"Kiss the Son"

we will not have a service. No service next Wednesday, the Lord willing in two weeks we'll be back and meet together again to worship the Lord. Now if you will let's open our Bibles once again to Psalm 2. Title of the message this evening is simply Kiss the Son, Kiss the Son.

Charles Spurgeon called this psalm the psalm of Messiah the Prince, the psalm of Messiah the Prince, and he also wrote these words. Let us read it with the eye of faith, beholding as in a glass the final triumph of our Lord Jesus Christ over all his enemies.

When the scriptures were divided by men, into chapters and verses. They divided this psalm into 12 verses. And I'm thankful that it is divided like this because it's easy to outline. There's four divisions. And each division has three verses. And in each division, a different person is speaking. And that's the way we'll look at it tonight. In the first division, the rulers, plural, the rulers of the nations speak.

Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine 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 bands asunder and cast away their cards from us. Those are the words of those he refers to here as the heathen, the kings of the earth, and the rulers who take counsel together against the Lord.

They're described, all of these men are described as continually. It's their life goal, their life work to thwart, to hinder God's purpose, to set aside what God has purposed. And what God purposed here, we see in this psalm, is to set his son, we know this is the Lord Jesus Christ, to set his son upon the throne of his father David. In other words, upon his mediatorial throne to rule over all things, the God-man, the Lord Jesus Christ. And I look at this and I think it especially referred to the religious leaders. when the Lord Jesus Christ came into this world, the high priest, the Pharisees and the Sadducees and Herodians, but it also includes the civil rulers at that time, like Pilate and Herod.

I want you to hold your places here, but turn with me to Acts chapter four. You know, it's always best to interpret scripture with scripture, isn't it? And here, as we read this prayer of the apostles, as it is recorded in Acts chapter four, we see exactly how we are to understand those three verses that we read there in the psalm. where the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing the kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed. Notice here in the Apostles prayer in Acts chapter 4 beginning with verse 23 here we have John and Peter who had had healed that man at the gate, beautiful, you remember, he was a lame man.

He asked for help and Peter said silver and gold have I none but such as I have given to thee in the name of Christ rise and walk and the man stood up and Started running in the temple there and praising God and of course those two apostles they were brought before the rulers and beaten in fact, but notice when they're released here and being let go and They went to their own company. In other words, they went to meet with the other apostles, the church of the Lord Jesus Christ. and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.

And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord and said, Lord, thou art God, which has made heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in them is, who by the mouth of thy servant David has said, Well, we see immediately who the author of this psalm is.

Psalm 2, it's David. Who by the mouth of thy servant David hath said, why did the heathen rage and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together. So it's clear from the prayer of these apostles, this that I've just read here that we've looked at, it's clear from their prayer that they understood that those words of David in Psalm 2 about the heathen raging and so forth, that that had taken place, that had been fulfilled in the crucifixion and resurrection and ascension of the Lord Jesus. The words of this Psalm were fulfilled. And notice who they said were gathered together against Messiah the Prince. And no one is missing. And this is important. No one is missing in this group.

And I say that because we are prone to think, well, if I'd been there, I wouldn't have been involved. If I had been there, I certainly would not have cried with a mob, crucify him, crucify him. Yes, you would. Apart from the grace of God, we all would. That's just part of man's fallen depravity, isn't it? His sinful nature.

Yes, and we see how everyone is included here when he says, no one is missing. It is the world. We see the Jews. He says the people of Israel. We see the Gentiles with the Gentiles. We see the kings of the earth represented here by Pilate and Herod. Why did the heathen rage and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against his Christ for of a truth against thy holy child Jesus. In other words, against the Lord Jesus Christ, whom thou hast anointed both Herod, Pilate, Gentiles, and thy people Israel were all gathered together against him. Now we know from the scriptures that because we come into this world having inherited a fallen nature from our father Adam that the desire of all men is we will not have this man to rule over us. That's man by nature apart from the grace of God.

We will not have this man. That's exactly what these people are saying here. That's exactly what they're saying. They're trying to set aside God's purpose. We will not have this man to rule over us. That is the Lord Jesus Christ. Well, notice in the second division. Now, in that first division, we see it's plural. Those who are speaking, a number of people. The heathen, the kings, the judges, But now in this second division, there's one speaker, singular, singular, verses four through six.

He that said it in the heaven shall laugh, the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. What a contrast. What a contrast between those in the first division and him in this second division. Those in the First Division making their plans, conniving how they could overthrow God's purpose, and yet God is pictured as sitting in the heavens. Sitting in the heavens.

We see him undisturbed by all the planning, all the purposing, and all the actions of men. It doesn't disturb God Almighty, I any, no I order. The Lord God setting upon his sovereign throne ruling over all things at all times, all people. Someone said, well does God literally laugh? Notice it says, he that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh. God is spirit.

And just as there's a verse or two which say that he repented and that he's grieved, we know that this is attributing to God characteristics of men. That men in the same circumstances, this is how we would react. This is how man would react. He would laugh. He would laugh at this, knowing that they had no power whatsoever to overcome his purpose.

In Isaiah chapter 14 in verse 24, we read, speaking of God undisturbed, sitting in the heavens, the Lord of hosts has sworn, saying, surely as I have thought, so shall it come to pass. And as I have purposed, so shall it stand. The Lord of hosts hath purposed, and who shall disannul it? And his hand is stretched out, and who shall turn it back?

If back there in Acts chapter 4, let me go back there in that passage we read, I wanted to point something out in Acts chapter 4 and 28 in that prayer For notice, for of a truth, verse 27, for of a truth against our holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate with the Gentiles and the people of Israel were gathered together. But now notice, for to do, what are they going to do? What did they do? whatsoever God purposed. To do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.

You know the Apostle Peter said the same thing, didn't he, on the day of Pentecost to the Jews who were pricked in their hearts and asked what they should do. Peter, this is back in chapter 2 of Acts and verse 22, You men of Israel, hear these words, Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you, by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as you yourselves also know, him being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God. You have taken and by wicked hands have crucified and slain.

There's no verse in the Bible, as far as I'm concerned, that shows anymore God's sovereignty and man's responsibility. No one put a gun to these men, to the head of these men, and made them crucify the Lord Jesus Christ. They did what they wanted to do. They did what their fallen nature, their fallen heart, desire to do, but in doing what they did, they did exactly what God had determined should be done from before the foundation of the world.

The God that we serve is not some wannabe God, is he? He is God Almighty, and nothing escapes his rule. As Nebuchadnezzar said, he rules among the armies of heaven. Among the inhabitants of the earth and none can stay his hand or say unto him. Nope. No one can question God At least no one should Some people do don't they? I'm always think of that verse.

I believe it's in Jeremiah that speaks about the pot sherds of the earth Let him strive with the pot sherds of the earth You know a pot shared that's just a piece of broken pottery, right? I and that piece of broken pottery is going to raise its hand up and fight against God? Who's going to win? Who's going to win that battle? Well, let the potsherds strive with the potsherds of the earth, but not with his maker. Surely not with his maker. The Lord, as back in our text here tonight in Psalm 2, the Lord has said, or anointed his king upon his holy hill of Zion. And I noticed these words in that verse, my, my king, my holy hill of Zion.

And according to Hebrews chapter 12, speaking of believers, Mount Zion, it goes under several different names in the scripture, but Mount Zion is the city of the living God. It is a heavenly Jerusalem. It is a general assembly and church of the firstborn. The Lord Jesus Christ is God's anointed, God's king over his church, over the heavenly Jerusalem. All right, let's go on to the third section. Now, who's speaking here? The king.

God's Son, the Messiah in these verses, verses 7 through 9. I will declare the decree the Lord has said unto me, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. thou shalt break them with a rod of iron, thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." He declares the decree. In other words, he tells us what The Father has said unto him, and there's three things here that God Almighty said to the Son, that is, to the God-man mediator, the Lord Jesus Christ. First of all, thou art my Son. This day have I begotten thee. Now that verse, people have debated over the meaning of that verse because we know that the Son is eternal.

And yet he is the only begotten son. The scriptures never speak of him as a man being begotten of God. No, as the eternal son of God, he is God's only begotten son. But this is the way I understand this. With God, there's no past and there's no future. that there's an eternal now, that he exists in an eternal now and an eternal day. He is God's only begotten son, his eternal son.

And he's not begotten in the sense of a man begets his son or his daughter. He is God's only begotten son, in other words, The writers say he's the only son that is by eternal generation. He is one with the father. The father's not older than he is. He's eternal. The father's eternal. This day have I begotten thee. This day, this day of eternity. It has no beginning and has no ending.

I want to read you what John Gill commented on this. He said, this may be applied to any time and case in which Christ is declared to be the Son of God, as that is incarnation. When he came into this world, let all the angels of God worship him. That's what God said.

At his baptism, at his transfiguration, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. His resurrection from the dead in Romans chapter one and verse four, you remember it says he's of the seed of David. That's speaking about his humanity, right? He was a son of David. but he was made the son of David, he was declared the son of God by his resurrection. He wasn't made the son of God, he was declared and that's what this is saying here. This day Have I begotten thee? This day he was declared to be the son of God. And as Gil says, any time in his life when this was brought out, this scripture would apply. And then he mentioned this last place.

Let me read this, Hebrews chapter one and verse three. Hebrews 1 and verse 3, well let me read verse 2 also. God hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son. whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds, who being the brightness of his glory and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high. And certainly this scripture would refer to that. He sat down at his ascension, his exaltation, sat down on the right hand of the majesty on high. This day have I begotten thee.

And then the father said this to his son, ask of me, back in our text, our psalm, not only did the father say to him, this day have I begotten thee, but he also said, ask of me and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance. It wasn't enough that he should be king over his chosen people among the nation of Israel, the Jews, but also among the Gentiles as well. You know, in Isaiah chapter 49, it speaks about the fact that, let me see if I can find that, Isaiah chapter 49. Oh, 49 in verse 6. Well, let's read verse 5 first.

And now saith the Lord that farmed me from the womb to be his servant, to bring Jacob, that's Israel, right, to bring Jacob again to him. Though Israel be not gathered, yet shall I be glorious in the eyes of the Lord, and my God shall be my strength. And he said, it is a light thing that thou shouldest be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob. and to restore the preserved of Israel. Now notice, I will also give thee for a light to the Gentiles that thou mayest be my salvation unto the ends of the earth. In the psalm it is, ask of me and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance.

In John chapter 10, And verse 16, the Lord said, other sheep I have, speaking to the Jews, other sheep I have, which are not of this fold. In other words, he had sheep who were not only of the nation of Israel, descendants of Abraham, but I have sheep which are not of this fold. Them also I must bring. and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd." So he gathers his people both from the nation of Israel and from all the nations of the earth.

And the third thing that God said to him, thou shalt break them with a rod of iron. The rebellious and those who will not bow, who will not submit to his king, the Lord Jesus Christ, They will be broken by him as easily as a pot, a clay pot can be broken with an iron rod. And it shatters to pieces. In other words, the Lord is able to take vengeance upon his enemies, those who will not submit to him as their king, as their ruler.

Okay, the last part, the last speaker here, I believe, is David in verses 10 through 12. So we've had the heathen, they have spoken, God has spoken, Christ has spoken, and now here the psalmist, he speaks. Be wise now, therefore, O you kings. Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear. And David was a king, David was a judge. And yet he's speaking to other kings and other judges. He knew what influence a king and a judge would have over his people. Serve the Lord with fear. That's the first thing he says, serve the Lord with fear.

You remember the Lord Jesus Christ said, no man can serve two masters. Either he will love the one and hate the other or vice versa. You cannot serve two masters. Serve the Lord with fear. That's what the psalmist is saying to you and me and all people. Serve the Lord. Because of our fallen nature, we naturally serve ourselves or we look for riches or fame or serve some false god. No, serve the Lord. Serve the Lord. and serve him with fear.

You know, the beginning of wisdom is the fear of the Lord, and that fear is speaking about godly reverential fear, isn't it? That's true of every child of God. Every child of God, when we speak of God, we don't speak of him like the world does. We don't make jokes about God, do we? Why?

Because we revere him. Because God has granted us fear, reverence of the Lord. And number two, rejoice with trembling. He said rejoice with trembling. And we read that this trembling here, it stands opposed to pride and haughtiness. That should not once be named among believers, should it? It is, sad to say it is, but really it shouldn't be. Pride and haughtiness. God's people should be like Christ.

He who was Lord of all became servant of all. And then the last thing, kiss the son. Well, in that society, when a person would come into the presence of a monarch, a king, or something, sometimes they would kiss their feet. Sometimes they'd kiss their hand. And that's what the psalmist here has reference to, is to show submission. When a person would kiss a ruler's hand, he's just showing his submission. to that ruler and that's what this has reference to here. Submit to his lordship, the lordship of God's anointed, the Messiah, the prince of princes, the king of kings, the savior. I trust the Lord to bless these thoughts to us here this evening.

"Kiss the Son"

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"Kiss the Son"

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