Royal (Messianic?)Psalms

Psalm 2

1 Why do the nations conspire {LXX rage} and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One {or anointed one}.3 "Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters." 4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. 5 Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, 6 "I have installed my King {or king} on Zion, my holy hill." 7 I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, "You are my Son {Or son}; today I have become your Father. {Or have begotten you} 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.

Why differences?

Psalm 2

9 You will rule them with an iron scepter {or will break them with a rod of iron}; you will dash them to pieces like pottery." 10 Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son {or son}, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Son of king or God?

• Psalm 1?• Double

introduction

Psalm 2: Concluding thoughts• To whom does Psalm 2 belong?

– Israel, past and present– The church • Acts 4:25-26; 13:33: You spoke by the Holy Spirit through

the mouth of your servant, our father David: "Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One"; … he has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: "You are my Son; today I have become your Father."

• Heb. 1:5; 5:5: For to which of the angels did God ever say, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father"; … So Christ also did not take upon himself the glory of becoming a high priest. But God said to him, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father.

Psalm 2: Concluding thoughts

• To whom does Psalm 2 belong?• Matt 3:17; 17:5: And a voice from heaven said, "This is

my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased"; While he was still speaking, a bright cloud enveloped them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!"

• 2 Pet. 1:17: For he received honor and glory from God the Father when the voice came to him from the Majestic Glory, saying, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

• Rev 12:5; 19:15: She gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter; Out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "He will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.

Psalm 2: Concluding thoughts

• Goldingay: "this is not how things will always be" (104-106).

• "Living in a post-Christian era in the West means living in an era when the culture has thrown off the constraints of Christian faith, but the psalm promises that this will not be the end of the story" (Goldingay, 106).

Psalm 110

1 (NIV) The LORD says to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I make your

enemies a footstool for your feet." 2 The LORD will extend your mighty scepter

from Zion; you will rule in the midst of your enemies.

3 Your troops will be willing on your day of battle. Arrayed in holy majesty, from the womb of the dawn you will receive the dew of your youth.

4 The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind: "You are a priest forever, in the order of Melchizedek."

5 The Lord is at your right hand; he will crush kings on the day of his wrath.

Psalm 110

• Jesus not the "son of David"?–Mt. 22:42-45 (=Mark 12:35-37): "What do you

think about the Christ? Whose son is he?" "The son of David," they replied. He said to them, "How is it then that David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord'? For he says, "'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies under your feet."' If then David calls him 'Lord,' how can he be his son?"

Psalm 110• Jesus exalted to "right hand of God"

– Acts 2:32-36: God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear. For David did not ascend to heaven, and yet he said, "The Lord said to my Lord: 'Sit at my right hand until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.'" Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

Psalm 110

• Jesus exalted to "right hand of God"– Eph. 1:19-20: That power is like the working of his mighty

strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand.

– Col. 3:1: Set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.

– Heb. 1:3: The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

– 1 Pet. 3:21-22: It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand--with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

Psalm 110• All things in submission to Jesus

–1 Pet. 3:21-22: It saves you by the resurrection of Jesus Christ, who has gone into heaven and is at God's right hand--with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.

–1 Cor. 15:25-26: For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death.