When God Laughs

If I should turn your Bibles to Psalm chapter 2 starting in verse one to the end. One of 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. 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. I will tell of the decree. The Lord said to me you are my son, today I have begotten you. Ask of me, 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. Now therefore go king's be wise to be warned 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 his wrath is quickly kindled.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him may be seated from Charlotte pray heavenly father we know that you reign in heaven alongside the Lord Jesus Christ.

We know that it is Christ who is been given all full authority and power in heaven. We know that he is our sovereign King is the King of Kings and the Lord of lords. We pray that we would have this written upon our hearts this evening.

Please remind us of his sovereign rule as we go on your word this evening and your sons and we pray, amen. Jesus said in some very solemn words, you think that I have come to give peace on earth.

No I tell you, but rather division gospel divides the message of the gospel divides the believers with unbelievers. The sheep with the goats.

The weeks the wheat with the tears the elect and the elect those who love God and those who have rejected God. Going back to John chapter 8, the Pharisees asked Jesus where is your father mocking him. They know about Mary and Joseph and they are poking fun at him there calling him illegitimate.

Jesus says you know neither me nor my father you are of your father the devil, there is this sense that the Pharisees are steeped in the church and their ground in a religious context. But they were not numbered among those that kiss the son that come to the son by faith. Jesus had 12 disciples and one of them was the son of perdition. Judas Iscariot, Paul thinking about his own fellow Israelites was grieved in Romans chapter 9 and he said not all those who are descended of Israel belong to Israel. Not all of them will believe in Jesus and we look at the Psalms and it starts off with Psalm one and two but these were not the first Psalms that were ever written, but there placed here strategically to set the tone for the rest of the book, and so when we look into Psalm two. We have a choice that we have to make today we are to go with these nations.

These kings of the earth. These rulers of the nations or we are to come to the son of God by faith, to love him and find rest and refuge in him with Psalm one so glad we sang it because it illustrates these two paths that we must walk in either walking in the counsel of the wicked standing in the way of sinners or sitting in the seat of scoffers, or we are to delight in the law of the Lord meditating on this law day and night, and if we do this the promise here is that we will be like trees planted by streams of water, yielding fruit in its season, the streams of water are watering the seed of faith that it will be our faith will be rooted in God's word and this is actually probably one of the most evangelistic Psalms in the Psalter as to what will look at this evening as we are called to kiss the son, that is to believe in Christ and find our rest in him. First will look at the rebellion of the nations rebellion of the nations in verses 1 to 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. Back when David wrote this, the nations were everyone else you were either in Israel or you are in the nations you believed in the God of the Bible or you are part of these unbelieving nations and what they are doing here the question that's being asked is why did they rage their anger is being raised up against God and against his anointed, they do not like they hate actually that God rules over them is a sovereign Lord we think of the typical nations of the Syrians and Babylonians and the Philistines and all these ancient near East kings had gods had false gods that they would cite and they would call themselves divine monarchs. They believe themselves to be appointed by God as kings and now they want to go up against the true king and they are plotting and planning in vain.

This word plot in the original meaning comes with this concept of restlessness. They cannot get over it.

They have to deal they have to challenge this God this true God of Israel and their anointed king that he is appointed back in David's time at the coronation ceremony of a new king in Israel.

The new king would first pledge his allegiance and his faithfulness to the covenant, and secondly he was crowned and proclaimed as the legitimate ruler and only then would he be then anointed with holy oil. We see this in second Kings chapter 11 verse 12. Thus we have the phrase anointed of the Lord. So this idea is that they are then anointed and placed as the King of Israel and on the throne of David and the irony here is that this Davidic covenant is actually meant to be a blessing to the nation's the church. It's law the anointed king of Israel that sits upon the throne of Israel. These are all blessings for the nations they are to be added into Israel. Lord willing, and embrace these covenant promises many times we have mission missionaries come through and save May the nations be blessed. That's in reference to this Davidic covenant is supposed to be a blessing to them, but they respond and they say let us burst their bonds apart. Let us cast away their cords from us. They want full removal of God from their life.

They don't want him or his cane or his law, but instead they say let us remove the restraints. Let us throw off these boundaries that God has said in his law and his precepts. Let us cast away. These courts in the book of acts actually quotes verses one to if you go to acts chapter 4 you'll see in verses 1 to 2 are laid out in verses 25 and 26 and they apply it in verse 27 and 28 Jean David wrote this back in his time he was talking about the nations now in acts chapter 4 there talking specifically about Herod and Pilate. Verse 27 says, for truly is in the city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.

So Psalm two is confirmed in acts chapter 4 that Christ is the anointed one. This is our first messianic Psalm in the Psalter, both Herod and Pontius Pilate along with the Gentiles and the people of Israel to do whatever your hand in your plan had predestined to take place and so an Psalm to the nations rage against accusing the king of Israel. In acts chapter 4 it's Herod and Pilate against Jesus and now we have people that rage today I what is it look like today if you read the news you see that people are raging against the civil government in the United States, we see that there is great deal of turmoil. I thought at the end of last year there wasn't much going on and then we get hit with the coronavirus and we have fires in Australia and riots after the death of George Floyd and Ray sure Brooks $500 million worth of damage in downtown Minneapolis.

People are raging in the streets in Los Angeles and Tokyo, Japan. Even people are mobilizing they want to defund the police. They want to even abolish the police we have groups of left-wing and right-wing protesters fighting in the streets one. Some groups even insisting on a form of anarchy as the form of government.

Police officers have been killed in Minneapolis and Los Angeles and Rachel and I were walking in downtown. We even saw a sign that said, a world without police, a world without prisons and I think about the Old Testament passage that everyone did what was right in their own eyes we have to filter this through with the Christian grid. What is God's Word have to say about this and Romans 13 actually says that we are to be subject to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God, and whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed a government and law enforcement has been established and ordained by God. And we as Christians are called to be models of civil obedience to these warring nations as long as the government is just we have to give a caveat here. If the government was to ask us to break God's law.

We stand with Peter next chapter 4 and say we must obey God rather than men, and we do see policies in the civil government that push against God's law. We have if you watch the news you seen our country seems to be moving in this direction of the nations civil unrest as a result of Roe V Wade 60 million children have been killed through abortion.

All the while, there's more and more pressure building against the church will face more and more pressure in the coming years for our tax exempt status to be removed unless we embrace the sex unions as a faithful expression of the marriage covenant.

The mayor of Houston fell.

Remember back in 2014 as she issued a subpoena asking for sermon manuscripts of men administers that spoke openly against homosexuality from their pulpits. This is one of the many examples where the government is coming into the church and saying hey let's compromise was work within the system have seen both political parties this year trying to work within the church is going and inner-city churches in talking about policy to the local congregations. Mike pence made it to the national meeting of the Southern Baptist convention so there is the sense that now are being pulled in two different directions were both political parties are saying the church can find a home here in this party or that party in there, tugging on his left and right saying that you know we are the party of the church there siding verses that seem to say no. If you believe Jesus if you believe in the Bible. This verse of this rationale should make you side with us and they start quoting policies on guns and open borders, immigration, taxes in military spending and welfare.

Everything is being cited from God's word as to why we ought to be in this camp or that camp, all while I just wonder if any of those politicians ever thought of the last words of David that he that rules over man must be just ruling in the fear of God. I want to ask them what are any of you, my Christian brother or sister or any of you repenting of sin and believing in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Any of you believe in the Bible as the infallible word of God, because my commitment first and foremost is to the Lord Jesus Christ and his church. That's who I think about.

I think about you I think about the Lord whom I love and his bride. That is the church of Jesus Christ.

That's who I think about in this this election is coming up in nine days. Apparently in its been divisive and we've even the church is being divided over who to vote for and I just want us to be reminded that is the Lord Jesus Christ who is enthroned in heaven. He is sovereign over all things, and he demands an undivided loyalty from his church. I know the thought process of talk to you. I notice when honor the Lord by voting in the policies that are closest to Christian ideals and ethics in a Christian worldview.

And I understand you might think we have to win this election. We have to get this right, administration, and if they get in.

It's gonna be a disaster and we had to get this guy under that giant and ultimately I want us to know that no matter what happens, God ordains all things that come to pass. God is sovereign over all things would would you lose heart. If your candidate did not get in. Would you think for a second that God has neglected his church does not care that the nations rage against him is God in different will gives us an answer in verse four, verse four tells us he's raining in heaven ruling from his throne of sovereignty and is looking down governing all that is in the world is watching our nation plan and plot and try to win election. What is his response, he tells us he who sits in the heavens laughs, God laughs at us as we plot and plan the foolishness of men and their pride as they rebel against the sovereign will. He's not laughing and a sense of humor is laughing.

In a sense of derision he is mocking he is seeing the futile plans of men to rain and govern over America as these divine monarchs try to be God. He's laughing out loud. We think back into history, men that have tried to be God, Stalin, Lennon and Paul pot Hannibal Marcus or alias in the Roman Empire and all these men are dead and buried in there now in a history book. They sought to take God's authority. They wanted to be God and then God comes in and laughs at their foolishness.

A response to their rebellion with anger with justice, which they deserve and we think of extending grace and mercy and we should, as Christians, we ought to embrace the grace and mercy that is extended to us in Christ. But one of those that deny him. What about those that revile and hate God and if the nations were to judge the ways of God would be so far-fetched that he would in turn judge the nations we see in verse five that 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. Christ was born in a manger, and now the world belongs to him. He suffered under Pontius Pilate, and now he will in turn judge pilot in the Sanhedrin. He endure harsh treatment being mocked and scourged and spit upon, and now Christ is ascended into heaven and enthroned as our King of glory, raining for an eternity.

Psalm 72, tells me that they have dominion from sea to sea and from the river to the ends of the earth made desert tribes bow down before him and his enemies lick the dust. Here we see Christ is claiming his full authority and power over all the earth is Christ, the rules and reigns and is the power that is given to him by God the father. This is placed by the father given to the son he is installed and coordinated as the king for all eternity. He establishes this authority and power in Psalm 110 the Lord says to my Lord, sit at my right hand and I will make your enemies a footstool and he asserts that I have installed my King on Zion, Zion is a hill in the center of Jerusalem and that's where the temple was so it was in the center of town, and these ancient kings of Israel would sit there enthroned in heaven, ruling over God's people is God's appointed monarch and God sanctified this hill by putting his presence on Mount Zion from the sill David and the many kings of Israel would rain and now they were a shadow that was pointing to the eventual that is a terminal King of glory the Lord Jesus Christ and now he will declare the decree that is from his father for third point goes into verse 7 to 10.

The decree of the father. I will tell of the decree. The Lord, that is God the father says to me you are my son, today I have begotten you got the father says to the son, you are my son. He's staking claim in the Lord Jesus Christ and saying you were mine. This is pointing back to the incarnation of Christ, the Christ was cloaked in human flesh more of a virgin and declared by the father at his baptism. If you remember back in Matthew three God the father says this is my beloved son, with whom I am well please and the Holy Spirit descends like a dove upon his baptism, we see all three divine persons of the Trinity working together and blessing this moment here and then verse eight falls up and says ask of me and I will make the nations your heritage in the ends of the earth your possession God's people were looking forward to this eventual ruler. They had David and they knew that he would be in the line of David.

But the goal was that this last and final king would usher in this era of peace and prosperity spoken of by the prophets, and so now God the father gives his son. These nations as an inheritance, the promised Messiah to rule over Israel becomes a reality. And now this is the reign of Christ gospel goes out throughout the nations of the world that they might be grafted into the eternal covenant.

This Davidic covenant is a blessing to the nations that they might believe in Christ and believe on him and eternally be in peace and communion with Jesus Christ.

Isaiah chapter 9 verse seven says of the increase of his government and the peace there will be no in on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold with justice and with righteousness from the time forth and forevermore. This is an everlasting peace, mercy and riches of grace. For those that belong to him. As for those that believe in Christ. Those that come to him. One of those that don't. What happens to these nations.

Though they've heard the message and they've been pleaded with to look to the sun-kissed the sun find refuge in the sun verse nine shall break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

The imagery used here is Christ wielding a scepter that is a rod of authority and symbolizing his rule and authority in heaven. Typically, a scepter would be made out of gold, it would be in a palace laden with gold in this it was distinguishable between any other shepherds rod or any other symbol.

This meant that you were the king of Israel appointed by God. And so he raises the scepter of authority and judgment like a rod of iron. He is striking his enemies like they are pots of clay. No one debates what happens when iron strikes a pot of clay.

It is utterly destroyed. So this is a warning.

This is the warning of the law. This is the warning of judgment that those that hear it that are outside of Christ had not come to the sun, by faith, that they might run to the grace of God that they might believe in the Lord Jesus Christ and so verses 10 to 12 give us reconciliation with the sun. They give us a pathway that we might believe.

Now there are 40 kings, be wise, be warned rulers of the earth.

These pagan nations there still not believing in God are still rebelling and hating the true God of Israel.

He says consider the direction you're going consider the pathway that you are taking away from God. Realize that Christ is gonna come again and he's going to judge the nations unless they kiss the son he will administer judgment on those that have openly rebelled against him.

So this offer here is for you and I in this passage for all those that might hear the gospel call that they would receive this free gift of God and eternal life with Jesus Christ our Lord, but were commanded.

Further, in verse 11. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. This is not a sort of fear of punishment, where in grace, but it is a reverential fear. The way that we would respect God as being all-powerful Proverbs chapter 1 verse seven.

Of course, is the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge. When a favorite examples of this is Samuel Davies is an early minister in the colonies. He went back to Westminster Abbey in London has a story goes, Davies was preaching in the royal chap chapel there and King George was actually in attendance for a sermon.

King George started to talk to those in the pew next to him. It was actually quite loud, so disruptive to the point that single Davies had to say something and so is the middle of a sermon in the condo conversation got louder and louder, and Samuel Davies stopped his sermon and glared at King George a said when the lion roars the beasts of the forest tremble and when King Jesus speaks the princes of the earth keep silent, got silent in the royal chapel King George held a meeting later that day and apologize to Davies for talking during his sermon, and the point was that when King Jesus speaks when the King of Kings speaks other kings are to remain silent.

I think that applies to us this evening when Christ speaks we ought to be silent. We must go to the sun.

We must believe in the sun we must kiss the son translation may say do homage to the sun or show respect to the sun, but this is a common expression that simply means there's close relational Association and so it is to receive Christ and to love Christ to receive him. Not only is the son of God, but simply are Savior and our Redeemer and our friend and the one that has redeemed us for all eternity is to show respect to the sun, lest we perish in the way and that his wrath is kindled again. These nations are still under this judgment as they deny Christ. And so the plea here is to believe and to go to the sun to hear his voice, they do perish in the way those that deny Christ we see in Matthew 25.

This is describing the second coming of Jesus Christ, that he will divide them those to his left. He will divide them between the wheat and the chaff.

The sheep and the goats. The elect and the elect. And finally, in verse 41 exist apart from me you curse it in the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

He finishes this concludes this passage in verse 46. These will go away into an eternal punishment. He is warning of an eternal separation from God. And so that offer is extended out to you tonight to everyone throughout the nations to go to the sun to come to the sun as our Savior and Redeemer and ultimately our King that rules over all creation. And those that believe in the sun will have peace with God for all eternity. In that same passage of fear and judgment in eternity in hell.

Verse 34 aces come you are blessed by my father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world that inheritance that God the father gave the son through the son. Father extends that to you and I we have this kingdom that is inherited. We have an eternal kingdom. The kingdom of heaven that belongs to you and I if we simply go to the sun and kiss the son, and he is the only way we know he's the way and the truth and the life. He is the only way to eternal life. Timothy tells us there's one man, but mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus, we are to go to him by faith, and since we have been to Christians here since we have been justified by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We have obtained access by faith into the grace in which we stand. We stand in a place of grace. Those that kiss the son he calls us to find refuge in him. So matter what happens in the coming week matter what happens in the future. We trust in a God that ordains all things that come to pass. Let us find our rest in our refuge in him a spring heavenly father we do come to you in the name your son the Lord Jesus Christ. Please renew in our hearts to love for the Lord as he laid himself down for us and bore our sin and gave us his perfect righteousness when we believe in him by faith are so thankful that we serve a God who reigns eternally that you've added us into this everlasting covenant.

Let us not forget these truths but write them upon our hearts their sins and we pray