God who is enthroned
Psa
2:4-6 The
One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. Then he rebukes
them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, "I
have installed my King on Zion , my holy hill.”
In
the second psalm we are presented with a truth that challenges every
unbeliever in the world. So often, people get on with life, ignoring
God and doing their own thing, in the false belief that they are the
ones in charge. This psalm challenges that.
Our
verses above start by revealing God as one who is seated on a throne
in heaven, and a throne denotes a ruler. In fact, more than that,
this psalm reveals God as The Supreme Ruler! The psalm itself
starts by wondering why nations, peoples and kings conspire, plot
and take their stand against God and His chosen servant,
the anointed one (v.1,2), saying that they will break free from God's
‘chains' (v.3). That's how they view the Lord. Such have been scientists,
philosophers and others who have foolishly said, “We don't need a
belief in a God any more.”
The
Lord's response to this is to laugh. He knows the reality of this,
the stupidity of their words. He knows that they are so small and
He is so great that it's like an ant challenging an elephant to a
show of strength! (our comparison). But such folly also generates
anger in the Lord. God's anger is always righteous anger. It is the
response to crass stupidity, to people purposefully being willfully
stupid when they should know better. Really, says the Lord, is that
what you think (implied)? Do you want to know the truth?
I have put MY king in Jerusalem,
that's who the anointed one is.
In
the Old Testament kings and priests were anointed with oil as a symbolic
sign of receiving God's Holy Spirit to enable them to perform the
task they have been called to. Thus the king of the day, David, was
the Lord's anointed one. Yet even more, Jesus was the Lord's anointed
one who came two thousand years ago to bring the reign of God to the
whole earth, not merely in one special nation. So when the Lord says
He has placed His king in Zion
(Jerusalem),
it means, I have brought my earthly ruler and he is my representative
of my reign on earth, so you'd better realize that you need to bow
before him. The reference in v.12 to kissing the son indicates a bowing
before a sovereign by a lesser subject, to kiss their hand or even
feet, as a sign of subjection.
What
is this psalm revealing about God? That He is THE Lord of Lords who
reigns from heaven, but He has a delegated anointed leader on the
earth who is His representative. Thus any talk about breaking loose
from God's rule is folly because, whether we realize it or not, He
IS the Lord and He will not cease to be simply because we utter words.
He is THE Lord, even if He sat on His throne silently saying and doing
nothing. He is God Almighty, the One who has all knowledge and all
power and before whom human beings are merely tiny objects who could
be obliterated in a second.
Oh
no, don't come out with any stupidity about breaking free. You can
do what you like – and God will let you – but be under no illusions,
He will hold you to account and He will bring that time of accounting
when He deems it fit. The fact that He holds back is, as we said in
the first study, simply because He graciously gives time for repentance,
preferring to bring salvation rather than destruction if it is possible
(2 Pet 3:9), but be under no illusions, He IS the Lord and He DOES
reign, whatever men may think or say! The challenge is, therefore,
have we submitted to His rule?
Response?
Pause up briefly and worship the Lord and acknowledge His greatness.
Submit your life to Him, declaring Him as Lord.