Word of Encouragement (12/16/2020)

“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” (Ps. 2:7-9).

Good morning!

Ps. 2 is a Messianic Psalm. Its ultimate fulfillment is in Jesus Christ. But it is not just applied to Jesus. There were many messiahs throughout Israel’s history. This is easy to see when we consider what “messiah” means. It simply means an “anointed one.” Many were anointed in Israel—kings, priests, and prophets (by the Holy Spirit). So, this Psalm could be applied to the kings of Israel, particularly of the line of David. That is why Ps. 2 is categorized as a Royal Psalm as well. You can see this Psalm used at the time of coronation. So then, when the LORD said, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you,” He was not talking about the birth of the king; He was speaking of his coronation.

What grand promises were given to the kings of Israel! God promised to give them victory over their enemy nations. Of course, the fulfillment of this promise depended on how faithfully they carried out their first and most important responsibility as Israel’s kings: “And when he sits on the throne of his kingdom, he shall write for himself in a book a copy of this law, approved by the Levitical priests. And it shall be with him, and he shall read in it all the days of his life, that he may learn to fear the LORD his God by keeping all the words of this law and these statutes, and doing them” (Deut. 17:18-19). David’s dying words to Solomon, who succeeded him, were the same: “I am about to go the way of all the earth. Be strong, and show yourself a man, and keep the charge of the LORD your God, walking in his ways and keeping his statutes, his commandments, his rules, and his testimonies, as it is written in the Law of Moses, that you may prosper in all that you do and wherever you turn...” (1 Kings 2:2-3).

Spurgeon points out, “Here he declares that his very enemies are his inheritance.” Not only will the nations and kings that rebel against God and His Anointed fail in their futile attempt; they will be given to God’s anointed Son as His inheritance! All their raging and plotting and scheming and strategizing will only bring the opposite result.

Of course, these wonderful promises, though given to every king of Israel at the coronation, were never fully fulfilled; only in Jesus Christ are they fully realized. No, Jesus was not coronated at a palace in Jerusalem (where Herod was dwelling) because He was a different kind of King. Paul says, “[Jesus Christ] was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead...” (Rom. 1:4). Jesus was not made the Son of God; He was declared the Son of God—that is, He was coronated as God’s Redeemer Son/King for His people. If He was coronated by His resurrection, He is not an earthly king but a heavenly One.

How wonderful it is that He has made us, who were once rebels, His inheritance, His treasured possession! He has conquered us for our good. Having made us His, He will never abandon us. And He has made us participate and share in His victory. Let us experience and enjoy this reality by faith more and more!