05. The Promise of a Son to the Gentiles

 I will tell of the decree: Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my son; This day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I will give thee the nations for thine inheritance,  (Ps 2:7–8 ASV)

The promise of a Son to the Nations

There are several passages of scripture we could have used for this blog but I have opted for this wonderful psalm. The psalm was first opened up for me by an old man in his 90s who lived in Wells-next-the-Sea in Norfolk when I was a teenager. He declared it as a heavenly conversation within the Triune Godhead. He divided it into three parts:

1. The Father speaks. Psalm 2:1-6
2. The Son speaks. Psalm 2:7-9
3. The Holy Spirit is speaking. Psalm 2:10-12

Those familiar with the Newberry Bible will know where he derived his divisions. The Psalm was almost certainly composed for David but its themes are far greater than can have application to David only.

The Opening Scene

The historical setting is probably unrest in David’s expanding kingdom but seen from heaven’s perspective that unrest is a picture of an abiding spiritual condition on earth.

 Why do the nations rage, And the peoples meditate a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against Jehovah, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bonds asunder, And cast away their cords from us.  (Ps 2:1–3 ASV)

The familiar distinction that is the backdrop of the Old Testament scriptures appears here again. The word translated ‘nations’ is ‘goiim’, the word that is frequently translated as Gentiles. The psalm has a clear divide; God and his people and those who are not ‘God’s people’. The speaker discerns a united conspiracy against Jehovah/Yahweh and his Messiah. Yes, this is the word Messiah, the anointed one. In the historical setting it is David and Jehovah/Yahweh’s divinely authorised agent on earth. In the larger setting it is the Messiah/Christ.

The speaker recognises that the tumult of the nations is at its base a rebellion against God and his delegated authority. It may seem from an earthly perspective that this is a legitimate uprising against a foreign master but the speaker discerns that the uprising is really against Jehovah/Yahweh and his Christ. This is a spiritual rebellion. The Gentiles, those outside the Sinai Covenant, are united in a conspiracy and rebellion against God and his will. Their purpose is to overthrow God’s order, to break free of his constraints; to break the chains and throw off the ropes. To be free of God and his interferences.

The distinction between the Sinai Covenant ‘people of God’ and the nations is highlighted in a well-known but perhaps often misunderstood verse of scripture.

  Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he. (Prov 29:18 KJV)

But if we consider the verse in its context we shall find that a more accurate sense is captured in more modern translations which render the verse along the lines of …

Where there is no revelation the people perish but happy is he who keeps the law.

It is contrasting the peoples who are without the revelation of God and his will with those who have submitted to his authority. The children of Israel had submitted to his will at Sinai and had become his people. Those outside the Sinai Covenant were the Gentiles or as they were labelled by the Jews, ‘sinners of the Gentiles’.

The New Testament has its own language for this distinction. 

  Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. (1 John 2:15 NKJV)

If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. (John 15:19 NKJV)

Perhaps this seems a harsh tone for an Advent series but it is a continuing reality that there are two people groups in our world; those who have become members of God’s people, those who are ‘His’, and those who have not surrendered to him… yet. Remember however that this is not the last word. We need to get to the end of the psalm to see the solution to our danger.

Heaven’s response to earth’s tumult

 He that sitteth in the heavens will laugh: The Lord will have them in derision. Then will he speak unto them in his wrath, And vex them in his sore displeasure: Yet I have set my king Upon my holy hill of Zion.  (Ps 2:4–6 ASV)

God’s derisory laughter is the response to the feeble protests of human rebellion. As someone has remarked, as God views the united conspiracies of the creation he is not nervous. He continues to reign from heaven’s throne. The rebellion will be judged and the rebels brought to justice.

God’s will is not to be thwarted. He has ‘set’ his king in place of authority and power. The word translated ‘set’ is a word associated with an outpouring or anointing. We may legitimately translate it…

Yet have I anointed my King upon my holy hill of Zion

The pronoun “I” is emphasised. In contrast to what the rebellious conspiracy are doing “I” have done this; I have anointed my King… The continuing rebellion is futile; God has placed his anointed one, his Christ, on the throne.

 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.  (Matt 28:18 NKJV)

The Son Speaks

I will tell of the decree: Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my son; This day have I begotten thee.  (Ps 2:7 ASV)

Paul quoted this psalm in the course of his preaching in the synagogue in Antioch in Pisidia in Acts 13. The passage shows how the early Christians regarded this Messianic psalm. They saw it not only as a statement of God’s endorsement of David but also as a promise of the one of whom David was a prophetic type. Not merely an anointed one but the Anointed One, the promised Messiah

 And we declare to you glad tidings—that promise which was made to the fathers. God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.” And that He raised Him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, He has spoken thus:“I will give you the sure mercies of David.’ (Acts 13:32–34 NKJV)

The promise of the anointed one and the guarantee of the covenant faithfulness of God had fulfilled the promise of the ancient psalm. God had set his king upon his holy hill or as we might interpret it, God had enthroned the Son, as his appointee, to rule over all.

Christ’s testimony

The certainty of this image is strengthened in Psalm 2 by a personal testimony from the anointed Son.

I will tell of the decree: Jehovah said unto me, Thou art my son; This day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I will give thee the nations for thine 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.  (Ps 2:7–9 ASV)

Having fulfilled his Father’s will Christ ascends to the highest throne. All authority in heaven and earth is his. He can use it in fierce retribution against those who have striven against him. But he is given a promise. “Ask…and I will give…” He is promised ‘the nations (goiim, the Gentiles) as his inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession.” Ultimately he will judge the world and its peoples and those who have persisted in their rebellion will experience his wrath, but wait there is more…

The Spirit is speaking

Now therefore be wise, O ye kings: Be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve Jehovah with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Kiss the son, lest he be angry, and ye perish in the way, For his wrath will soon be kindled. Blessed are all they that take refuge in him.  (Ps 2:10–12 ASV)

Here is an invitation to the rebels. His wrath is not inevitable. There is an amnesty and the rebels are invited to ‘be wise’. 

He maketh the rebel a priest and a king…

In spite of all our resistance and rebellion we may still come and surrender. We may turn from our rebellion and yield to God to be those who serve him. We are admonished to ‘Kiss the Son’. This is not an amorous or romantic kiss or even the kiss of a friend, this is the kiss of the monarch’s hand in public acknowledgement of allegiance to a master.

But we must come while we may; the danger continues while we tarry.

And the psalm that began with rebellion and the threat of a withering judgment ends with a blessing… those outside the covenant are guaranteed acceptance and blessing if they will only turn and live.

Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him

…and throughout the world, irrespective of nation or culture or language, the Spirit still speaks the same words…

“Today, if you will hear His voice,
Do not harden your hearts…” (Heb 3:15 NKJV)