How Will You Respond To God's King? (Psalm 2:1-12, Matthew 2:1-15)
Rev. Alan Avera, December 30, 2018Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
World events can cause fear to take hold of us. Evil nations set themselves up against God. Psalm 2 addresses the enemies of God rather than nations. Who is in control? God is. The Bible deals with the world as it is, not as we which it would be. This world is not a utopia, and never will be. Nations can turn from enmity toward God to being supportive of the spread of the Gospel. Why do the nations rage? Kings set themselves against the Lord and Christ. There are two aspects of sin: missing the mark or falling short, and open rebellion. Psalm 2 deals with open rebellion. They want to be freed from the rule of the Lord of history, the Sovereign over nations. The New Testament quotations of this Psalm make it clear that the rebellion is against Jesus and God's plan. King Herod's slaughter of the innocents was an act of rebellion against David's greater Son. Middle East Muslims rebel against God's plan, killing His messengers. What is God's response? Their vain schemes are absurd; the Lord laughs at their puny rebellions. God continues to bring forth the Kingdom of God despite the opposition of puny earthly kings. Herod came and went, but his plotting was in vain. What about the end of Jesus' life? Jesus was killed by evil men. Where was God? Did He fail? No, it was all part of His plan to defeat sin and death. God set His King on His Holy Hill. The question is, "How will YOU respond to God's anointed King?" The Psalm gives the life-giving answer. Worship, submission and trust. Be wise, be warned, serve and rejoice. The kiss referred to in the Psalm is not between equals. It is like a subject kissing the ring of the king. We kiss the nail-pierced hands of our Savior. He invites you to come. We are blessed if we take our refuge in Him.
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Psalm 2 (Listen)
2:1 Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6 “As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill.”
7 I will tell of the decree:
The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
(ESV)
Matthew 2:1–15 (Listen)
2:1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the east came to Jerusalem, 2 saying, “Where is he who has been born king of the Jews? For we saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.” 3 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him; 4 and assembling all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Christ was to be born. 5 They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it is written by the prophet:
6 “‘And you, O Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod summoned the wise men secretly and ascertained from them what time the star had appeared. 8 And he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word, that I too may come and worship him.” 9 After listening to the king, they went on their way. And behold, the star that they had seen when it rose went before them until it came to rest over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 And going into the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Then, opening their treasures, they offered him gifts, gold and frankincense and myrrh. 12 And being warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed to their own country by another way.
13 Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 14 And he rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed to Egypt 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”
(ESV)