Opposition: how God deals with it
Text: Psalm 2:1-6 Time: 15/07/07 Place: Childs Hill Baptist Church
We have been looking recently on Sunday evenings at Psalm 1 and I want us to turn now to Psalm 2. Like the first psalm, there is no heading for this psalm but it clearly sounds like a Psalm of David and this is confirmed for us in Acts 4, where part of the psalm is quoted.
This week I want us just to look at the first six verses. Here we see two main things – man's opposition and how God reacts.
This week I want us just to look at the first six verses. Here we see two main things – man's opposition and how God reacts.
Things are put in terms of the Kingdom of David and so are very earthly and physical and we should try and understand the psalm first in these terms. However, this is a prophecy and points forward to a future time when the Messiah himself, great David's greater son, would come and fulfil what we see only in embryo here. Certainly NT Christians were quick to see its relevance to their situation.
Acts 4:24-31 under early persecution they raise their voices together in prayer to God saying Sovereign Lord ... you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.
Acts 4:24-31 under early persecution they raise their voices together in prayer to God saying Sovereign Lord ... you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One. Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.
After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.Now we should do the same sort of thing.
1. Recognise the world's opposition to God and its rebellion against MessiahThe psalm begins with a description of the opposition to David and to the kingdom of God there was at that time, an opposition that has continued down the years in different forms and that is with us to this day. Then it was chiefly physical and involved kings and armies and horses and chariots. Now it is sometimes physical but much more intellectual and social. We can say three things
1. Expect empty conspiracies and plots from the worldThe psalm begins with a question Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? David is thinking of the surrounding nations who opposed him and his kingdom. They conspire (or rage, they stir up agitation) and plot. Today opposition comes from many quarters. Sometimes it is state organised. More often it is in the form of false religions and philosophies, false teaching in churches and universities and other places. Books and magazines and internet articles promote these ideas. Various conspiracies go on and various plots are hatched.
1. Recognise the world's opposition to God and its rebellion against MessiahThe psalm begins with a description of the opposition to David and to the kingdom of God there was at that time, an opposition that has continued down the years in different forms and that is with us to this day. Then it was chiefly physical and involved kings and armies and horses and chariots. Now it is sometimes physical but much more intellectual and social. We can say three things
1. Expect empty conspiracies and plots from the worldThe psalm begins with a question Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? David is thinking of the surrounding nations who opposed him and his kingdom. They conspire (or rage, they stir up agitation) and plot. Today opposition comes from many quarters. Sometimes it is state organised. More often it is in the form of false religions and philosophies, false teaching in churches and universities and other places. Books and magazines and internet articles promote these ideas. Various conspiracies go on and various plots are hatched.
Bu they are all in vain – why, we will see in a moment, but they do go on. It is important for us to recognise that this is the case. On and on to the end people will conspire; they will make plans and come up with schemes all designed to undermine the kingdom of God and, if it were possible, to destroy it. It won't do them any good, of course, but that is what happens. They make a deliberate effort to oppose God.
Here is a useful tool for us then. When we read about various movements and philosophies, when we hear of certain anti-Christian things going on we need to realise that this is the opposition plotting and planning against God's Kingdom.
Here is a useful tool for us then. When we read about various movements and philosophies, when we hear of certain anti-Christian things going on we need to realise that this is the opposition plotting and planning against God's Kingdom.
People sometimes talk about conspiracy theories – the idea that some evil conspiracy is afoot that leads not just to the death of President Kennedy or Princess Diana but is the explanation for the wealth of the Jews or the Arabs or something that is going to lead to a new world order. Such ideas are grasping for some sort of truth but they fall short. There is a conspiracy, be sure of that, there are many indeed. It is Satan-inspired and it is against God and half the people you'll meet are in on it, whether they know it or not. It is a conspiracy against God himself. All such plans will fail, however, it's all in vain, but this is what they do.
Have you ever laid plans against God and his kingdom? It's surprising what goes on in these heads of ours. Repent from all your wicked schemes. You'll utterly fail anyway as this psalm shows and by such plotting you are only increasing your guilt before God.
2. Expect the world to stand against God and his ChristWell all this plotting and conspiracy what is its focus? It's here in 2 What do the kings of the earth take their stand against and what do the rulers (presidents and princes and governors and judges, wheelers and dealers, businessmen and showmen) gather together to oppose? They gather, we read here, against the LORD and against his Anointed One. So here is not only deliberate but determined and sustained and united opposition.
They deliberately, determinedly, continually and unitedly oppose the true God, the one who created the world and who redeemed Israel from Egypt, the God of the Jews and they oppose his Anointed One. At that time the anointed one was David. He was anointed with oil to be king over Israel. It is to David that God promised a successor, a son of his who would be the Anointed One, the Messiah or Christ (the word used is Mashiyach). This all comes out in 2 Samuel 7. You remember how David wanted to build a house for God and Nathan agreed at first but was then sent back to David to say (11-16) it was going to be the other way round.
Have you ever laid plans against God and his kingdom? It's surprising what goes on in these heads of ours. Repent from all your wicked schemes. You'll utterly fail anyway as this psalm shows and by such plotting you are only increasing your guilt before God.
2. Expect the world to stand against God and his ChristWell all this plotting and conspiracy what is its focus? It's here in 2 What do the kings of the earth take their stand against and what do the rulers (presidents and princes and governors and judges, wheelers and dealers, businessmen and showmen) gather together to oppose? They gather, we read here, against the LORD and against his Anointed One. So here is not only deliberate but determined and sustained and united opposition.
They deliberately, determinedly, continually and unitedly oppose the true God, the one who created the world and who redeemed Israel from Egypt, the God of the Jews and they oppose his Anointed One. At that time the anointed one was David. He was anointed with oil to be king over Israel. It is to David that God promised a successor, a son of his who would be the Anointed One, the Messiah or Christ (the word used is Mashiyach). This all comes out in 2 Samuel 7. You remember how David wanted to build a house for God and Nathan agreed at first but was then sent back to David to say (11-16) it was going to be the other way round.
The LORD declares to you that the LORD himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, who will come from your own body, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. When he does wrong, I will punish him with the rod of men, with floggings inflicted by men. But my love will never be taken away from him, as I took it away from Saul, whom I removed from before you. Your house and your kingdom will endure forever before me; your throne will be established forever.We now know, of course, that the Promised Messiah is Jesus of Nazareth. He has come and he has died and risen again and is now seated at God's right hand. One day every knee will bow to hi but at present there is stern opposition.
It comes out sometimes. The late author Kingsley Amis once met the Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko 'You atheist?' the poet asked him. 'Well, yes,' Amis replied, 'but it's more that I hate him.' Perhaps Amis surprised himself when he said that but it is the truth in case after case.
To properly understand this world we must recognise these facts then. In politics and in diplomacy and in the academic world and in the worlds of science and sport and entertainment and everywhere else there is this implacable opposition towards God and in particular towards his Son Jesus Christ. Great efforts are made in various ways to take the glory from him, to undermine him, to oppose him. And if we are Christians (Messiah ones) we are bound to suffer too.
3. Understand the world's determination to rebel against God and try to break freeIn 3 they speak Let us break their chains, they say, and throw off their fetters. They feel chained down and fettered by God and by Christ. They want to break free. They want to throw off such restraints a God's Law and Christ's rule. They don't want to be trammelled and hemmed in by such rules.
It comes out sometimes. The late author Kingsley Amis once met the Russian poet Yevgeny Yevtushenko 'You atheist?' the poet asked him. 'Well, yes,' Amis replied, 'but it's more that I hate him.' Perhaps Amis surprised himself when he said that but it is the truth in case after case.
To properly understand this world we must recognise these facts then. In politics and in diplomacy and in the academic world and in the worlds of science and sport and entertainment and everywhere else there is this implacable opposition towards God and in particular towards his Son Jesus Christ. Great efforts are made in various ways to take the glory from him, to undermine him, to oppose him. And if we are Christians (Messiah ones) we are bound to suffer too.
3. Understand the world's determination to rebel against God and try to break freeIn 3 they speak Let us break their chains, they say, and throw off their fetters. They feel chained down and fettered by God and by Christ. They want to break free. They want to throw off such restraints a God's Law and Christ's rule. They don't want to be trammelled and hemmed in by such rules.
Isn't that what disobeying your parents is about? Isn't that the root of teenage rebellion? That's what anti-authoritarianism is about. Much of the talk we here about freedom is in fact about getting rid of God and resisting Jesus Christ. Nietzsche's famous idea that God is dead was supposed to lead to a new freedom for mankind. It did not.
Perhaps you can identify. Is that you? Trying to break free from God, trying to throw off his constraints? Perhaps you haven't realised that is what you are doing but it is what you are doing. Well, realise what is happening and cease your striving. Meanwhile when those of us who believe see such things happening let's understand, let's realise what is happening.
2. How God reacts to man's opposition and rebellionAs we come to verses 4-6 we move from the stormy 1-3 to something much calmer as we learn of God's reaction to all this opposition and rebellion. These words are there to encourage us and to help us to see that no matter how much opposition there is, God's Kingdom cannot fail. He will triumph in the end. There are again three things to note.
1. Recognise God's lack of fearFirst we read in 4 that The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. The very title One enthroned in heaven gives it away. God is in heaven, they are on the earth. No contest really. It's like putting a featherweight in against a heavyweight. It's like little boys who wan tot fight against their fathers. They come in fists flailing but there relay is not fight. The father just laughs at the little boy's antics. Well, that is how God feels about all these efforts made to oppose him.
A medal was struck by Emperor Diocletian bearing the inscription, “The name of Christians being extinguished.” In Spain, two monumental pillars were raised, on which were written: "Diocletian Jovian. Maximian Herculeus Cæsares Augusti"
2. How God reacts to man's opposition and rebellionAs we come to verses 4-6 we move from the stormy 1-3 to something much calmer as we learn of God's reaction to all this opposition and rebellion. These words are there to encourage us and to help us to see that no matter how much opposition there is, God's Kingdom cannot fail. He will triumph in the end. There are again three things to note.
1. Recognise God's lack of fearFirst we read in 4 that The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. The very title One enthroned in heaven gives it away. God is in heaven, they are on the earth. No contest really. It's like putting a featherweight in against a heavyweight. It's like little boys who wan tot fight against their fathers. They come in fists flailing but there relay is not fight. The father just laughs at the little boy's antics. Well, that is how God feels about all these efforts made to oppose him.
A medal was struck by Emperor Diocletian bearing the inscription, “The name of Christians being extinguished.” In Spain, two monumental pillars were raised, on which were written: "Diocletian Jovian. Maximian Herculeus Cæsares Augusti"
"... for having extended the Roman Empire in the east and the west, and for having extinguished the name of Christians, who brought the Republic to ruin." And
"for having adopted Galerius in the east, for having everywhere abolished the superstition of Christ, for having extended the worship of the gods."
"for having adopted Galerius in the east, for having everywhere abolished the superstition of Christ, for having extended the worship of the gods."
Doesn't that make you want to chuckle?
A man writes a book called The God delusion or God is not great. And how does God react? Well the same way I'd react, I suppose, if someone wrote a book called The Gary Brady delusion or Gary is not surnamed Brady. I'd simply laugh – and so does God.
A man writes a book called The God delusion or God is not great. And how does God react? Well the same way I'd react, I suppose, if someone wrote a book called The Gary Brady delusion or Gary is not surnamed Brady. I'd simply laugh – and so does God.
A philosopher says God is dead, a country says it wants to get rid of God or even declares itself the first atheist state (as Albania once did) – is God bothered? Why would he be? No, he laughs. HE scoffs.
That should encourage us. Should we laugh too? I suppose we do sometimes but the important thing is that God is laughing. He is not afraid nor should we be. When a child sees his mum and dad laughing he knows he needn't be afraid.
2. Hear his rebukeBut then things get serious. 5 Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath. There is such a thing as the wrath and anger of God and the sooner we wake up to that fact the better for us. When people conspire and plot against the LORD and against his Anointed One. When they say Let us break their chains ... and throw off their fetters then it will not be too long before God descends on such people in wrath. And indeed very soon the the day of his wrath will come and there will be no more conspiring and plotting and resenting of fetters. They will be bound in chains that it is clear are never going to come off. Resistance, it will be clear, is going to be to no avail.
That should encourage us. Should we laugh too? I suppose we do sometimes but the important thing is that God is laughing. He is not afraid nor should we be. When a child sees his mum and dad laughing he knows he needn't be afraid.
2. Hear his rebukeBut then things get serious. 5 Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath. There is such a thing as the wrath and anger of God and the sooner we wake up to that fact the better for us. When people conspire and plot against the LORD and against his Anointed One. When they say Let us break their chains ... and throw off their fetters then it will not be too long before God descends on such people in wrath. And indeed very soon the the day of his wrath will come and there will be no more conspiring and plotting and resenting of fetters. They will be bound in chains that it is clear are never going to come off. Resistance, it will be clear, is going to be to no avail.
Again think of a father with his children. They think it's a great joke to be rude and call him names or even to play tricks on their father and try to hurt him. At first he may laugh but then then he says 'Enough! The game's over'. If they don't listen what happens next? He stands up and they know they've overstepped the mark. They feel pain in the behind or they are told' Right, off to bed'.
We all need to take seriously the wrath of God. It is a reality. If we try to pretend it does not exist, we will regret it indeed. Hat a dreadful thing it is to fall into the hands of the living God.
3. Think about his confidence in MessiahThen notice finally what he says at this point (6) Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill. That I is emphatic. The kings and other rulers they make their plans but God says I will do this.
At this point God had in fact established David as king and his throne was there in Zion, in Jerusalem. For the first seven years of David's reign the Jebusites had continued to hold the city of Jerusalem and they had been very dismissive of David's attempts to take the city but in the end he did take it and there he established his throne and from there continued to know victories and to subdue his enemies.
It all points forward to Jesus Christ who has come in fulfilment of what was prefigured in that. We can make a series of points
1. We are reminded that Jesus Christ is a King, and is invested by God with dignity and authority as a sovereign prince over the kingdoms of God's providence and God's grace.
2. God is pleased to call him his King, because God appointed him and entrusted to him the sole responsibility to govern and to judge in the kingdom.
3. Christ did not take this honour on himself, but was called to it, and God who called him owns him. He is the one commissioned by the Father. Being called to this honour, he was confirmed in it. He is installed as King.
4. He is set up on Zion, which reminds us of the church. Christ's throne is set up in his church, that is, in the hearts of all believers and in the societies they form.
Christ has already brought about salvation for his people by his death and resurrection. Soon he will come again and then every knee will bow to him and he will hand over the kingdom to his Father once again.
Oh be thankful, believer, that the day is fast approaching.
3. Think about his confidence in MessiahThen notice finally what he says at this point (6) Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill. That I is emphatic. The kings and other rulers they make their plans but God says I will do this.
At this point God had in fact established David as king and his throne was there in Zion, in Jerusalem. For the first seven years of David's reign the Jebusites had continued to hold the city of Jerusalem and they had been very dismissive of David's attempts to take the city but in the end he did take it and there he established his throne and from there continued to know victories and to subdue his enemies.
It all points forward to Jesus Christ who has come in fulfilment of what was prefigured in that. We can make a series of points
1. We are reminded that Jesus Christ is a King, and is invested by God with dignity and authority as a sovereign prince over the kingdoms of God's providence and God's grace.
2. God is pleased to call him his King, because God appointed him and entrusted to him the sole responsibility to govern and to judge in the kingdom.
3. Christ did not take this honour on himself, but was called to it, and God who called him owns him. He is the one commissioned by the Father. Being called to this honour, he was confirmed in it. He is installed as King.
4. He is set up on Zion, which reminds us of the church. Christ's throne is set up in his church, that is, in the hearts of all believers and in the societies they form.
Christ has already brought about salvation for his people by his death and resurrection. Soon he will come again and then every knee will bow to him and he will hand over the kingdom to his Father once again.
Oh be thankful, believer, that the day is fast approaching.
If you are not a believer realise that God has installed his King on Zion, his holy hill. He is the one you must look to. Look to Jesus Christ and trust in him.
