September 7, 2022; Wednesday Night

Order of Service

• Scripture Reading & Devotion — Psalm 2
• Prayer Requests & Praise Reports
• Corporate Prayer

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Sermon Title: The Reign of the Anointed One

Scripture: Psalm 2

I. Psalm 2 as a Messianic Psalm

A. "Anointed" in Psalm 2:2 is literally Messiah (Hebrew) or Christos (Greek), fulfilled in Jesus Christ B. Psalm 2 belongs with Psalm 1 as a literary unit

1. Psalm 1 opens with "Blessed is the man"; Psalm 2 closes with "Blessed are those who take refuge in him"
2. Paul quotes Psalm 2:7 in Acts 13:33, with oldest manuscripts referencing it alongside Psalm 1 C. The righteous man of Psalm 1 is identified as the Messiah of Psalm 2
3. The way of the wicked = those who reject the Messiah
4. The way of the righteous = those who receive the Messiah and take his yoke upon them (Matthew 11)

II. Three Observations on This Messianic Psalm

A. God enthroned in heaven laughs at those who seek to destroy His Anointed (Psalm 2:4)

1. The Roman Emperor Diocletian erected monuments boasting he had extinguished the name of Christians and abolished the superstition of Christ
2. Tertullian: "The seed of the church is the blood of the martyrs" — persecution spreads rather than destroys the church
3. Within a century, Constantine made Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire
4. Contemporary parallel: Christianity grows rapidly in China despite government suppression

B. Everyone everywhere is called to bow before the Lord's Anointed

1. Psalm 2:8: the nations are Christ's heritage; the ends of the earth his possession
2. Psalm 2:10-11: all kings and rulers are to serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling
3. "Kiss the Son" (Psalm 2:12) — submit to Messiah now in salvation, or be forced to submit later in judgment

C. Those who take refuge in Messiah experience trembling joy — fearful happiness

1. To meet God in and through the Son transforms fear of judgment into awe at mercy and grace
2. Illustration: Noah's family in the ark — surrounded by the outpouring of God's wrath yet experiencing joy in God's refuge and provision
3. The prospect of judgment should strike us with fear; finding refuge in Messiah produces trembling joy (Hebrews 10:31)
4. God was pleased to crush his Son for our iniquities (Isaiah 53) so that we are not crushed ourselves

III. Three Lessons for Prayer from Psalm 2

A. Pray confidently

1. The psalmist is caught up in the victory Messiah brings, laughing with God at those who dare thwart his purposes
2. We are to storm the throne of grace with boldness and confidence in God's Word, promises, and covenant (Hebrews 6)
3. Example of Moses: reminding God of his covenant was not arrogance but bold confidence in God's faithfulness
4. Half-hearted, uncommitted prayer is rebuked by the confidence modeled in this psalm

B. Pray always with your eyes fixed on Christ

1. The psalmist's confidence rests entirely in the fact that God has set up his Anointed on Zion
2. Fix the eyes of faith on what Christ has done in the past: satisfying God's wrath on the cross, destroying sin and death
3. Fix the eyes of faith on what Christ does now: pouring out his Spirit, sanctifying his people
4. Fix the eyes of faith on what Christ will do in the future: coming again to make all enemies a footstool (Psalm 110:1)

C. Pray for missions

1. Psalm 2:8: all nations are Christ's heritage; the ends of the earth his possession
2. The Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20): all authority has been given to Christ; go and make disciples of all nations
3. God's will being done on earth as in heaven is realized through gospel proclamation
4. Pray for the church militant as it proclaims Christ across every nation, tribe, and tongue
5. Pray that people everywhere would kiss the Son in salvation before they are compelled to kiss him in judgment