the Son, some kill Him. What are we doing?
God is not afraid of man’s inventions, instruments, and techniques
of opposition to Him. He will reign supreme whether in
Abraham’s Day
Noah’s Day
Nehemiah’s Day
King David’s Day
Jesus’ days on earth
Paul’s day
Great Tribulation days
The Psalm ends on a high note. An earnest invitation is extended;
and blessings await those who respond. It is always wise to be willing
to be instructed, especially when this instruction might lead to the salvation
of the soul. “It is better to bend that to be broken.”
“Fools do last that which wise men do at first.”
________Authors Unknown
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