Kiss the Son – Psalm 2

Sermon Video

Psalm 2 is a psalm of David (see Acts 4:25-26).

Ever since the fall in Genesis 3, God’s people have looked for the promised deliverer. As the OT unfolds, we are given a fuller picture of this Savior.^[1]J. Josh Smith and Daniel L. Akin, Exalting Jesus in Psalms 1–50, 12..

• Genesis 3 – the seed of the woman will crush the head of the serpent (Gen 3:15).
• Genesis 12 – he will come from Abraham (Gen 12:1–3).
• Genesis 49 – he will be of the tribe of Judah (Gen 49:8–12).
• Deuteronomy – he will be a prophet greater than Moses (Deut 18:15).
• 2 Samuel 7 – he will be a Son of David and that his throne and kingdom will be established forever (2 Sam 7:5–16).

Davidic Covenant (2 Samuel 7:12-16)

12 “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. 13 He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. 14 I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, 15 but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. 16 And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever.’”

Psalm 2 gives us further insight of the glory and greatness of the coming Messiah-King.

Psalm 2 is a royal (or kingship) psalm. It’s also a messianic psalm. This psalm likely functioned as a song that accompanied the inauguration of Solomon, who was David’s heir to the throne in Jerusalem.^[2]Tremper Longman III, Psalms: An Introduction and Commentary, 59–60. However, this psalm not only speaks to the rule of Solomon or any future heir of David. It finds its ultimate fulfillment in Christ and is one of the most quoted psalms in the New Testament.^[3]J. Josh Smith and Daniel L. Akin, 13.

It seems that in the original historical context of this psalm that Gentile kingdoms were seeking to be free of Israelite rule. This psalm unveils the coming Messiah-King and makes it clear that Gentiles will only find lasting joy as subjects of this future anointed king.

Last week we looked at Psalm 1, which drew a contrast between the righteous and the wicked. This week in Psalm 2 we see the Psalmist draw a contrast between those who seek to rebel against God’s authority and those who submit to God’s rule and reign by embracing his anointed king and taking their refuge in him.

The Psalm breaks down into four parts. The first section is found in vv. 1-3.

Like worldly rulers, we naturally rebel against God’s authority as our rightful king (1-3)

Why do the nations rage
    and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers take counsel together,
    against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds apart
    and cast away their cords from us.”

In verse 1, a question is raised – “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?” Verses 2-3 are the answer.

• “The kings of the earth set themselves against the Lord and his anointed.”
• “The rulers take counsel together against the Lord and his anointed.”
• They want to “burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”

The rulers of nations plot to build their own kingdom and dominion. They seek worldly power and influence. They don’t recognize or submit to God’s sovereign rule over his creation. They don’t just reject God’s authority, but the word picture here is that they throw it off (“cast away their cords from us”).

Verse 2 explains that the kings and rulers of the earth set themselves against God’s rule on the earth. They have no desire to be ruled by God or his anointed king of Israel (whether David, Solomon, or Jesus himself).

“Anointed” – The Psalms often express the messianic ideals attached to the Davidic line by using the phrase “the Lord’s anointed” (see Ps 18:50). In 1 Sam 24:6, David refused to harm Saul because Saul was “the Lord’s anointed.”

So, here in Ps 2, David is saying that the kings and rulers of the earth have set themselves against God and his anointed king and the royal line from which his true Son, Jesus Christ will come.

Like worldly rulers, we naturally rebel against God’s authority as our rightful king. We rebel against God when we don’t bring every area of our lives into submission to God’s Word.

When we rebel against God, we are provoking his wrath (4-6)

⁴ He who sits in the heavens laughs;
    the Lord holds them in derision.
⁵ Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
    and terrify them in his fury, saying,
⁶ “As for me, I have set my King
    on Zion, my holy hill.”

God laughs at the idea of kings and rulers setting themselves against him and his anointed king. Today’s kings and rulers think that God’s Word is antiquated and outdates. They mock and ridicule God’s Word and those who adhere to it. Today’s rulers think they can define truth.

The reality is that when rulers of the earth think they can define truth, God laughs.

• When they try to redefine marriage, God laughs.
• When they seek to redefine gender and homosexuality, God laughs.
• When they lie about abortion and when life begins, God laughs.
• When they tell you that all life is a cosmic accident (macroevolution), God laughs.

We are sometimes afraid to speak of God because of fear of ridicule or anger, but God is not intimidated by the world’s powers and we shouldn’t be eitehr. We have God’s Word in our hearts and the Holy Spirit living in us. Remember in the Great Commission, Jesus said that “all authority has been given to me” and “I will be with you always” (Matt 28:18, 20).

In v. 5, it says that God will speak to them in his wrath and terrify them in his fury. God’s wrath comes from his holiness. God will not tolerate sin. Consider Sodom and Gomorrah (Gen 19). God poured out his wrath on those cities because of their unrighteousness and he will pour out his wrath on anyone that doesn’t kiss the Son (v. 12).

God’s response to human pride and power is to install his “king” on Zion (v. 6). This points beyond Israel’s king to Jesus, God’s true Son. One day he will put everything right; but he will do this by going first to Zion—to Jerusalem—to die for our sins. The people that appear to rule the world are all under his lordship and one day they will know it. Worldly rulers have some influence, but they are on borrowed time. One day, every knee will bow before Jesus.

Phil 2:10-11

at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

When we rebel against God, we are provoking his wrath. One day, God’s Son will deliver judgment to those who refuse to bow the knee.

God’s Son will deliver judgment to rebellious sinners (7-9)

⁷ I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
    today I have begotten you.
⁸ Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
    and the ends of the earth your possession.
⁹ You shall break them with a rod of iron
    and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

In verses 7-9, we see how the Messiah responds to the nations who reject him. The anointed king (Jesus) shares of the decree that the Lord spoke to him.

The word begotten describes a relationship between two beings of the same essential nature and being. Jesus is not a created being. A created thing has a different essential being and nature than the one who created it. A man creates a statue but begets a child.^[4]https://enduringword.com/bible-commentary/psalm-2/.

We know this refers to Christ because v. 8 speaks of a worldwide rule that demands a king with infinitely greater power than David. Remember, God promised to David an eternal and worldwide kingdom established by his descendant (2 Sam. 7:12–14).

In v. 7, the Lord says, “You are my Son.” At both the baptism of Jesus and his transfiguration, the Father spoke of Jesus as his son (Mark 1:11, 9:7).

Look at how Revelation 2:26-27 speaks of Christ from Ps 2:8-9.

Revelation 2:26-27

The one who conquers and who keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father.

The apostles preached the gospel from this psalm (Ps 2:7; Acts 13:32-33). The author of Hebrews explained that Christ was this “Son” whom God sent into the world—the only Son who could truly fulfill the promises to David (Heb. 1:5).

There is judgment coming to the nations. There is judgment coming to those who reject Jesus Christ. Brothers and sisters, we are to share the gospel with those that surround us—our neighbors, family, friends, and coworkers. We are to warn them of God’s coming judgment, while declaring the message of his saving grace.

The way to escape the wrath of Jesus is to submit to His lordship (10-12)

¹⁰ Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
    be warned, O rulers of the earth.
¹¹ Serve the Lord with fear,
    and rejoice with trembling.
¹² Kiss the Son,
    lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
    for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Verses 10-12 serve as a warning to earthly kings and rulers. In v. 10, the kings are to be wise because they have been warned. They are called to serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling (v. 11). Finally, they are to kiss the son (v. 12). To kiss the son is to rest in and live for him. It is a sign of allegiance. You must pay homage to Jesus. You must be willing to bow the knee and declare your allegiance to him.

If you refuse to bow to God’s son, know this: the son will be angry and you will perish under his wrath (v. 12). In America, we tend to think of meek and gentle Jesus rather than a judging and wrathful Jesus. But here is what God’s Word says:

Revelation 19:11-16

¹¹ Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. ¹² His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself.¹³ He is clothed in a robe dipped in^[b] blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. ¹⁴ And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. ¹⁵ From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule^[c] them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. ¹⁶ On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords.

The good news is this: if you do bow to God’s son, you can take refuge in him (v. 12). The only way to escape God’s wrath is to submit to the lordship of Christ. Each one of us is born with a sin nature. We all act on that nature. We rebel against God. We deserve his wrath. But thanks be to God that even while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Rom 5:8). Our response to Jesus’ atoning work on the cross is to repent (turn from sin) and believe in Christ (Mark 1:15). For a fuller explanation of the gospel, click here.