Thoughts for the Day

God’s Promise to His Anointed

Why do the nations conspire,
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and his anointed, saying,
‘Let us burst their bonds asunder,
and cast their cords from us.’

He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord has them in derision.
Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
‘I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.’

I will tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to me, ‘You are my son;
today I have begotten you.
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron,
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.’

Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear,
with trembling kiss his feet,
or he will be angry, and you will perish in the way;
for his wrath is quickly kindled.

Happy are all who take refuge in him.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

In this early period of Epiphany (which lasts for four weeks this year) we shall dip into some Psalms that deal with prophecies about the coming Messiah. Psalms often have multiple meanings, they can be psalms of refuge or about the enthronement of a king like David. But some are prophetic and are about the coming of God's Messiah, and we should ask how it fits with what we know about Jesus as the Messiah.

If you need a picture image in your mind for this psalm, then imagine a puppet theatre, with adults or children manoeuvring cardboard cut-out figures from above, while telling a story. The 'Lord' (ie Yahweh) looks down from above the stage while the puppet figures fight each other and rage against Him, and against His 'anointed one' (ie Messiah). The only difference is that in real life people are not puppets but have free wills and can make right or wrong choices!

In Psalm 2 we see that God's Messiah-King will have power over all nations. He is more than a son of David - He is God's Son. Only in this text do we see the three titles for the person whom God will send to save His people, referring to Him as 'King', 'Messiah', and 'Son'. We shall be reminded of this at the baptism of Jesus (John 1.32-34 ) and when he is tempted (Luke 4.1-13). Yet despite his power Jesus chose to exercise it not to destroy but to help others. The emphasis on taking the Gospel to other nations only came with his final parting words (Matthew 28.19-20).

These titles 'King', 'Messiah' and 'Son' are to be important for the way Jesus is presented in the Gospels, as we shall be reminded shortly in Mark's Gospel which opens with the words “The beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” (Mark 1:1).

Lord Jesus,
we remember today these prophecies
that were made over 3,000 years ago,
and give thanks for those who faithfully listened
to Your prompting whispers.
Help us to see the signs of Your presence
in our life and in the world around us,
and give us the courage to obey our instincts.
Amen.