1076. Christ: The Everlasting Ruler

Welcome to The Daily Platform from Bob Jones University in Greenville South Carolina today on The Daily Platform were continuing a study series entitled looking at the Jesus which is a study of Christ in the Old Testament.

Today's message will be preached by Dr. Sam Saldivar, a professor in the school of religion listed her vitals together and go over to Psalm two.

Looking up in the news this morning top five trending news reports. Number one activists report dozens of Assyrian Christians kidnapped by ISIS number two Iran is pursuing nukes and underground complex. Despite talks with West number three is a mystery tunnel found near a venue of the 2015 Pan Am games before an American missionary was kidnapped by gunmen in Nigeria number five, eight dead, plus gunmen and check restaurant shooting rampage. The Bible constantly asserts God's absolute control over the affairs of humanity and yet faith in this teaching of God's sovereignty is often challenged by events all around us. There's a constant tension between God's absolute rule and the rule of man. We see this laid out probably more clearly in Psalm two than any other tax in the Old Testament. At least what we have here in Psalm two is an answer from heaven that dispels our doubts that strengthens our faith that inspires our devotion while the sound is not given the information as to its background. We discover and ask for 25 that David is the author the Lord had established David as king over all Israel. David, as a young shepherd boy rose to leadership in incredibly powerful and miraculous way as he slew this giant and found an office in the kingdom of Saul, Saul, in spite of David's protection and service longed constantly to kill this young man because he recognize God's hand upon him and David have become more famous Saul God judges Saul and gives a kingdom to David and second Samuel seven.

After David's kingdom had been established over all Israel. David has a longing to give God a permanent house in Jerusalem, Nathan the prophet encouraged him to go ahead and build it. But that night God tells them to change the message to David and instead he says I'm going to give David a descendent who will have an everlasting kingdom that can never be revoked and David was astonished at this promise that from his descendents. An everlasting ruler would rise to dominate the world and is, perhaps, with those thoughts in his mind that he penned the words of this Psalm.

Why do the heathen rage and the people. Imagine a vain thing. The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, let us break their bands asunder and cast away their cords from us, he that sit in the heavens shall laugh. The Lord shall have them in derision, then he shall speak to them in his wrath and vex them in his sore displeasure.

Yet I have set my king upon my holy hill of Zion I will declare the decree. The Lord is sent to me, thou art my son, this day have I begotten, the ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for that inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession, thou shalt break them with a rod of iron, thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

Be wise now, therefore, all you kings be instructed you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.

Kiss the son, lest he be angry and he perished from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little blessed are all they that put their trust in him. This Psalm divides neatly into four parts, each with a different speaker verses one through three, we see the speech of the rebels in verses four through six we see the speech of the father.

Verses seven through nine, we see the speech of the sun. In verses 10 through 12 we see the speech of David, or ultimately the Holy Spirit the sovereignty of the Messiah demands total submission by all.

Though David was king, he often faced rebellion's the most absurd of which was that of his own son Absalom though. His rule was established by God and decreed to be eternal. David recognize the tension that existed so this Psalm instructs us that no matter what is going on in this world. The matter what men think they are doing or can do. God reigns supreme is kingdom rules.

Overall verses one through three. Where we see that mankind is in constant rebellion against the sovereignty of God and his Messiah. These words describe realities that have been in place from the time that Adam and Eve rebelled against God's rule. Up until David's day and even today and will continue into the future until the king returns verse one see the universal antagonism toward sovereignty. Why do the heathen rage and the people.

Imagine a vain thing. Why are the nations restless. Why are they in the tumult, the people are meditating there imagining the word here. The same word that's used in Psalm one of the godly man who meditates on the word of God. These nations these unbelievers instead of meditating on God's word. They meditate on emptiness and thinking about something that will come to nothing. The emptiness is a figure to word speaking of the results of the rebellion. No matter how much they plot and scheme against God. Their efforts are futile.

Their worthless. No amount of human rebellion can thwart God's sovereignty. Everybody's in this boat nations people humanity in general and the question here. Why is not really asking for information.

It's a question of rhetorical question of astonishment. How can it be that people are so rebellious and dense as to think that they could rebel against God. Verse two we see not just generally people rebelling but specifically their leaders. The representative leaders mount an attack against Yahweh and against his Messiah, the kings of the earth, and the rulers take counsel together they set themselves as word is a military term, they take a military stance against God and against his minced Messiah. It's interesting that humans are often in a battle against each other. Yet here we find them in perfect unity as a come to rebel against God. The third part of this verse is deliberately not parallel in order to make it stand out more so have the kings of the earth set themselves in the rulers take counsel together and then there's this unparallel statement against the Lord and against his anointed, the placement of this phrase highlights its audacity.

David would've taken this personally. David recognize it when somebody attacks the Lord's anointed your attacking the Lord himself is no wonder that he refused to do harm to Saul, whom he addressed as the Lord's anointed. But these men will have none of God's rulers or the rule of God himself.

Verse three. They say this is the reasoning. Let us break their bands asunder and cast away their cords from us the bands and cords negatively refer to what they view as gods abusively restrictive laws and requirements of humans. Ironically, as men seek to bring about their own freedom by eliminating God's restrictions. They make themselves greater slaves to more severe masters in spite of the speech of the rebels of humanity in spite of the so-called rulers of this earth see in verse four that there is a ruler that sitting in the heavens.

He that sit in the heavens shall laugh.

The Lord shall have them in derision God's reaction to human rebellion is to be humored and is kind of unusual to picture God as making fun of someone. The laughter here is not something's funny ha ha but Nan NNN and look at you. How foolish you look and it might seem almost irreverent or blasphemous to think of God in this way, but the point here is that the efforts of man to rebel against God are utterly ridiculous so that God is amused.

Or maybe he's not amused. The one sitting the heavens as a reference to his place as the king, he sits enthroned in the heavens, the name given to him. Here is Adonai, the Lord, the sovereign, the ruler of all is unimpressed when men take their stand against God.

God sits enthroned unmoved, unphased men think they rule from earth but God rules supremely and he will have the last laugh verse five God terrifies rebels with his anger. Then he shall speak to them in his wrath and vex them in his sword displeasure. We have a startling contrast from the laughter of verse four, to the anger of verse five. God is not amused. He is angry. The words of anger are often associated with heat, with burning and the idea here seems to be something like when you get angry here your nostril start to flare as you try to hold back your rage. And here is God angry at the efforts of men's rebellion. The word vex is the concept of terror. God will terrify them same reaction that we see in the brothers of Joseph when they came to Egypt, and Joseph revealed his true identity to them, they were terrified that they had been and that they had sold their brother into slavery. Now he has the authority to kill them. God will make these rebels feel terrified through his anger verse six God installs his king. Even though men think they are in control. God is already set his king is King sits on Zion, his holy hill. God is aggressive in his assertion of sovereignty. Literally, the text says I myself have said my king upon my holy hill is one of the black God moments of Scripture when things in humanity seemed totally out of control where it seems like God is not there. He intervenes.

I myself have set my king upon my holy hill.

The word set is used to pouring out and probably has reference to anointing. I have anointed my king anointing was something that was done as a ruler would step in the office.

There is this formal anointing of this ruler, indicating God's choice of him and blessing of him and empowering of his kingdom and rule even though it meant to the city Zion here. Zion can be viewed as a synecdoche for the whole earth is not just a God rules in one city but the city represents the entire creation. God rules over all through his king versus 7 to 9 we see the Messiah himself proclaiming his son ship and sovereignty verse seven we declare the decree.

The Lord is set into me, thou art my son, this day have I begotten, the second person of the Trinity speaks God the son he recognizes that his father has anointed him his chosen him to be a son, not his concept of son ship is not something that was true only when Christ became human somehow he started to be to be a son. It speaks of an eternal relationship speaks of the eternal son ship that is that is existed before time the sun and the father have had this perfect relationship. It is descriptive of this special lesson and the unity existed between the father and the son so the sun rejoices in his father and the father is pleased with his son verse eight.

As for me, ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth as I possession the sun here is commanded by the father to ask for an inheritance.

Most earthly rulers inherited lands and treasures.

The heavenly ruler is going to inherit people and nations from all over the planet.

This is prophesied in Psalm 72 that his kingdom will be from sea to sea, to the ends of the earth. The further we get into the Psalm. The more we realize what David must've realized that this Psalm is not talking about David's rule or Solomon's rule, but that it's pointing to this greater rule that is in place at all times. It's pointing to the real king verse nine thou shalt break them with a rod of iron, thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. The rebels who take their stance against God will be smashed by an iron rod or an iron scepter. The iron scepter speaks of the unbreakable symbol of authority is irresistible. Rule God is in control and is rule cannot be thwarted. Anybody who opposes him will be smashed second part of verse says it will be – in pieces like a potter's vessel. It was customary of Egyptians rulers, especially when they would take office to take clay jars and write the names of enemy city. It's for opponents who would threaten the kingship of that ruler, they would write the names on these jars and they would symbolically smash these pots saying that no rulers and to be able to conquer us smashed is probably some allusion to this the fact that the destruction is compared to that of a clay jar speaks of the total destruction that is here.

This is irreparable when they face the judgment of God.

There is no putting them back together again. Verse 10 you have the Holy Spirit speak be wise now all he kings be instructed. He judges of the earth spirit demand submission to the sovereignty of God and his Messiah, God commands the rebellious rulers mentioned in the beginning the Psalm to change the rebellious perspective, there is a focus on the command to be wise to take advice. These are patient warnings which demand humility from rulers.

The rulers are to be wise to choose skillfully to be instructed indicating that they are ignorant and in need of a teacher.

Verse 11. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. God commands not only a change of perspective by the rulers but he demands fearful yet joyful service.

Those that were used to being served are now commanded to become servants of the true King and there to do this in reverence and fear. And yet, somewhat paradoxically, the service is not somehow oppressive the service. While it does have an element of fear to it is to be done with rejoicing service to God does not involve oppressive shackles.

It is a pleasant and satisfying service which 12 kiss the sun, lest he be angry any pairs from the way when his wrath is kindled but a little God demands complete submission.

The phrase kiss the son of this phrase is debated in the literature probably speaks of paying homage to a ruler by kissing his feet to something that was done in first Samuel 10 one and the idea is complete obeisance.

Bowing down before the sun, the rulers of the earth are implored to submit to the rule of the sovereign Messiah the sovereign son if they do not submit.

There is a warning lest he be angry any parish from the way when his wrath is kindled by the little submits or die submits or parish failure to bow the knee results in perishing because of the rebellious way the anger being kindled, but a little probably has allusion to the Lord may soon break out in judgment speaks of impending judgment that comes unexpectedly, those who will not bow the knee will perish, but blessed are all they that put their trust in him. Seek shelter in the Messiah from the wrath of God and you will find blessing of God on David must've had this understanding of his rule and what God is doing in the world but there's a lot more going on here see the beginning when God created mankind he made them in his image so that man could have dominion over the earth. God wanted his rule over all creation to be represented represented on the earth by people so he made Adam and Eve to be the first king and queen of the world. Ironically, Adam and Eve rebelled against God's rule rebelled against their king and creator and when they did that they did not become kings as God, but they became slaves to Satan to a different ruler to a ruler of this age, so they started the battle and the tension that we experience to this very day between man's rebellion in God's rule on this earth.

Man found himself struggling to exercises dominion over a kingdom that was rebellious against his rule, but God had Artie devised a plan God had already set a king on a throne and he gave the promise to the serpent that there would be a seed come coming from humanity who would conquer the god of this age and reassert God's rule in this world man still did not get it, he rebelled so much that God destroyed almost everybody in a flood after the flood men rebels again in a futile attempt to make a name for himself at babble is still rebelling against God's rule and God confuses the languages and he says some of the choose Abraham and from Abraham. Kings will come specifically from the line of Judah.

Genesis 4910 is going to come a ruler and onto him. The people will gather the period of the judges.

Every man does that which is right in his own eyes. Why, because there was no king in Israel. It's pointing to the need of a perfect king, the common rule because without the rule of God on the earth.

There is chaos, so we have the choice of the people saw while Saul was not a man after God's own heart. Saul was a rebel God put David in his place and he gives him the Davidic promise. The covenant that from David would come on ultimate ruler. Fast forward to the birth of Jesus. He is announced to be the son of God, the King, the long-awaited king has finally taken on human form, he was declared to be the son of God at his baptism. Again, remember that the concept of son should speaks of. He is equal with God. He is supreme.

He is of the same essence as the father.

He was declared to be the son of God surpassed all the Old Testament prophets at his Transfiguration during his ministry. Even the demons recognized this is the son of God's son ship is synonymous with his deity. John 518, the Jews sought the mortar killer because he not only break the Sabbath, but he also called God's own father, making himself equal with God.

John 1033 you being a man make yourself God by using that the designation son of God, men still did not get it. Men were commanded to kiss the son, and submission.

Instead Judas Iscariot kisses the sun and betrayal when the fullness of time came, God gave the greatest illustration of the supremacy of his sovereignty in the crucifixion of his son while Herod and Pilate who beforehand had become enemies that were enemies had now become friends.

They were conspiring together against the Lord and his Messiah.

The Jews and the Gentiles cried, crucify him. When Jesus was about to be crucified. Pilate, Aston, are you taking the Jews. Do you not realize that I have authority to crucify your to let you go Jesus said don't have any authority as is given to you from God. You might be ruling but God is really the Roman soldier was among the first recognize that the crucified Jesus was the son of God, acts 1332, 33, and we bring you the good news of God promised to the fathers. This he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus is also is written in the second Psalm, you are my son, today I have begotten you. The son ship of Jesus is manifested to humanity in the most dramatic way, and that when men think they have triumphed and killed Jesus. I've killed the Messiah. He conquers death and he chose to set himself to be the son of God in power. Hebrews 1 describes him as the radiance of the glory of God after he made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to the angels as a name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs, and then it quotes you are my son today have I begotten you fast towards Revelation, Jesus is identified as the ruler of the kings of the earth, and he is a glorious King. Revelation 19 from his mouth comes a sharp sword, and with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron.

Jesus has always been raining these was raining as he was dying on the cross. These was raining as he was raising from the grave. Jesus is raining today no matter what trouble you might be going through matter how out-of-control things might seem.

Jesus will come visibly. One day, and assert that he is King of Kings and Lord of lords, something that is incredibly awesome relation to the stern there. In conclusion relation to verses 26 and 27.

This is somewhat staggering. The demented man was lost. After the fall, believers today are facing persecution and it seems like the wicked are winning.

Often times there was no different in the time of Revelation when this was written. Hang in there, he that overcome it and keep with my works unto the end, to him I will give power over the nation's, and he shall rule them with a rod of iron as a vessels of a potter, they shall be broken to shivers. Even as I received my father in other words, if you submit to the rule of Christ. You will have the privilege one day of ruling and reigning with him. The image of God to exercise dominion will be restored forever. You've been listening to a sermon preached at Bob Jones University by Dr. Sam Saldivar, which is part of the study series about Christ in the Old Testament. Join us again tomorrow as we continue this series here on The Daily Platform