Day 475: The kiss of life – Psalm 2
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.” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs: the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”
7-9 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.” 10-11 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. 12 Blessed are all who take refuge in him. Psalm 2 English Standard Version.
It wasn't long after creation before people were at war with God and setting up their own kingdoms. As mankind multiplied and built the first cities, so wickedness increased and the earth was filled with violence. God sent judgment on them in the form of a world wide flood, but it wasn't long until those born after the flood were saying “Let's build ourselves a city and a tower with its top in the heavens, and let's make a name for ourselves, lest we be scattered over the face of the whole earth.” (Genesis 12:4) They were doing what 'globalists' are still trying to do today - to set up a one world Government that takes the place of God. Who were the kings in vs 1-3 of this Psalm fighting against, and what did they think of God?
We see that they were uniting against the King whom God had set up in Jerusalem. (See vs 4) David would most likely have been the one who first received the promise of supremacy mentioned in vs 7-9. The conspiring Kings used the words 'bonds' and 'cords' when they spoke of God. They believed God was restricting them from doing what they wanted to do. They hated His rules. That's still true of powerful people and nations trying to destroy Christianity today and wanting to shape the world according to their ungodly desires.
This united hostility to God's King was especially seen in what happened to Jesus Christ. Many places in the New Testament tell us that the words of vs 7-9 referred to the Messiah, which means God’s anointed one, and were fulfilled in Jesus. In Acts 4:24-27 we read how the apostles prayed and said: “Sovereign Lord, you made the heavens, the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David saying: 'Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band 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.”
What is God's response to the powers of this world who want to overthrow the King whom he has made Lord of all? (vs 4 & vs 10-11)
Apart from laughing at the ultimate hopelessness of their rebellion, God commands them to kiss the Son! This implies complete surrender to Jesus Christ and serving Him forever. It means seeking His terms of peace before His patience is exhausted and He brings about their destruction. And what does the writer say in vs 12 is the result of those who do embrace the Messiah?
They enter into the wonderful security of God's blessing. They experience peace with God knowing that all their rebellion and sins are forgiven. The only hope for this world is not globalism – but Godliness. It may look at times as if Christianity must surely be wiped out. But God will have the final say and Jesus Christ will be seen to be Lord of all. Have you 'kissed the Son' to make peace with God and to experience the blessing of His refuge?