Religion is important

1. God’s King versus the Earth’s Kings
Psalm 2 (v. 2— “The kings of the earth…” cf. v. 6— “...my king…”)
The Second Psalm is ascribed to David in Acts 4:25-­‐28. It is the first of the Messi-­‐
anic Psalms—Those directly prophesying of the first and second coming of Christ.
This Psalm, in its enJrety, is a complete presentaJon of the Kingdom of God. In
rightly dividing the truth of Psalm 2, we must apply the “Double ApplicaJon” prin-­‐
ciple of Bible HermeneuJcs (interpretaJon). This principle states that a passage of
Scripture may have two doctrinal applicaJons.
•Psalm 2 applied to the kings and rulers at Christ’s first coming (see Acts
4:24-­‐30; 13:28-­‐34).
•ApplicaJon to kings and rulers at Christ’s second coming (vs. 6, 8-­‐9, 12).
•Besides the two-­‐fold doctrinal applicaJon, Psalm 2 also as has pracJcal appli-­‐
caJon for our own personal walk with Christ today.
In this study we will focus on how Psalm applies to Christ’s second coming and His
coming Kingdom. Four representaJve persons speak in this Psalm:
1. The world speaks in defiance against God and Christ (vs. 1-­‐3).
2. God speaks as He laughs at the world’s opposiJon (vs. 4-­‐6).
3. Christ speaks of the promises given to Him by the Father (vs. 7-­‐9).
4. The Holy Spirit speaks as He appeals to men to repent (vs. 10-­‐12).
I. The REBELLION against the King (2:1-­‐3).
A. The RAGE of the heathen (v. 1). A global protest movement against God.
1. Heathen. Who are the “heathen?” We usually think of the heathen
as uncivilized, pagans.
• The GenJles / Non-­‐Jews in the Old Testament
• Unsaved, unbelievers in the New Testament—Anyone who is not
born again!
2. “Rage” -­‐ literally. AntagonisJc against God. AnJ-­‐God. The spirit of
this world is not only unchrisJan, it is also anJ-­‐chrisJan… anJ-­‐
church… anJ-­‐Bible. The Bible upsets people.
• This “rage” can be seen at the trial and crucifixion of Christ (John
19:15; Mt. 27:39-­‐44).
PsalmS: Sweet Songs for God’s Saints #3 (Bible Bap-st Church, Port Orchard, WA) — Dr. Al Hughes

2. 3. Vain imaginaJons (cf. Rom. 1:21) — FuJle akempts to rid them-­‐
selves of God. Examples of vain imaginaJons:
• “There is no God” (atheism). To make this claim as an absolute
would be to set yourself up as “god.”
• “Life came out of a rock.” EvoluJon— Talk about “vain imagina-­‐
Jon”— There is not one shred of empirical evidence to prove evo-­‐
luJon. It isn’t even a “theory” because theories are based on sci-­‐
enJfic evidence. There is not “a missing link”—All the links are
missing.
• “I can sin and get away with it.”
• “We don’t need God. I can work out my own problems without
God or the Bible.”
• “We can learn everything we need to know through science.”
• “God wouldn’t send anyone to hell.” Or, “There is no hell.”
• “All this world needs to do is just ‘get together’ and establish
peace and jusJce, and we will bring in a new world order.”
B. The RULER’S conspiracy against Christ (v. 2). United NaJons/confederacy
against God.
• Will ulJmately climax in the anJ-­‐christ.
C. The REJECTION of God’s restraints (v. 3). Seeking to shake off all re-­‐
straints of God's laws and moral standards. (Rom. 1:28). Get rid of the 10
Commandments. Quench and resist the Holy Spirit. Cast off marital re-­‐
straints (41% of babies were born out of wedlock in 2010. In 1960 only
5.3% of babies were born to unwed mothers.1).
II. The RETRIBUTION from the King upon the heathen (2:4-­‐5).
A. God LAUGHS at their an5cs (v. 4). Laughter of Derision — “What a joke!”
(Isa. 40:15, 17— Behold, the na5ons are as a drop of a bucket, and are
counted as the small dust of the balance… All na5ons before him are as
nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.) A
derisive laugh is a completely confident laugh at the stupidity of what
someone else is doing. God doesn’t sit in the heaven’s and chew His
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1 http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/editorials/2011-01-25-editorial25_ST_N.htm

3. nails and worry about the heathen overthrowing Him from His throne.
The devil tried that once, and failed.
B. God SPEAKS in His anger (v. 5). All God has to do is speak the word, and
it’s all over (Ezek. 12:25-­‐28)!
• When Jesus comes in the second advent, a sharp two-­‐edged sword
will proceed out of Christ’s mouth and destroy all those who oppose
Him (Rev. 19:15; Ezek. 38:19). No wonder people hate the Bible. It
predicts their destrucJon.
C. God VEXES in His animosity (“SORE displeasure” — hatred). The manifes-­‐
taJon of His judgment
• ParJally fulfilled in 70AD. The ulJmate fulfillment will be during the
Great TribulaJon period (RevelaJon 6-­‐19).
III. The REIGN of the King over the heathen (2:6-­‐9).
• God promised David that he would have a son from his loins that would
sit on his throne forever (2 Sam. 7:12-­‐16). Therefore, David could write so
confidently these verses.
A. The ESTABLISHING of the Kingdom (v. 6). Nothing man does is going to
stop God from putng His King (Jesus Christ) on Mt Zion (Mt. Moriah/
Temple Mount)! (cf. Jer. 3:17-­‐18; Isa. 2:2-­‐3; Luke 1:33; Rev. 19:11-­‐16;
20:4).
B. The ETERNAL decree (v. 7). Jesus Christ is the “only begoEen Son” in a
physical sense via the virgin birth (Heb. 1:5-­‐6). Christ’s resurrecJon
proves He is the only begoken Son of God (Rom. 1:4; Rev. 1:5 cf. Acts
13:33).
C. The EXTENSIVE promise (vs. 8-­‐9 cf. Rev. 11:15). [Verse 8 is not a “mis-­‐
sionary verse”— see the context v. 9]. The Son of God came to earth
with the Father’s promise that He would be given a people, and finally,
as King of the naJons, He would have dominion “from sea to sea, and
from the river unto the ends of the earth” (Psa. 72:8).
• This world is not going to turn over it’s governments to Christ without
a fight!
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4. Suppose Jesus came back to this earth tomorrow and went to the
Kremlin and knocked at the door. PuJn answers the door. Jesus says,
"I'm Jesus. I'm here to take over.'' Do you think PuJn would say, "My, we
have been waiJng for you?'' How do you think He could take over if He
came to Russia today? He would have to break them with a rod of iron.
Suppose Jesus came to Iraq and says, “I’m Jesus, and I’m here to take
over.”
Suppose He came to the U.S. He goes to the White House and said,
"I'm here to take over.'' Obama would say, "Well, Jesus, I have everything
under control. I’m sorry, but we don’t need you. I can handle the affairs
of the U.S.” Maybe you are saying, "Oh, he would take Him.'' Then why
doesn’t he take Him?
When He comes the second Jme He will come exactly as God said:
"Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces
like a poEer's vessel.''
"It is beker to bend than to be broken."
IV. The RECONCILIATION to the King (2:10-­‐12) The appeal for this age.
A. Word of INSTRUCTION (v. 10) — “Wise up and know who is Boss.”
B. Word of EXHORTATION (v. 11). Sober up, serve God.
C. Word of INVITATION (v. 12) "Kiss the Son"
1. “Kiss” is a word of reconcilia6on (Luke 15:20—“Kiss, and make-­‐up.”).
2. “Kiss” is a word of submission (1 Sam. 10:1).
3. “Kiss” is a word of worship (1 Kings 19:18; Hos. 13:2; Luke 7:38, 45).
D. His Word of ADMONITION— "...lest he be angry, and ye perish from the
way, when his wrath is kindled."
SUMMATION: The Psalm begins ominously, but ends posiJvely! The choice: (1)
REBEL and be broken, or (2) TRUST and be blessed.
Put it down: This world has not seen the last of Jesus! Submit to Him and Kiss
Him now before He comes again!
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