The Messiah of Psalm 2

The Messiah of Psalm 2

In a teaching from Founded in Truth Fellowship, Matthew Vander Els explores the profound meaning and enduring relevance of Psalm chapter 2. This passage of scripture, situated early in the Book of Psalms, serves as a foundational declaration about God's chosen ruler, the Messiah, who Christians recognize as Yeshua, or Jesus. The teaching emphasizes that Psalm 2 is not merely an ancient historical text but a powerful statement about the present reign of Christ and the role of believers in his ongoing kingdom.

The session begins with an invitation to those seeking a deeper connection and community rooted in truth and love, a place of worship for the "King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, and the Son of God." Psalm 2 is introduced as a potent message, significant not only in its original context but also as it is echoed by the New Testament authors in reference to Jesus. The speaker expresses the hope that the exploration of the Psalms, including this particular one, will be edifying, reminding listeners of the tensions and emotions present even in biblical times and the challenge of remaining faithful.

Psalm 2 opens with the question, "Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?" This sets the stage for a depiction of earthly powers and rulers who "take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed," seeking to break free from their perceived bonds. However, the response from the divine is one of laughter and derision. God declares, "As for me, I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill." This declaration is central to understanding the psalm's message: God has already established his chosen king.

The teaching highlights the significance of the word "anointed" in verse 2, which is the Hebrew word "mashiach" or Messiah. This word means "the anointed king," and it is the origin of the title "Christ" (Christos in Greek) used for Jesus. Therefore, "Jesus Christ" literally means "Jesus the Messiah," or "Jesus the King." A key point of emphasis is the assertion that the scriptures testify that Jesus has already taken the throne, possessing all authority and power in heaven and on earth. The speaker passionately refutes the idea that Jesus is not king yet, arguing that such a view minimizes his position and authority. Matthew 1:1 is cited, which refers to Jesus as "the genealogy of Jesus Christ, the son of David, the son of Abraham, the anointed king." To deny Jesus' present kingship is, in essence, to deny that he is the Messiah.

The teaching delves into the ancient Near Eastern context, where it was common for the rightful king to be considered the son of God, embodying God's presence and authority. Heaven is described not as a distant place but as the control room for earthly affairs. Just as idols were seen as links to the presence of pagan gods, humankind was created in Genesis 1 to be the image of God ("tzalim" in Hebrew), designed to rule and have dominion as a portal of God's authority, love, justice, mercy, and grace. The mission of humanity was to walk out God's presence on earth, but this ideal was disrupted when mankind chose its own way.

In its immediate context, Psalm 2 speaks of the Davidic monarchy, including David and Solomon, and their heirs. The enthronement of the king served as a reminder of God's ultimate control. However, the speaker points out that the historical kings of Israel, including David and Solomon (despite his use of slaves), fell short of the ideal righteous king. Even after the return from Babylonian exile, when the Book of Psalms was compiled, the faithful began to recognize a deeper, future fulfillment of the promise of a righteous king, a Messiah who would truly embody the essence of God's son. The New Testament authors identified Jesus as this long-awaited Messiah.

To understand how heaven's king rules on earth, the teaching explores the chiastic structure of Psalm 2. The psalm is divided into four sections: verses 1-3 (action on earth), verses 4-6 (heavenly activity), verses 7-9 (heavenly activity), and verses 10-12 (action on earth). The central point of this structure, found in verses 6 and 7, declares, "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.'" This highlights the intimate connection between heaven and earth through God's appointed King, the Christ. Despite the desires of the world's nations to disconnect from God, his King reigns with a rod of iron, which will ultimately break their opposition. This image is echoed in Revelation 12, depicting the birth of a child who will rule with a rod of iron, leading to the defeat of Satan in heaven, which has implications for earth.

The victory over darkness is achieved through the expansion of God's kingdom on earth via the message of the gospel. The gospel, as proclaimed by Jesus in Mark 1:14-15, is the good news that "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent and believe in the good news." This is not a message of escapism but of hope for the present world, where the reign of God's king is now. Through Jesus, believers have access to the Holy Spirit, enabling them to demonstrate God's love, mercy, graciousness, and justice, bringing a level of "heaven on earth."

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Application for Everyday Life

• Recognize Jesus as the reigning King: Understand that Jesus is not just a future hope but the present ruler with all authority. This should influence how you view the world and its challenges.
• Live as an ambassador of Christ's kingdom: Your words, actions, and thoughts should reflect the values and character of Jesus. Be a representative of heaven in your daily interactions.
• Proclaim the gospel of the kingdom: Share the good news that God's kingdom has come near. This is not just about escaping this world but about bringing God's presence into it.
• Embrace the power of the Holy Spirit: Rely on the Spirit to enable you to live out God's love, mercy, and justice. Pray for empowerment to be an effective agent of change.
• Fight the darkness with humility and forgiveness: Resist the urge to respond to the world's negativity with the same tactics. Instead, embody the subversive humility and forgiveness of Christ.

References

• Psalm 2:1
• Matthew 1:1
• Genesis 1
• Revelation 12
• Mark 1:14

Resources

• The Bible
• Book of Psalms
• Book of Revelation

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