WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.820 I'm going to turn in your Bibles to Psalm chapter 2 or Psalm 2. That's where we'll be this morning. 00:00:07.120 --> 00:00:11.080 And I bring you greetings from Middleton Baptist Church. So they say hello. 00:00:12.419 --> 00:00:18.100 Please turn with me to Psalm 2 and follow along with me as I read. 00:00:26.760 --> 00:00:27.640 Psalm 2. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.980 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 00:00:37.579 --> 00:00:46.840 The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed saying, 00:00:46.840 --> 00:00:52.780 Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us. 00:00:52.780 --> 00:00:58.439 He who sits in the heavens laughs. 00:00:58.439 --> 00:01:02.699 The Lord holds them in derision. 00:01:02.700 --> 00:01:08.280 Then he will speak to them in his wrath and terrify them in his fury saying, 00:01:08.500 --> 00:01:14.040 As for me, I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill. 00:01:14.040 --> 00:01:16.900 I will tell of the decree. 00:01:17.020 --> 00:01:18.120 The Lord said to me, 00:01:18.480 --> 00:01:19.580 You are my son. 00:01:20.680 --> 00:01:22.040 Today I have begotten you. 00:01:22.160 --> 00:01:28.040 Ask of me and I will make the nations your heritage and the ends of the earth your possession. 00:01:28.040 --> 00:01:36.480 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. 00:01:36.480 --> 00:01:41.920 Now, therefore, O kings, be wise. 00:01:43.060 --> 00:01:46.100 Be warned, O rulers of the earth. 00:01:46.320 --> 00:01:49.900 Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. 00:01:50.659 --> 00:01:51.980 Kiss the Son. 00:01:53.359 --> 00:01:56.939 Lest he be angry with you and you perish in the way. 00:01:56.939 --> 00:02:00.420 For his wrath is quickly kindled. 00:02:01.519 --> 00:02:05.620 Blessed are all who take refuge in him. 00:02:06.039 --> 00:02:07.140 Let's pray for a moment. 00:02:10.560 --> 00:02:12.159 The words of the psalmist. 00:02:13.599 --> 00:02:18.419 Deal bountifully with your servant that I may live and keep your word. 00:02:19.919 --> 00:02:25.039 Father, we pray that by your spirit you would deal bountifully with us from your word this morning. 00:02:25.039 --> 00:02:28.539 That we may live according to your word. 00:02:29.699 --> 00:02:32.079 And that we would keep it, Lord, with our whole hearts. 00:02:32.979 --> 00:02:36.000 We pray that you would glorify yourself and help us. 00:02:36.959 --> 00:02:38.159 In the name of Jesus. 00:02:39.000 --> 00:02:39.379 Amen. 00:02:42.979 --> 00:02:46.379 What do you think is wrong with the world today? 00:02:49.599 --> 00:02:51.620 What's wrong with the world? 00:02:51.620 --> 00:02:56.420 Maybe you think there's nothing wrong with the world. 00:02:57.580 --> 00:03:00.640 Maybe you think that things are more or less as they ought to be. 00:03:02.060 --> 00:03:06.360 But I think if that's how you view the world, you'd probably be in the minority. 00:03:08.540 --> 00:03:13.879 I think most of us would agree that the world is not how it ought to be. 00:03:13.939 --> 00:03:15.259 The world ought to be different. 00:03:15.379 --> 00:03:16.460 It ought to be fair. 00:03:16.460 --> 00:03:19.640 It ought to be safe and good for everyone. 00:03:21.980 --> 00:03:23.700 But that's clearly not how it is. 00:03:23.800 --> 00:03:29.500 Instead, we live in a world with war and injustice and oppression. 00:03:32.800 --> 00:03:36.540 Now, it's one thing to notice it, but it's worth asking, why is the world like this? 00:03:37.420 --> 00:03:39.340 Why is it not as it ought to be? 00:03:39.340 --> 00:03:44.259 The way that we all instinctively hope that it should be? 00:03:45.780 --> 00:03:50.780 The answer to this question, I believe, is in this psalm that we are reading and looking at this morning. 00:03:51.520 --> 00:03:57.640 Because Psalm 2 presents us with a picture of our world and the fundamental problem of it. 00:03:57.639 --> 00:04:06.639 It gives us a God's eye perspective on human history, stretching back in time and around the world. 00:04:08.339 --> 00:04:12.039 And I want to start by telling you right up front what this psalm is about. 00:04:12.619 --> 00:04:19.680 Psalm 2 is about the Lord and his anointed king and the rebellion of the world against them both. 00:04:19.680 --> 00:04:26.019 So there's the Lord, God himself, and his anointed king on earth, 00:04:26.579 --> 00:04:30.480 and the nations, the world, who are in rebellion against them both. 00:04:33.579 --> 00:04:40.800 This psalm is not just about King David, who is the king that is immediately implied here. 00:04:40.860 --> 00:04:44.480 It also points forward to Christ himself, who is the anointed king, 00:04:44.480 --> 00:04:50.600 and who is the king of kings, who came to this world that was so opposed to him. 00:04:51.360 --> 00:04:56.280 Never forget that when Jesus came to this world that he created, we killed him. 00:05:01.080 --> 00:05:03.939 You'll notice that David is not mentioned in this psalm. 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:06.140 However, if you turn to Acts 4, you don't have to do that now, 00:05:06.200 --> 00:05:10.280 but if you look in Acts 4, when the disciples are quoting this psalm, 00:05:10.400 --> 00:05:12.520 they say, they refer to it as a psalm of David. 00:05:12.519 --> 00:05:15.939 And so we know from that that this is a psalm that David penned, 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:17.500 and it's in relation to him. 00:05:17.560 --> 00:05:20.560 Now, in terms of its structure, it falls into four even sections. 00:05:21.099 --> 00:05:24.719 Verses 1 to 3, the futile rebellion of the nations. 00:05:25.379 --> 00:05:29.339 Verses 4 to 6, the confident response of the Lord. 00:05:30.740 --> 00:05:33.939 Verses 7 to 9, the sure success of the Son. 00:05:34.000 --> 00:05:38.259 And finally, verses 10 to 12, the right response of the nations. 00:05:38.259 --> 00:05:42.579 So we'll just look at those sections as they progress one to another. 00:05:42.680 --> 00:05:47.259 The futile rebellion of the nations to begin with in verses 1 to 3. 00:05:48.339 --> 00:05:51.519 The psalm begins by describing a global conflict. 00:05:52.779 --> 00:05:55.459 On the one side, you have the nations and the peoples of the earth 00:05:55.459 --> 00:05:57.920 as represented by their kings and their rulers. 00:05:58.920 --> 00:06:01.740 And on the other side, you have the Lord himself, Yahweh, 00:06:01.740 --> 00:06:08.160 the God of the Bible and his anointed one, his anointed king. 00:06:09.120 --> 00:06:14.460 And we are told that these earthly rulers are plotting and raging against the Lord 00:06:14.460 --> 00:06:15.560 and against his king. 00:06:16.540 --> 00:06:21.139 Actively and angrily setting themselves against him. 00:06:21.680 --> 00:06:23.340 Literally taking their stand against him. 00:06:23.360 --> 00:06:24.780 And they're even united in this. 00:06:25.519 --> 00:06:28.620 It says that they take counsel together against the Lord. 00:06:28.620 --> 00:06:32.939 You know, you've heard that phrase, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. 00:06:34.079 --> 00:06:37.160 And so these kings and rulers who might otherwise be warring with themselves 00:06:37.160 --> 00:06:42.240 are united in their opposition of the Lord and against his king. 00:06:43.160 --> 00:06:49.439 And this raises the question, why are the nations so set against the Lord and his anointed one? 00:06:49.540 --> 00:06:51.720 Verse 3, they say it in their own words. 00:06:51.780 --> 00:06:52.360 Look at what it says. 00:06:52.360 --> 00:06:57.879 Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us. 00:06:58.620 --> 00:07:04.180 And this language of bonds and cords is the language of authority. 00:07:04.959 --> 00:07:07.459 That is God's authority over them. 00:07:10.480 --> 00:07:15.639 So the reason the nations are in rebellion against the Lord and his king 00:07:15.639 --> 00:07:17.600 is because they want to be free from him. 00:07:19.160 --> 00:07:21.399 From his authority and from his control. 00:07:21.399 --> 00:07:30.120 In other words, the picture laid out before us here is of the world, our world, in rebellion against God. 00:07:30.620 --> 00:07:33.279 They want to be free from him. 00:07:33.539 --> 00:07:37.399 The clear teaching of the Bible, as uncomfortable as it is for us to face, 00:07:38.359 --> 00:07:40.939 is that apart from the transforming power of Jesus, 00:07:41.779 --> 00:07:44.799 each of us live in rebellion against God. 00:07:44.800 --> 00:07:49.199 So what we see here in Psalm 2 on a global scale, 00:07:49.920 --> 00:07:52.300 we find to be true on an individual scale. 00:07:54.300 --> 00:07:58.020 This is our default setting, to be free from God. 00:07:58.400 --> 00:08:01.939 Now you might say, hang on a minute, there's lots of religion in the world. 00:08:02.439 --> 00:08:04.019 Lots of people want God in their lives. 00:08:05.540 --> 00:08:06.439 And that's true. 00:08:06.879 --> 00:08:08.240 There's a lot of religion in the world, isn't there? 00:08:08.240 --> 00:08:12.000 But that's not what this psalm is speaking about. 00:08:12.160 --> 00:08:18.019 The psalm is not speaking about God in a general dictionary definition, vague sense. 00:08:18.900 --> 00:08:20.540 It's speaking about the Lord. 00:08:21.100 --> 00:08:25.600 That is Yahweh, the Lord of the Bible, the God of Israel, 00:08:26.139 --> 00:08:28.139 the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. 00:08:29.660 --> 00:08:30.699 That's what's going on here. 00:08:30.780 --> 00:08:33.659 It's this Lord, this God that people are in rebellion against. 00:08:33.659 --> 00:08:37.580 They'd rather be free from him, to get out from under his authority. 00:08:37.580 --> 00:08:38.920 And his rule. 00:08:40.240 --> 00:08:41.759 The prophet Isaiah put it up this way. 00:08:42.259 --> 00:08:44.300 Or sorry, put it this way, or summed it up this way. 00:08:44.420 --> 00:08:46.720 All we like sheep have gone astray. 00:08:47.160 --> 00:08:50.639 And each of us has turned to his own way. 00:08:52.100 --> 00:08:53.620 We'd rather do our own thing. 00:08:54.580 --> 00:08:58.000 We're not naturally inclined towards the Lord. 00:08:58.940 --> 00:09:00.960 In fact, if you look back at Psalm 1, 00:09:01.340 --> 00:09:02.900 and the first verse of Psalm 1, 00:09:04.360 --> 00:09:05.840 or Psalm 1 in general, 00:09:05.840 --> 00:09:10.300 it speaks about the blessed man who meditates on the law of the Lord day and night. 00:09:10.379 --> 00:09:12.899 That word meditate just means to think continually upon. 00:09:13.860 --> 00:09:18.340 And the word meditate, or to think upon, in Psalm 1, 00:09:18.440 --> 00:09:20.680 is the same word for plot in Psalm 2. 00:09:21.320 --> 00:09:23.660 So instead of thinking about what God says, 00:09:24.379 --> 00:09:27.139 and thinking it over and meditating upon that, 00:09:27.480 --> 00:09:31.300 the people are in fact meditating and thinking over how they can be free from God. 00:09:31.299 --> 00:09:36.659 And that's no coincidence that those words contrast in that way. 00:09:36.659 --> 00:09:41.179 Maybe you're here this morning, you're not a Christian, 00:09:41.379 --> 00:09:42.319 and you're looking around and thinking, 00:09:42.579 --> 00:09:43.639 these people are very religious. 00:09:44.959 --> 00:09:46.799 This must just do something for them. 00:09:47.000 --> 00:09:48.379 It's kind of like a religious hobby. 00:09:49.419 --> 00:09:51.480 They must be wired this way naturally. 00:09:52.959 --> 00:09:55.740 Well, I can tell you, none of us are wired this way laterally. 00:09:55.819 --> 00:09:57.439 Because look at what this is telling us. 00:09:57.759 --> 00:09:59.639 That we don't naturally seek God. 00:09:59.699 --> 00:10:01.759 In fact, we naturally want to be free from Him. 00:10:01.759 --> 00:10:03.580 Because of sin. 00:10:05.860 --> 00:10:08.639 We're not wired towards God, 00:10:08.720 --> 00:10:11.340 but rather against Him and against His anointed. 00:10:12.620 --> 00:10:13.659 What about you this morning? 00:10:13.759 --> 00:10:17.419 Where do you stand in relation to the Lord? 00:10:22.340 --> 00:10:23.919 Do you meditate on His word, 00:10:24.039 --> 00:10:27.559 or would you rather cast it aside and be free from it? 00:10:27.559 --> 00:10:33.019 You see, this psalm draws a big, thick line right down the middle. 00:10:33.899 --> 00:10:36.099 And says there's the Lord on the one side, 00:10:36.559 --> 00:10:37.979 and His anointed King. 00:10:39.279 --> 00:10:43.459 And on the other, there is those who are in rebellion against them. 00:10:44.579 --> 00:10:47.879 And did you notice that this is a doomed rebellion, ultimately? 00:10:48.059 --> 00:10:51.059 Because it starts off, this psalm, with a rhetorical question. 00:10:51.239 --> 00:10:52.179 Look at verse 1 again. 00:10:52.679 --> 00:10:54.079 Why do the nations rage? 00:10:54.099 --> 00:10:55.799 It doesn't just say, the nations rage. 00:10:55.799 --> 00:10:56.859 It acts. Why? 00:10:57.759 --> 00:10:59.059 Why do the nations rage? 00:11:00.620 --> 00:11:03.139 This rebellion is a lost cause. 00:11:03.279 --> 00:11:04.120 It's a dead end. 00:11:04.279 --> 00:11:05.479 It's a doomed enterprise. 00:11:05.919 --> 00:11:07.699 And verses 4 to 6 tell us, 00:11:08.139 --> 00:11:12.319 when we look at the Lord's confident response to them. 00:11:13.079 --> 00:11:14.779 Look again at what He says, verse 4. 00:11:14.879 --> 00:11:16.579 He who sits in the heavens laughs. 00:11:16.919 --> 00:11:18.559 He holds them in derision. 00:11:19.659 --> 00:11:21.559 Then He will speak to them in His wrath, 00:11:22.240 --> 00:11:23.959 and terrify them in His fury, 00:11:23.960 --> 00:11:26.920 saying, as for me, I have set my King on Zion, 00:11:27.080 --> 00:11:27.840 my holy hill. 00:11:27.920 --> 00:11:30.900 God's response to the rebellion of the world 00:11:30.900 --> 00:11:32.580 is laughter. 00:11:34.660 --> 00:11:37.080 And this is not a warm-hearted chuckling. 00:11:37.080 --> 00:11:41.259 This is mocking laughter. 00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:44.520 It's not something you'd expect to read about God, is it? 00:11:45.379 --> 00:11:48.759 But when God looks at those who are in rebellion against Him, 00:11:49.580 --> 00:11:50.560 He is not afraid. 00:11:51.100 --> 00:11:52.560 He's not in a state of panic. 00:11:53.220 --> 00:11:57.639 His response is to laugh with confidence. 00:11:58.460 --> 00:11:59.900 Why can the Lord laugh like this? 00:11:59.940 --> 00:12:01.120 Well, look at where He is. 00:12:02.240 --> 00:12:03.840 Verse 4, look at where He is. 00:12:03.840 --> 00:12:06.620 He sits in the heavens on His throne, 00:12:06.700 --> 00:12:08.519 the position of ultimate authority. 00:12:08.720 --> 00:12:11.399 Psalm 109, 103, verse 19, 00:12:11.800 --> 00:12:14.840 says the Lord has established His throne in the heavens, 00:12:15.340 --> 00:12:18.940 and His kingdom rules over all. 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:21.899 Psalm 29, 10, 00:12:21.960 --> 00:12:24.340 the Lord sits enthroned as King forever. 00:12:24.440 --> 00:12:27.259 The Lord God is the King of the universe. 00:12:27.259 --> 00:12:32.000 And look at what He says in verse 5. 00:12:32.139 --> 00:12:32.259 He says, 00:12:32.319 --> 00:12:33.480 Then I will speak to them, 00:12:33.700 --> 00:12:35.000 He will speak to them in His wrath, 00:12:35.100 --> 00:12:36.259 and terrify them in His fury. 00:12:36.700 --> 00:12:37.379 As for me, 00:12:37.399 --> 00:12:39.659 I have set my King on Zion, 00:12:39.779 --> 00:12:40.580 my holy hill. 00:12:40.639 --> 00:12:42.720 So not only is God the King of the universe, 00:12:44.080 --> 00:12:45.960 but He has seated in this heavenly throne, 00:12:46.039 --> 00:12:47.200 but He has set His King, 00:12:47.279 --> 00:12:48.240 His earthly King, 00:12:48.500 --> 00:12:49.159 in Zion, 00:12:49.279 --> 00:12:49.759 that is, 00:12:50.139 --> 00:12:51.179 in Jerusalem, 00:12:52.080 --> 00:12:53.539 which is a city on a hill. 00:12:54.500 --> 00:12:56.559 This is how God terrifies the nations, 00:12:57.120 --> 00:12:58.819 is by appointing a King, 00:12:59.559 --> 00:13:01.500 who will not be conquered. 00:13:03.459 --> 00:13:04.679 And this King, 00:13:04.740 --> 00:13:05.519 as we noted earlier, 00:13:05.620 --> 00:13:06.360 is King David, 00:13:06.419 --> 00:13:09.360 but it's also the Kings that came after David, 00:13:09.459 --> 00:13:10.659 and from David's line. 00:13:11.919 --> 00:13:12.199 You see, 00:13:12.360 --> 00:13:14.000 God didn't just make David the King, 00:13:14.059 --> 00:13:15.579 He also made a covenant with him, 00:13:16.120 --> 00:13:16.779 a promise, 00:13:16.779 --> 00:13:17.719 a binding agreement, 00:13:17.919 --> 00:13:20.159 to establish His kingdom forever. 00:13:20.879 --> 00:13:21.620 And we find that, 00:13:21.679 --> 00:13:22.219 and read about that, 00:13:22.220 --> 00:13:23.920 in 2 Samuel chapter 7. 00:13:24.060 --> 00:13:26.080 I'd actually like you to turn back, 00:13:26.320 --> 00:13:27.600 to 2 Samuel chapter 7, 00:13:27.660 --> 00:13:28.560 and read that with me. 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:31.660 So 2 Samuel chapter 7. 00:13:37.060 --> 00:13:39.600 I will begin in verses 12 to 16. 00:13:40.259 --> 00:13:41.840 This is God's covenant with David. 00:13:46.060 --> 00:13:47.660 The Lord said to David, 00:13:48.019 --> 00:13:50.480 2 Samuel 7 verses 12 onwards, 00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:51.980 3 Samuel 8, 00:13:51.980 --> 00:13:53.659 When your days are fulfilled, 00:13:53.759 --> 00:13:55.200 and you lie down with your fathers, 00:13:55.460 --> 00:13:57.860 I will raise up your offspring after you, 00:13:58.600 --> 00:14:00.080 who shall come from your body, 00:14:01.100 --> 00:14:04.200 and I will establish His kingdom. 00:14:06.159 --> 00:14:08.340 He shall build a house for my name, 00:14:09.420 --> 00:14:13.399 and I will establish the throne of His kingdom forever. 00:14:15.480 --> 00:14:17.460 I will be to Him a father, 00:14:17.460 --> 00:14:20.320 and He shall be to me a son. 00:14:21.680 --> 00:14:22.879 When He commits iniquity, 00:14:22.879 --> 00:14:24.800 I will discipline Him with the rod of men, 00:14:24.840 --> 00:14:26.240 with the stripes of the sons of men, 00:14:26.280 --> 00:14:29.180 but my steadfast love will not depart from Him. 00:14:31.100 --> 00:14:32.700 And as I took it from Saul, 00:14:32.920 --> 00:14:34.420 whom I put away before you, 00:14:34.519 --> 00:14:36.480 and your house and your kingdom 00:14:36.480 --> 00:14:39.560 shall be made sure forever before me, 00:14:39.900 --> 00:14:43.639 your throne shall be established forever. 00:14:43.639 --> 00:14:47.439 So the Lord promised David 00:14:47.439 --> 00:14:48.980 that His son, 00:14:49.519 --> 00:14:51.819 that is, not just the first son He had, 00:14:51.860 --> 00:14:53.460 but all those who came after Him, 00:14:53.819 --> 00:14:55.600 there would always be a line of David 00:14:55.600 --> 00:14:57.960 that would sit upon the throne, 00:14:58.059 --> 00:14:59.899 that His house, His kingdom, 00:15:00.360 --> 00:15:01.819 would be established forever. 00:15:04.100 --> 00:15:06.379 So when we flip back to Psalm 2 now, 00:15:07.679 --> 00:15:08.759 with this in mind, 00:15:08.819 --> 00:15:11.419 we see that this psalm goes beyond just David himself 00:15:11.419 --> 00:15:12.579 into the future. 00:15:14.279 --> 00:15:16.759 We see in verses 7 to 9 00:15:16.759 --> 00:15:19.099 the sure success of this son, 00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:21.439 this son that was mentioned 00:15:21.439 --> 00:15:22.759 in that covenant with David. 00:15:23.339 --> 00:15:25.419 Again, this is David speaking directly now. 00:15:26.019 --> 00:15:26.379 He says, 00:15:26.479 --> 00:15:28.179 I will tell of the decree. 00:15:29.299 --> 00:15:30.240 The Lord said to me, 00:15:30.299 --> 00:15:31.099 You are my son. 00:15:31.199 --> 00:15:33.179 Today I have begotten you. 00:15:33.379 --> 00:15:34.000 Ask of me, 00:15:34.059 --> 00:15:36.099 and I will make the nations your heritage, 00:15:36.599 --> 00:15:38.439 and the ends of the earth your possession. 00:15:38.440 --> 00:15:42.100 You shall break them with a rod of iron 00:15:42.100 --> 00:15:44.300 and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. 00:15:45.260 --> 00:15:46.840 David's confidence, excuse me, 00:15:46.900 --> 00:15:49.040 is rooted in what the Lord told him. 00:15:49.740 --> 00:15:50.780 You are my son. 00:15:51.420 --> 00:15:52.860 Today I have begotten you. 00:15:54.720 --> 00:15:56.080 This is a reference, I think, 00:15:56.140 --> 00:15:57.060 back to that covenant 00:15:57.060 --> 00:15:59.380 that the Lord made with David. 00:16:00.980 --> 00:16:02.280 I will be to him a father. 00:16:02.380 --> 00:16:03.700 He shall be to me a son. 00:16:05.020 --> 00:16:07.340 That's what David has in mind here in verse 7. 00:16:07.340 --> 00:16:09.700 He knows that even though the nations of the world 00:16:09.700 --> 00:16:11.820 are set against him, 00:16:12.860 --> 00:16:15.360 that the Lord will be faithful to his covenant. 00:16:16.360 --> 00:16:17.820 This is David's confidence, 00:16:17.980 --> 00:16:19.080 what the Lord said. 00:16:20.980 --> 00:16:22.860 Now, our circumstances this morning 00:16:22.860 --> 00:16:24.920 are not at all like David's. 00:16:25.780 --> 00:16:26.960 You're not the king of Israel. 00:16:27.780 --> 00:16:30.280 You don't have nations coming to try and destroy you. 00:16:31.900 --> 00:16:33.639 But the cause for our confidence 00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:36.440 is still fundamentally the same. 00:16:37.340 --> 00:16:39.820 That the Lord is true to his word. 00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:44.360 He is faithful to his covenant with us in Jesus 00:16:44.360 --> 00:16:46.420 and he will never leave us 00:16:46.420 --> 00:16:48.160 nor forsake us. 00:16:49.000 --> 00:16:50.379 Maybe you came to church this morning 00:16:50.379 --> 00:16:51.879 feeling very weak 00:16:51.879 --> 00:16:53.519 and at a very low ebb. 00:16:56.080 --> 00:16:58.620 Let me encourage you from this psalm this morning 00:16:58.620 --> 00:17:03.519 to let your confidence be in what the Lord has said. 00:17:05.700 --> 00:17:07.940 As Christians, our confidence, our strength 00:17:07.940 --> 00:17:09.440 is not found in ourselves, is it? 00:17:09.460 --> 00:17:10.960 It's found in who God is 00:17:10.960 --> 00:17:12.039 and what he has said. 00:17:13.759 --> 00:17:15.799 The idea that the word or the phrase 00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:16.859 a strong Christian 00:17:16.859 --> 00:17:19.200 is in one sense almost like a paradox. 00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:22.740 We become strong through the strength 00:17:22.740 --> 00:17:23.799 of who God is. 00:17:24.579 --> 00:17:25.920 It's not that we find in ourselves 00:17:25.920 --> 00:17:28.500 some sort of like extra set of batteries for life 00:17:28.500 --> 00:17:30.740 but rather that we depend 00:17:30.740 --> 00:17:32.560 on who God is and what he says 00:17:32.560 --> 00:17:34.279 and bank 00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:37.180 on his promises coming to fulfillment. 00:17:39.940 --> 00:17:40.740 In verse 8, 00:17:40.820 --> 00:17:42.220 ask of me, the Lord says, 00:17:42.279 --> 00:17:43.940 and I will make the nations your heritage, 00:17:44.060 --> 00:17:45.160 the end of the earth, 00:17:45.539 --> 00:17:47.160 the ends of the earth your possession. 00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:52.320 the total expansion of this kingdom 00:17:52.320 --> 00:17:54.120 that he has given to David. 00:17:54.220 --> 00:17:54.740 So in the end, 00:17:54.860 --> 00:17:56.920 the kingdom that God promised to David 00:17:56.920 --> 00:17:58.400 will not just be in Jerusalem, 00:17:58.759 --> 00:18:00.040 in Zion, in the Holy Hill, 00:18:00.460 --> 00:18:01.880 but it will spread from there 00:18:01.880 --> 00:18:03.680 to the ends of the earth. 00:18:06.420 --> 00:18:08.000 Finally, in verses 10 to 12, 00:18:08.080 --> 00:18:09.360 the focus turns back 00:18:09.360 --> 00:18:12.519 to the right response of the nations. 00:18:12.519 --> 00:18:16.099 Now therefore, O kings, 00:18:16.200 --> 00:18:16.720 be wise, 00:18:16.819 --> 00:18:18.319 be warned, O rulers of the earth, 00:18:18.460 --> 00:18:19.779 serve the Lord with fear 00:18:19.779 --> 00:18:21.400 and rejoice with trembling. 00:18:22.819 --> 00:18:23.779 Kiss the son, 00:18:24.440 --> 00:18:25.700 lest he be angry with you 00:18:25.700 --> 00:18:26.799 and you perish in the way, 00:18:26.859 --> 00:18:28.779 for his wrath is quickly kindled. 00:18:29.660 --> 00:18:31.759 Blessed are all who take refuge in him. 00:18:34.160 --> 00:18:35.700 This is David's advice 00:18:35.700 --> 00:18:36.859 to his enemies, 00:18:37.740 --> 00:18:39.440 to the nations who rebel. 00:18:39.440 --> 00:18:42.299 They ought to serve the Lord with fear 00:18:42.299 --> 00:18:43.759 and rejoice with trembling. 00:18:43.940 --> 00:18:44.519 In other words, 00:18:45.180 --> 00:18:46.740 they ought to turn from their rebellion 00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:48.940 and submit to God 00:18:48.940 --> 00:18:50.340 and to his king. 00:18:50.420 --> 00:18:51.759 Otherwise, they will perish. 00:18:53.900 --> 00:18:55.400 But the psalm ends with a promise 00:18:55.400 --> 00:18:56.580 to the nations. 00:18:57.680 --> 00:18:59.880 Blessed are all who take refuge in him, 00:18:59.960 --> 00:19:01.320 that is, in the Son. 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:05.580 The Lord is merciful towards his enemies. 00:19:05.740 --> 00:19:07.539 He holds out this promise to them, 00:19:07.539 --> 00:19:09.759 a promise to bless. 00:19:11.920 --> 00:19:13.200 You notice that Psalm 1, 00:19:13.240 --> 00:19:14.339 I think Psalm 1 and Psalm 2 00:19:14.339 --> 00:19:15.779 come together sort of as a pair 00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:17.480 to introduce the whole of the Psalms. 00:19:17.980 --> 00:19:20.059 The very beginning of Psalm 1 says what? 00:19:20.440 --> 00:19:21.720 Blessed is the man 00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:24.519 who does not live in the way of sinners, 00:19:24.639 --> 00:19:24.940 essentially, 00:19:25.059 --> 00:19:26.480 but who meditates on the law of the Lord. 00:19:26.539 --> 00:19:27.819 And then Psalm 2 ends 00:19:27.819 --> 00:19:30.379 with that same phrase. 00:19:30.559 --> 00:19:31.599 Blessed is the one 00:19:31.599 --> 00:19:34.480 who takes refuge in the Son. 00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:39.099 So from reading Psalm 2 and Psalm 1, 00:19:39.160 --> 00:19:40.120 we see we are blessed 00:19:40.120 --> 00:19:42.220 to take refuge in the Son 00:19:42.220 --> 00:19:45.819 and to abide in God's Word. 00:19:47.819 --> 00:19:50.099 See, Psalm 2 is ultimately about Jesus. 00:19:50.819 --> 00:19:52.480 It finds its fullest expression 00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:53.960 in the life, death, 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:55.900 and resurrection of Jesus. 00:19:57.059 --> 00:19:58.059 Just think of everything 00:19:58.059 --> 00:19:59.059 the Lord promised to David. 00:19:59.120 --> 00:20:01.099 I will raise up a son after you. 00:20:01.160 --> 00:20:02.700 You will always have someone on the throne, 00:20:02.700 --> 00:20:03.759 someone who will rule. 00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:05.900 I will be to him a father. 00:20:06.019 --> 00:20:07.519 He shall be to me a son. 00:20:08.640 --> 00:20:10.319 And he will reign forever, 00:20:10.420 --> 00:20:11.980 a kingdom that will never end 00:20:11.980 --> 00:20:13.420 to the ends of the earth. 00:20:14.360 --> 00:20:15.539 And that sounds amazing. 00:20:16.100 --> 00:20:17.700 What happened after David died? 00:20:18.960 --> 00:20:19.380 Solomon. 00:20:19.980 --> 00:20:21.559 And that started off very well 00:20:21.559 --> 00:20:23.740 and then went downhill very fast. 00:20:25.340 --> 00:20:26.200 Because Solomon, 00:20:27.140 --> 00:20:28.519 after all the blessings 00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:29.539 the Lord had given him, 00:20:29.759 --> 00:20:30.940 wandered away from the Lord 00:20:30.940 --> 00:20:33.400 into worshipping false gods. 00:20:34.720 --> 00:20:35.960 And then after Solomon, 00:20:36.220 --> 00:20:36.759 his son, 00:20:37.620 --> 00:20:38.240 Rehoboam, 00:20:39.700 --> 00:20:41.460 who provoked the people 00:20:41.460 --> 00:20:43.460 and was harsh towards them 00:20:43.460 --> 00:20:45.420 and was such a bad leader 00:20:45.420 --> 00:20:47.019 that he actually instigated 00:20:47.019 --> 00:20:48.120 a civil rebellion 00:20:48.120 --> 00:20:50.960 that most of the people just said, 00:20:51.480 --> 00:20:52.720 if that's who you are, 00:20:52.799 --> 00:20:54.080 we want nothing to do with you. 00:20:54.820 --> 00:20:55.840 And there was a split 00:20:55.840 --> 00:20:57.360 in the kingdom. 00:20:58.640 --> 00:20:59.880 So far it doesn't look very good, 00:20:59.880 --> 00:21:00.280 does it. 00:21:00.740 --> 00:21:01.080 It's supposed to be 00:21:01.080 --> 00:21:01.880 a kingdom forever, 00:21:02.500 --> 00:21:03.760 a king in the line of David, 00:21:03.760 --> 00:21:05.240 and things are just falling apart 00:21:05.240 --> 00:21:06.720 with each consecutive generation. 00:21:08.140 --> 00:21:09.660 And things after Rehoboam 00:21:09.660 --> 00:21:10.560 go downwards 00:21:10.560 --> 00:21:12.320 year after year, 00:21:12.520 --> 00:21:13.820 generation after generation. 00:21:15.200 --> 00:21:16.800 And things are so bad 00:21:16.800 --> 00:21:18.080 that in the end 00:21:18.080 --> 00:21:19.000 the Lord sends 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:20.680 the enemies of God's people, 00:21:20.780 --> 00:21:21.660 these nations 00:21:21.660 --> 00:21:24.060 that are spoken of in Psalm 2, 00:21:24.660 --> 00:21:26.120 to invade the people 00:21:26.120 --> 00:21:27.540 and take them off into exile. 00:21:27.539 --> 00:21:27.980 And so you think, 00:21:28.039 --> 00:21:29.180 this is the exact opposite 00:21:29.180 --> 00:21:30.180 of Psalm 2 happening. 00:21:31.379 --> 00:21:32.519 It's all devolving. 00:21:32.599 --> 00:21:34.579 The nations are conquering us. 00:21:36.180 --> 00:21:37.539 Can you imagine being 00:21:37.539 --> 00:21:39.039 a Jew in exile 00:21:39.039 --> 00:21:41.059 and reading Psalm 2? 00:21:42.099 --> 00:21:42.940 You'd be thinking like, 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:43.980 where is this going to happen? 00:21:45.759 --> 00:21:46.619 We're supposed to have 00:21:46.619 --> 00:21:47.599 a conquering king, 00:21:47.659 --> 00:21:49.139 a kingdom that will never end. 00:21:49.259 --> 00:21:51.039 The nations are warned. 00:21:51.039 --> 00:21:52.980 And here we are, 00:21:53.299 --> 00:21:54.420 in the middle of nowhere, 00:21:54.839 --> 00:21:55.700 ripped out of our land 00:21:55.700 --> 00:21:56.579 with no king 00:21:56.579 --> 00:21:58.960 and no kingdom to speak of. 00:22:03.619 --> 00:22:04.019 Eventually, 00:22:04.139 --> 00:22:04.480 they were allowed 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:04.899 to go back 00:22:04.899 --> 00:22:05.819 to the promised land. 00:22:06.019 --> 00:22:06.759 And when they went back, 00:22:06.839 --> 00:22:07.700 they rebuilt the temple 00:22:07.700 --> 00:22:08.940 and the people 00:22:08.940 --> 00:22:09.359 who remembered 00:22:09.359 --> 00:22:10.139 the original temple 00:22:10.139 --> 00:22:11.359 cried because it was 00:22:11.359 --> 00:22:13.859 such a poor shadow 00:22:13.859 --> 00:22:14.940 of what it was before. 00:22:15.019 --> 00:22:15.339 In other words, 00:22:15.379 --> 00:22:16.339 they were back home, 00:22:17.099 --> 00:22:18.319 but they weren't back 00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:19.099 to the glory days. 00:22:19.099 --> 00:22:23.959 Until you turn 00:22:23.959 --> 00:22:24.799 to the first page 00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:25.579 of the New Testament 00:22:25.579 --> 00:22:27.039 and Matthew writes 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:29.459 in his first sentence 00:22:29.459 --> 00:22:30.299 of his Gospel, 00:22:31.319 --> 00:22:33.379 the book of the genealogy 00:22:33.379 --> 00:22:34.299 of Jesus Christ, 00:22:34.959 --> 00:22:36.899 the son of David. 00:22:39.099 --> 00:22:40.299 In other words, 00:22:40.659 --> 00:22:41.339 this is him. 00:22:42.599 --> 00:22:44.299 This is the one 00:22:44.299 --> 00:22:45.259 spoken of 00:22:45.259 --> 00:22:47.019 in the Davidic covenant. 00:22:49.099 --> 00:22:50.240 And then Matthew 00:22:50.240 --> 00:22:51.199 spells out 00:22:51.199 --> 00:22:51.899 his genealogy 00:22:51.899 --> 00:22:53.039 to show that Jesus 00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:54.199 literally descended 00:22:54.199 --> 00:22:55.839 from David. 00:22:57.259 --> 00:22:58.719 When Jesus began 00:22:58.719 --> 00:22:59.740 his public ministry, 00:22:59.859 --> 00:23:00.759 Matthew chapter 4, 00:23:00.819 --> 00:23:01.079 he said, 00:23:01.240 --> 00:23:01.679 Repent, 00:23:01.959 --> 00:23:03.039 for the kingdom 00:23:03.039 --> 00:23:03.939 of heaven 00:23:03.939 --> 00:23:04.619 is at hand. 00:23:06.459 --> 00:23:07.059 Unmistakable 00:23:07.059 --> 00:23:08.740 kingship language. 00:23:10.219 --> 00:23:10.779 And where is he 00:23:10.779 --> 00:23:11.339 when he started? 00:23:11.480 --> 00:23:12.559 He was in the land 00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:13.539 of David. 00:23:14.259 --> 00:23:15.240 When people saw 00:23:15.240 --> 00:23:16.079 Jesus healed, 00:23:16.439 --> 00:23:17.219 they were amazed 00:23:17.220 --> 00:23:17.640 and said, 00:23:17.759 --> 00:23:18.480 Can this be 00:23:18.480 --> 00:23:19.299 the son of David? 00:23:22.360 --> 00:23:23.180 And when Jesus 00:23:23.180 --> 00:23:24.519 entered into Jerusalem 00:23:24.519 --> 00:23:25.880 and ascended 00:23:25.880 --> 00:23:26.799 to Mount Zion, 00:23:27.940 --> 00:23:30.140 when he entered 00:23:30.140 --> 00:23:30.740 into the gates, 00:23:30.819 --> 00:23:31.299 the crowds 00:23:31.299 --> 00:23:32.360 that went before him 00:23:32.360 --> 00:23:33.120 and followed him 00:23:33.120 --> 00:23:33.660 were shouting, 00:23:33.799 --> 00:23:34.279 Hosanna 00:23:34.279 --> 00:23:35.759 to the son of David. 00:23:36.460 --> 00:23:37.380 Blessed is the one 00:23:37.380 --> 00:23:38.000 who comes 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:38.579 in the name 00:23:38.579 --> 00:23:39.180 of the Lord. 00:23:39.180 --> 00:23:42.340 You see, 00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:43.160 they were expecting 00:23:43.160 --> 00:23:44.500 a conquering king 00:23:44.500 --> 00:23:46.920 on their terms. 00:23:47.019 --> 00:23:47.539 One who would 00:23:47.539 --> 00:23:48.560 destroy the Romans 00:23:48.560 --> 00:23:50.160 and just bring them 00:23:50.160 --> 00:23:51.279 back to the glory days. 00:23:53.940 --> 00:23:55.160 But their expectations 00:23:55.160 --> 00:23:56.000 were skewed. 00:23:56.100 --> 00:23:56.779 When Jesus 00:23:56.779 --> 00:23:58.860 conquered by suffering, 00:24:00.039 --> 00:24:00.740 above him 00:24:00.740 --> 00:24:01.200 they hung 00:24:01.200 --> 00:24:01.940 this inscription, 00:24:02.259 --> 00:24:03.360 This is the king 00:24:03.360 --> 00:24:04.100 of the Jews. 00:24:04.099 --> 00:24:07.859 Jesus, 00:24:08.059 --> 00:24:08.459 God's 00:24:08.459 --> 00:24:09.319 anointed king, 00:24:09.459 --> 00:24:10.459 died on the cross 00:24:10.459 --> 00:24:11.819 at the hands 00:24:11.819 --> 00:24:12.659 of the nations 00:24:12.659 --> 00:24:14.339 for the nations. 00:24:16.399 --> 00:24:18.339 And when he rose 00:24:18.339 --> 00:24:19.159 from the grave, 00:24:19.259 --> 00:24:19.799 he commanded 00:24:19.799 --> 00:24:20.439 his disciples 00:24:20.439 --> 00:24:21.539 to go out 00:24:21.539 --> 00:24:22.359 into the nations 00:24:22.359 --> 00:24:25.599 so that the message 00:24:25.599 --> 00:24:26.639 of forgiveness 00:24:26.639 --> 00:24:28.159 would go 00:24:28.159 --> 00:24:29.079 and spread 00:24:29.079 --> 00:24:29.779 from Jerusalem 00:24:29.779 --> 00:24:30.379 to the ends 00:24:30.379 --> 00:24:30.819 of the earth. 00:24:30.939 --> 00:24:31.679 We see that 00:24:31.679 --> 00:24:32.240 Psalm 2 00:24:32.240 --> 00:24:32.980 is ultimately 00:24:32.980 --> 00:24:33.959 about Jesus. 00:24:34.099 --> 00:24:37.439 And that just 00:24:37.439 --> 00:24:37.939 as sure 00:24:37.939 --> 00:24:38.599 as God 00:24:38.599 --> 00:24:39.779 kept his promise 00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:40.759 to keep that 00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:41.459 line of David 00:24:41.459 --> 00:24:42.819 going until Christ, 00:24:43.199 --> 00:24:44.199 the king of kings, 00:24:44.480 --> 00:24:45.000 arrived, 00:24:45.539 --> 00:24:46.319 so too will he 00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:47.099 keep his promise 00:24:47.099 --> 00:24:48.079 that the kingdom 00:24:48.079 --> 00:24:48.980 of God 00:24:48.980 --> 00:24:50.079 will spread 00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:50.839 to the ends 00:24:50.839 --> 00:24:51.299 of the earth. 00:24:53.740 --> 00:24:54.980 So when we send, 00:24:55.179 --> 00:24:56.019 when you as a church 00:24:56.019 --> 00:24:56.839 and we also 00:24:56.839 --> 00:24:57.879 send out Amy 00:24:57.879 --> 00:24:58.939 to Sheffield 00:24:58.939 --> 00:25:00.279 and support missionaries 00:25:00.279 --> 00:25:01.059 and send money 00:25:01.059 --> 00:25:01.779 and pray, 00:25:02.079 --> 00:25:03.019 we are participating 00:25:03.019 --> 00:25:04.639 in God's fulfilling 00:25:04.639 --> 00:25:05.740 of his own word 00:25:05.740 --> 00:25:08.200 that he will give 00:25:08.200 --> 00:25:10.099 to his anointed king 00:25:10.099 --> 00:25:11.319 the ends of the earth. 00:25:15.700 --> 00:25:16.220 You know, 00:25:16.259 --> 00:25:16.619 I was thinking, 00:25:16.759 --> 00:25:17.799 if you're David 00:25:17.799 --> 00:25:19.940 and you have the whole 00:25:19.940 --> 00:25:20.579 of the world 00:25:20.579 --> 00:25:21.700 stacked against you, 00:25:21.900 --> 00:25:22.460 numerically, 00:25:22.619 --> 00:25:23.579 you are outgunned. 00:25:23.579 --> 00:25:26.099 And at times 00:25:26.099 --> 00:25:26.539 as Christians 00:25:26.539 --> 00:25:27.000 we look out 00:25:27.000 --> 00:25:27.279 and go, 00:25:28.000 --> 00:25:29.279 there's just so much 00:25:29.279 --> 00:25:30.899 rebellion, 00:25:31.639 --> 00:25:32.699 so few people 00:25:32.699 --> 00:25:33.879 who follow the Lord 00:25:33.879 --> 00:25:35.619 and you feel 00:25:35.619 --> 00:25:36.319 outgunned. 00:25:36.679 --> 00:25:37.500 You ever feel like that? 00:25:37.579 --> 00:25:38.460 Outgunned as a Christian? 00:25:38.579 --> 00:25:39.159 Outnumbered? 00:25:39.160 --> 00:25:42.019 But look at the confidence 00:25:42.019 --> 00:25:42.920 in this psalm 00:25:42.920 --> 00:25:43.640 that David has 00:25:43.640 --> 00:25:44.700 in God's word 00:25:44.700 --> 00:25:46.380 that he will bring 00:25:46.380 --> 00:25:47.800 his word to pass. 00:25:49.180 --> 00:25:50.720 He is the son of David 00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:52.420 who will inherit 00:25:52.420 --> 00:25:53.060 the nations 00:25:53.060 --> 00:25:55.519 as his rightful possession. 00:25:57.580 --> 00:25:58.340 Where do you stand 00:25:58.340 --> 00:25:59.000 with the Lord 00:25:59.000 --> 00:26:01.019 and his anointed king 00:26:01.019 --> 00:26:01.540 this morning? 00:26:03.100 --> 00:26:04.340 Are you in rebellion 00:26:04.340 --> 00:26:05.080 against him? 00:26:05.079 --> 00:26:08.099 Are we to receive him 00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:08.919 warmly 00:26:08.919 --> 00:26:11.359 and take refuge in him? 00:26:12.259 --> 00:26:13.339 Remember these words 00:26:13.339 --> 00:26:14.019 of promise 00:26:14.019 --> 00:26:15.439 as we end. 00:26:15.579 --> 00:26:16.759 Blessed are all those 00:26:16.759 --> 00:26:18.099 who take refuge 00:26:18.099 --> 00:26:19.220 in him. 00:26:20.359 --> 00:26:21.199 Let's pray. 00:26:24.559 --> 00:26:25.159 Father, 00:26:25.259 --> 00:26:25.980 we thank you 00:26:25.980 --> 00:26:27.279 for Christ the King 00:26:27.279 --> 00:26:29.419 and Lord 00:26:29.419 --> 00:26:30.659 that you will fulfill 00:26:30.659 --> 00:26:31.740 all your promises 00:26:31.740 --> 00:26:32.339 that you made 00:26:32.339 --> 00:26:33.399 to your servant David. 00:26:33.400 --> 00:26:36.240 that you will extend 00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:37.019 the kingdom 00:26:37.019 --> 00:26:37.840 to the ends 00:26:37.840 --> 00:26:38.620 of the earth, Lord 00:26:38.620 --> 00:26:39.820 and that you will 00:26:39.820 --> 00:26:40.720 put an end 00:26:40.720 --> 00:26:41.420 to the rebellion 00:26:41.420 --> 00:26:42.259 of this world 00:26:42.259 --> 00:26:42.960 against you. 00:26:44.040 --> 00:26:44.380 Lord, 00:26:44.440 --> 00:26:45.180 we thank you 00:26:45.180 --> 00:26:46.280 that instead of 00:26:46.280 --> 00:26:47.380 only holding out 00:26:47.380 --> 00:26:47.880 judgment 00:26:47.880 --> 00:26:49.380 to a rebellious world, 00:26:49.480 --> 00:26:49.560 Lord, 00:26:49.560 --> 00:26:50.320 that you hold out 00:26:50.320 --> 00:26:51.880 this offer of rebellion 00:26:51.880 --> 00:26:53.540 or this offer of peace 00:26:53.540 --> 00:26:55.340 and of forgiveness 00:26:55.340 --> 00:26:57.040 and blessedness 00:26:57.040 --> 00:26:58.100 through your son Jesus. 00:26:58.240 --> 00:26:58.860 We thank you 00:26:58.860 --> 00:27:00.100 for Jesus our Savior 00:27:00.100 --> 00:27:02.300 and as we sing now 00:27:02.300 --> 00:27:03.360 of his kingship, 00:27:03.400 --> 00:27:04.000 we pray 00:27:04.000 --> 00:27:05.460 that you would receive 00:27:05.460 --> 00:27:07.320 worship from our hearts 00:27:07.320 --> 00:27:09.259 and we praise you 00:27:09.259 --> 00:27:10.300 in his name. 00:27:10.700 --> 00:27:11.060 Amen. 00:27:12.140 --> 00:27:13.080 We're going to close 00:27:13.080 --> 00:27:13.759 by standing 00:27:13.759 --> 00:27:15.080 or we're going to stand now 00:27:15.080 --> 00:27:15.580 and sing 00:27:15.580 --> 00:27:16.800 King of Kings.