Word of Encouragement (12/15/2020)
“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’” (Ps. 2:5-6).
As we continue our reflection on Ps. 2, I’d like to share Spurgeon’s powerful commentary on vv. 5-6:
“After he has laughed he shall speak; he needs not smite; the breath of his lips is enough. At the moment when their power is at its height, and their fury most violent, then shall his Word go forth against them. And what is it that he says?—it is a very galling sentence—'Yet,’ says he, ‘despite your malice, despite your tumultuous gatherings, despite the wisdom of your counsels, despite the craft of your lawgivers, yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.’ Is not that a grand exclamation! He has already done that which the enemy seeks to prevent. While they are proposing, he has disposed the matter. Jehovah's will is done, and man's will frets and raves in vain. God's Anointed is appointed, and shall not be disappointed. Look back through all the ages of infidelity, hearken to the high and hard things which men have spoken against the Most High, listen to the rolling thunder of earth's volleys against the Majesty of heaven, and then think that God is saying all the while, ‘Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.’ Yet Jesus reigns, yet he sees the travail of his soul, and ‘his unsuffering kingdom yet shall come’ when he shall take unto himself his great power, and reign from the river unto the ends of the earth. Even now he reigns in Zion, and our glad lips sound forth the praises of the Prince of Peace. Greater conflicts may here be foretold, but we may be confident that victory will be given to our Lord and King. Glorious triumphs are yet to come; hasten them, we pray thee, O Lord! It is Zion's glory and joy that her King is in her, guarding her from foes, and filling her with good things. Jesus sits upon the throne of grace, and the throne of power in the midst of his church. In him is Zion's best safeguard; let her citizens be glad in him.”
It is interesting that God’s response to the rebellion of the nations is setting His King on Zion. This was historically played out in the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (Acts 4:24-28), the first battle of Armageddon, as it were. The nations joined their forces together, both Jews and Gentiles (the Romans), against Jesus, the Lord’s Anointed. By crucifying the King the LORD set on Zion, they wanted to set themselves free from God’s rule. But this was all predestined by God to establish His Anointed as the victorious King and Lord over all, even death and sin and hell and Satan, and as the Redeemer of His people from every tribe and tongue and people and nation! Such is the wisdom and power of God! Oh, how He is worthy of our trust and worship and praise! Go forth with joy and confidence in His sovereign control over all the affairs of the world and your life. This sovereign Lord of all cares for you and fights for you!