WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:09.519 Good morning. My name is Matthew Capone and I'm the pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church and it's my joy to bring God's word to you today. 00:00:10.000 --> 00:00:15.000 If you are new or visiting with us, welcome. We're glad that you're here. 00:00:15.880 --> 00:00:23.140 And we're glad that you're here not because you are filling a seat, but because we're following after Jesus together as one community. 00:00:23.140 --> 00:00:32.340 And as we follow after Jesus together, we're convinced that there's no one so good that they don't need God's grace and no one so bad that they can't have it. 00:00:32.799 --> 00:00:38.719 Which means that we're glad that you're here to listen to what God has to say to us because God has something to say to everyone. 00:00:38.880 --> 00:00:47.260 He has something to say to you, whether you've been a Christian your entire life, whether you've been a Christian for a few years, or whether you're still not sure whether you want to be a Christian. 00:00:47.640 --> 00:00:52.120 God has something to say to everyone and everyone needs to hear what God has to say. 00:00:53.140 --> 00:00:57.460 You know that we've just started a series in the book of Psalms. 00:00:58.240 --> 00:01:07.359 And the book of Psalms is the hymn book, the prayer book of God's people originally in the Old Testament and has now become the same for God's people in the New Testament. 00:01:08.379 --> 00:01:14.760 And if you've been with us for a while, you know that I like to give sort of a quick, maybe one-sentence, two-sentence way of summarizing a book. 00:01:14.760 --> 00:01:19.219 So, Philippians, we talked about the fact that it was partnership in the gospel together. 00:01:19.219 --> 00:01:26.840 And Nehemiah was God's wall in his word and his ways, turning back from sin and repentance back to God. 00:01:27.439 --> 00:01:32.579 And I have had a lot of trouble coming up with a short way of summarizing the Psalms for you. 00:01:33.500 --> 00:01:40.960 And part of the reason I've had trouble coming up with a short way is because the Psalms, as a hymn book and a prayer book, talk about all sorts of different things. 00:01:40.959 --> 00:01:46.119 I would love to tell you that there's one theme that ties it together, except that there's lots and lots of themes. 00:01:46.959 --> 00:01:53.259 And I would like to tell you that there's one topic, except the Psalms covers all sorts of situations that we find in the human life. 00:01:53.299 --> 00:01:56.539 And so it's hard to summarize it quickly or shortly. 00:01:56.859 --> 00:02:01.060 And so what I'm going to do is I'm just going to give you different aspects of it Sunday after Sunday. 00:02:01.159 --> 00:02:02.859 So one thing I'll tell you about the Psalms is this. 00:02:02.919 --> 00:02:03.859 The Psalms are poetry. 00:02:03.859 --> 00:02:13.300 One thing that's helpful about poetry, if you know poetry, if you study it, if you love it, is that poems often make complicated things simple. 00:02:14.960 --> 00:02:16.900 Poems make complicated things simple. 00:02:17.039 --> 00:02:21.780 Sometimes they take things that seem chaotic and they order them for us. 00:02:21.879 --> 00:02:25.360 So we love the fact that there's rhyme or rhythm in a poem. 00:02:25.520 --> 00:02:26.900 There's stanzas. 00:02:26.979 --> 00:02:31.479 Those stanzas give an order and a rhythm to things that might not otherwise have order or rhythm. 00:02:31.479 --> 00:02:35.139 And so part of the joy of the Psalms is these are often very short. 00:02:35.319 --> 00:02:39.340 And they're very short passages that make complicated things simple. 00:02:40.459 --> 00:02:44.179 So as we come to Psalm 2 this morning, we're going to look at something that's very complicated. 00:02:44.539 --> 00:02:46.439 And God's going to tell us that it's very simple. 00:02:47.899 --> 00:02:50.179 There's many things that we face in life that seem complex. 00:02:50.299 --> 00:02:54.439 One of them is it feels like often when we live in this world that evil is winning. 00:02:56.899 --> 00:02:58.699 Maybe it feels like that some of the time. 00:02:58.780 --> 00:03:00.359 Maybe it feels like that most of the time. 00:03:00.360 --> 00:03:04.680 Sometimes it feels like evil forces are the most powerful forces. 00:03:06.040 --> 00:03:10.500 And so it's tempting for us, whether we're Christians or we're not Christians, to be discouraged. 00:03:11.900 --> 00:03:15.020 And even more than that, more specifically, we see evil rulers. 00:03:15.940 --> 00:03:17.960 People who have power and influence. 00:03:18.660 --> 00:03:20.460 Who, instead of loving God, hate God. 00:03:20.940 --> 00:03:24.940 And instead of following what he has told us, they come up with their own ways. 00:03:24.939 --> 00:03:28.579 And so what is God's answer to evil rulers? 00:03:29.240 --> 00:03:37.139 How are we supposed to think about the power of evil in this world, especially when we see it with kings and presidents and princes and CEOs? 00:03:38.740 --> 00:03:42.300 That's the complicated question that this psalm asks and answers. 00:03:42.439 --> 00:03:43.500 And so we're going to turn to it now. 00:03:43.500 --> 00:03:46.479 We're in Psalm chapter 2, starting at verse 1. 00:03:46.520 --> 00:03:47.900 And remember that this is God's word. 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:53.439 And God tells us in another part of the psalms that his word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path. 00:03:54.360 --> 00:03:56.259 In other words, God has not abandoned us. 00:03:56.319 --> 00:03:58.479 He's not left us alone to stumble in the dark. 00:03:59.199 --> 00:04:02.719 But instead, he's given us our word that we would know the way to walk. 00:04:02.719 --> 00:04:06.659 And so it's because of that reason that we read this passage. 00:04:06.780 --> 00:04:09.620 And so please read with me Psalm 2, starting at verse 1. 00:04:32.720 --> 00:04:44.520 Verse 7. 00:04:44.520 --> 00:04:46.480 I will tell of the decree. 00:04:46.480 --> 00:04:49.460 The Lord said to me, you are my son. 00:04:49.980 --> 00:04:51.360 Today I have begotten you. 00:04:52.160 --> 00:04:57.040 Ask of me and I will make the nations your heritage and the ends of the earth your possession. 00:04:58.060 --> 00:05:02.600 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. 00:05:03.700 --> 00:05:04.600 Verse 10. 00:05:05.520 --> 00:05:07.380 Now therefore, O kings, be wise. 00:05:08.040 --> 00:05:09.900 Be warned, O rulers of the earth. 00:05:10.580 --> 00:05:13.340 Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. 00:05:14.180 --> 00:05:18.160 Kiss the son lest he be angry and you perish in the way. 00:05:19.660 --> 00:05:22.920 Please pray with me as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:05:25.560 --> 00:05:32.360 Father in heaven, we thank you that once again you have not left us to walk alone. 00:05:32.720 --> 00:05:38.660 Trying to figure out by ourselves how to live in this world that's full of evil and sin. 00:05:39.460 --> 00:05:42.140 Sin that we see inside of ourselves and outside of ourselves. 00:05:43.180 --> 00:05:45.780 But instead you come and you talk to us clearly. 00:05:46.240 --> 00:05:47.300 Day after day after day. 00:05:47.300 --> 00:05:51.220 And so we ask that you would send your Holy Spirit this morning. 00:05:51.879 --> 00:05:53.300 That he would help us. 00:05:53.879 --> 00:06:02.540 That he would help us to see and to know and to understand everything that you have written for us about you in your word. 00:06:02.540 --> 00:06:06.300 We ask these things not because we deserve them. 00:06:06.840 --> 00:06:08.860 But because Jesus deserves them for us. 00:06:08.920 --> 00:06:10.280 And so we ask them in his name. 00:06:10.960 --> 00:06:11.260 Amen. 00:06:11.259 --> 00:06:20.459 If you remember from last week we looked at Psalm 1 and we saw that there are two ways and only two ways to live life. 00:06:21.180 --> 00:06:24.659 One of them is walking in the counsel of the wicked. 00:06:25.319 --> 00:06:29.420 And the other would be meditating on God and his law and his ways day and night. 00:06:29.500 --> 00:06:36.099 And if you remember you may recall that this word for meditating from Psalm 1 is literally muttering. 00:06:36.100 --> 00:06:42.379 That the people who meditate on God's word they know it so well that they speak it under their breath in all kinds of situations. 00:06:43.340 --> 00:06:47.000 Now Psalm 1 and 2 are introductions to the psalms and they go together. 00:06:47.140 --> 00:06:53.360 And part of the reason we know that they go together is that there's a play on words that happens here at the very beginning of chapter 2. 00:06:53.480 --> 00:06:53.939 Verse 1. 00:06:54.040 --> 00:06:56.300 Why do the nations rage and the people's plot in vain? 00:06:56.879 --> 00:07:02.840 That word plot is actually the same Hebrew word that showed up in Psalm 1 for meditate, for muttering. 00:07:02.839 --> 00:07:07.879 In other words, some people in Psalm 1 are muttering God's words. 00:07:08.000 --> 00:07:09.459 They're meditating on God's words. 00:07:10.159 --> 00:07:14.579 Other people, these kings in Psalm 2, are muttering in vain. 00:07:14.699 --> 00:07:16.060 They're muttering against God. 00:07:16.620 --> 00:07:18.279 Some people are muttering God's way. 00:07:18.399 --> 00:07:19.859 Some people are muttering against God. 00:07:21.199 --> 00:07:28.159 And this is highlighting for us what all of us know, which is that we live in a world that is filled with kings. 00:07:28.819 --> 00:07:29.819 We have kings. 00:07:29.939 --> 00:07:30.479 We have rulers. 00:07:30.639 --> 00:07:31.559 We have powerful people. 00:07:31.560 --> 00:07:34.100 Maybe they are actual kings of an actual country. 00:07:35.339 --> 00:07:36.519 Maybe they're presidents. 00:07:37.600 --> 00:07:40.240 Maybe these people are CEOs of large corporations. 00:07:40.379 --> 00:07:47.120 Large corporations, by the way, are becoming more and more powerful to the point that sometimes they do rival countries in their abilities and their influence. 00:07:48.660 --> 00:07:53.259 We also know not only that they are powerful people, but also often that these powerful people are very selfish. 00:07:53.259 --> 00:07:57.699 We have a world that's true. 00:07:57.699 --> 00:08:01.019 What's true of Psalm 2 is still true in the world today. 00:08:01.120 --> 00:08:05.860 We have kings and nations and powerful people that still rebel against God. 00:08:05.860 --> 00:08:10.819 We have kings who take diversity. 00:08:10.819 --> 00:08:16.740 And rather than using it as a gift from God, knowing that he is the one who created it. 00:08:17.259 --> 00:08:23.219 They use it as a tool to oppress one people over another and set different races against each other. 00:08:23.220 --> 00:08:30.120 We have rulers who have decided that it's their job to change the definition of marriage. 00:08:30.120 --> 00:08:36.100 We have rulers who don't necessarily change the definition of marriage, but they change its intention. 00:08:36.279 --> 00:08:42.860 They take what God meant to be a blessing to the entire world, and instead they make it something that's about us and our self-fulfillment. 00:08:44.399 --> 00:08:48.159 We have kings who use their power to become rich while oppressing the poor. 00:08:48.159 --> 00:08:54.279 We have kings who use their power to create advantages for the rich and obstacles for the poor. 00:08:54.360 --> 00:08:59.879 They're not just oppressing the poor, but they're making it almost impossible for someone who is poor to no longer be poor. 00:09:00.679 --> 00:09:04.399 And then we have kings who come specifically after God's people and his church. 00:09:04.500 --> 00:09:08.740 We have kings who try to silence God's people when they speak God's truth. 00:09:10.579 --> 00:09:17.120 And then we have kings and nations who use their power to kill and destroy life rather than to protect it. 00:09:18.159 --> 00:09:24.379 And so while the Psalms are an ancient book, they're also incredibly modern. 00:09:24.379 --> 00:09:31.860 Because we have kings and nations that are always setting themselves against God, and that is just part of living in this world. 00:09:32.539 --> 00:09:37.219 Part of living in this world is knowing that we're going to have people who are powerful and in authority, 00:09:37.899 --> 00:09:41.179 who are going to do exactly what we see in verses 1 and 2. 00:09:42.100 --> 00:09:44.740 They're going to set themselves against God. 00:09:44.740 --> 00:09:48.480 So our question is this. 00:09:48.580 --> 00:09:51.820 How do we respond to evil kings? 00:09:54.019 --> 00:09:56.200 How do you respond to evil kings? 00:09:57.480 --> 00:09:59.200 Do you respond with fear? 00:10:01.500 --> 00:10:03.580 Maybe you respond with discouragement. 00:10:05.879 --> 00:10:07.320 Maybe there's anger. 00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:10.000 Sometimes appropriately so. 00:10:10.000 --> 00:10:12.000 Maybe there's tribalism. 00:10:12.080 --> 00:10:15.279 You retreat just to hang out with people who agree with you about everything. 00:10:16.639 --> 00:10:18.980 Maybe we circle the wagons, batten down the hatches. 00:10:19.039 --> 00:10:22.179 Maybe we decide that we're victims and everyone's out to get us. 00:10:22.240 --> 00:10:25.059 Maybe we get on Facebook and let everyone know how victimized we feel. 00:10:27.440 --> 00:10:29.720 How do we respond to evil kings? 00:10:29.720 --> 00:10:36.440 How does God respond to evil kings? 00:10:39.480 --> 00:10:41.639 We've seen in verses 1 and 2 that they exist. 00:10:42.379 --> 00:10:43.340 Really verses 1 and 3. 00:10:43.960 --> 00:10:46.000 How does God respond in verses 4 through 6? 00:10:48.000 --> 00:10:52.460 God doesn't respond with fear or discouragement or tribalism. 00:10:53.940 --> 00:10:55.139 God laughs. 00:10:55.139 --> 00:10:58.139 Verse 4. 00:10:58.279 --> 00:11:00.159 He who sits in the heavens laughs. 00:11:00.659 --> 00:11:02.699 The Lord holds them in derision. 00:11:05.039 --> 00:11:09.379 When God looks at the kings who are rebelling against him, 00:11:09.460 --> 00:11:10.779 all he can do is think, 00:11:11.379 --> 00:11:12.819 that is really cute. 00:11:15.059 --> 00:11:16.199 Bless their hearts. 00:11:16.200 --> 00:11:20.720 I want you to imagine for a second. 00:11:20.900 --> 00:11:21.940 So let's say that we, 00:11:22.220 --> 00:11:26.200 I mentioned earlier that Grant and Sarah helped start our youth Sunday school. 00:11:26.800 --> 00:11:29.960 Now they've mainly been going through the Westminster Shorter Catechism. 00:11:30.040 --> 00:11:32.259 But let's say they decided they were going to have another project. 00:11:32.820 --> 00:11:35.340 And maybe they recruit all the other Sunday schools in the church. 00:11:36.180 --> 00:11:37.740 And they decide what they're going to do 00:11:37.740 --> 00:11:39.680 is not just study God's word together, 00:11:39.680 --> 00:11:42.480 but they're going to do something a little bigger as a bonding experience. 00:11:42.480 --> 00:11:45.759 They're going to take down Fort Carson. 00:11:47.200 --> 00:11:48.440 Now don't laugh. 00:11:49.139 --> 00:11:50.620 This church has a lot of resources. 00:11:51.399 --> 00:11:52.480 I've looked in the nursery. 00:11:53.980 --> 00:11:55.680 We have hand puppets. 00:11:57.519 --> 00:11:59.759 We also have a fire engine. 00:12:00.680 --> 00:12:03.360 We have a Lightning McQueen look-alike car. 00:12:05.039 --> 00:12:08.019 We have a dump truck and a school bus. 00:12:09.060 --> 00:12:10.879 There's also a farm in one of the nurseries, 00:12:10.960 --> 00:12:11.980 so we can take that with us. 00:12:12.980 --> 00:12:14.300 It's not just the nursery, okay? 00:12:14.399 --> 00:12:16.680 We had some of our youth yesterday were on the riding lawnmower. 00:12:17.460 --> 00:12:18.639 So we've got that as well. 00:12:19.300 --> 00:12:21.240 So if we pull all our resources together, 00:12:21.360 --> 00:12:22.360 we could have, let's say, 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:25.300 it was Phillip and Annabelle who were on the riding lawnmower. 00:12:25.379 --> 00:12:26.460 So one of them takes the front, 00:12:26.539 --> 00:12:28.019 takes the lead with the riding lawnmower. 00:12:28.700 --> 00:12:31.300 And then we can have some other folks behind with some of the trucks. 00:12:31.500 --> 00:12:32.820 And we could go to gate three. 00:12:34.820 --> 00:12:35.680 Because we're going to take it, 00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:37.360 we're going to take Fort Carson by storm. 00:12:37.360 --> 00:12:41.240 What would the guards at Fort Carson do 00:12:41.240 --> 00:12:42.659 if they saw a riding lawnmower 00:12:42.659 --> 00:12:47.740 and a bunch of our kids with their trucks coming behind 00:12:47.740 --> 00:12:48.879 to take down the gate? 00:12:50.759 --> 00:12:52.399 Would they shake in fear? 00:12:54.460 --> 00:12:55.720 Would they be discouraged? 00:12:55.720 --> 00:13:00.600 Would they post on Facebook about how oppressed they are? 00:13:03.340 --> 00:13:04.519 No, they would laugh. 00:13:07.220 --> 00:13:09.960 And if we really decided we were going to take that gate by storm, 00:13:10.060 --> 00:13:11.100 it would not end well. 00:13:11.100 --> 00:13:17.960 Psalm 2 tells us that God laughs. 00:13:19.080 --> 00:13:20.980 And those who want to take him by storm, 00:13:21.080 --> 00:13:23.100 for them it will not end well. 00:13:24.779 --> 00:13:28.420 If you think that this story that I've told you is silly, 00:13:29.060 --> 00:13:29.940 you are correct. 00:13:31.200 --> 00:13:32.580 Because it's silly, 00:13:32.659 --> 00:13:35.000 because it's not ridiculous enough. 00:13:37.580 --> 00:13:38.440 In other words, 00:13:38.440 --> 00:13:39.580 people, the nations, 00:13:40.180 --> 00:13:41.640 raging against God and his ways 00:13:41.640 --> 00:13:43.520 is actually more ridiculous 00:13:43.520 --> 00:13:47.000 than our youth deciding 00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:49.200 that they are going to take Fort Carson by force. 00:13:52.900 --> 00:13:54.180 God sits, verse 4, 00:13:54.320 --> 00:13:54.940 and he laughs. 00:13:55.040 --> 00:13:56.300 Where is he sitting, by the way? 00:13:59.540 --> 00:14:00.840 He's sitting in the heavens. 00:14:00.940 --> 00:14:01.620 Where are the nations? 00:14:05.620 --> 00:14:06.300 Verse 2, 00:14:07.140 --> 00:14:08.220 the kings of the what? 00:14:08.440 --> 00:14:10.560 The kings of the earth. 00:14:12.160 --> 00:14:14.540 God has a strong tactical advantage. 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:18.520 There is no greater high ground. 00:14:20.280 --> 00:14:21.860 He who sits in heaven laughs. 00:14:22.180 --> 00:14:24.100 The Lord holds them in derision. 00:14:27.680 --> 00:14:28.680 And so what do we do 00:14:28.680 --> 00:14:29.620 when we live in a world 00:14:29.620 --> 00:14:32.120 that is filled with evil kings? 00:14:34.560 --> 00:14:35.180 First of all, 00:14:35.240 --> 00:14:36.140 we need some perspective. 00:14:36.640 --> 00:14:37.940 And this psalm helps us get it. 00:14:37.940 --> 00:14:39.620 It gives us perspective. 00:14:39.620 --> 00:14:41.380 It's easy to live in this world 00:14:41.380 --> 00:14:41.960 in this moment 00:14:41.960 --> 00:14:43.040 and forget that there have been 00:14:43.040 --> 00:14:44.340 other nations and other times 00:14:44.340 --> 00:14:44.920 and other peoples 00:14:44.920 --> 00:14:46.000 that don't exist anymore. 00:14:47.220 --> 00:14:48.400 It's tempting to believe 00:14:48.400 --> 00:14:49.660 that who's powerful now 00:14:49.660 --> 00:14:50.760 is the most powerful 00:14:50.760 --> 00:14:52.760 and will always be powerful. 00:14:54.460 --> 00:14:56.080 And so this psalm 00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:57.180 helps us get some perspective. 00:14:57.320 --> 00:14:57.860 First, it tells us 00:14:57.860 --> 00:14:59.460 the nations will not reign forever. 00:14:59.620 --> 00:15:00.500 It gives us encouragement. 00:15:01.760 --> 00:15:03.000 Nations rise and fall. 00:15:03.000 --> 00:15:06.179 We don't need to shake and fear 00:15:06.179 --> 00:15:07.100 when we read the news 00:15:07.100 --> 00:15:09.139 because ultimately 00:15:09.139 --> 00:15:10.299 the Lord will reign 00:15:10.299 --> 00:15:12.179 over everyone and everything. 00:15:13.460 --> 00:15:14.659 The Lord will reign 00:15:14.659 --> 00:15:16.419 over everyone and everything. 00:15:17.659 --> 00:15:19.179 And so there's great encouragement 00:15:19.179 --> 00:15:20.039 in this psalm. 00:15:21.720 --> 00:15:22.860 In fact, I would tell you 00:15:22.860 --> 00:15:24.179 that is the main application 00:15:24.179 --> 00:15:25.019 of Psalm 2 00:15:25.019 --> 00:15:25.840 if you are a Christian. 00:15:26.779 --> 00:15:27.720 Be encouraged. 00:15:27.720 --> 00:15:30.460 God is the great king. 00:15:32.620 --> 00:15:34.899 The nations will not reign forever. 00:15:36.580 --> 00:15:37.920 However, there's also 00:15:37.920 --> 00:15:39.379 great challenge. 00:15:40.460 --> 00:15:41.680 And there's great challenge 00:15:41.680 --> 00:15:42.620 because the nations 00:15:42.620 --> 00:15:44.420 will not reign forever. 00:15:46.019 --> 00:15:47.379 And so if you're a king, 00:15:47.899 --> 00:15:49.120 if you're a powerful person, 00:15:49.440 --> 00:15:51.019 I don't think we have 00:15:51.019 --> 00:15:53.259 any actual kings with us today. 00:15:53.360 --> 00:15:54.220 I'd be happy to be corrected 00:15:54.220 --> 00:15:54.800 if I'm wrong. 00:15:54.799 --> 00:15:57.240 But some of you 00:15:57.240 --> 00:15:57.959 are powerful people. 00:15:58.059 --> 00:15:58.859 All of us are powerful 00:15:58.859 --> 00:15:59.959 in one way or another. 00:16:01.279 --> 00:16:02.319 And if you are a king, 00:16:02.439 --> 00:16:03.039 congratulations. 00:16:04.459 --> 00:16:05.279 You're in charge 00:16:05.279 --> 00:16:06.959 of a very small part 00:16:06.959 --> 00:16:09.519 of a very small planet 00:16:09.519 --> 00:16:12.000 for a very small amount of time. 00:16:15.099 --> 00:16:17.500 Anyone that's raging and plotting 00:16:17.500 --> 00:16:18.799 in verses 1 through 3 00:16:18.799 --> 00:16:20.279 is in charge 00:16:20.279 --> 00:16:21.939 of a very small place 00:16:21.939 --> 00:16:23.779 on a very small planet 00:16:23.779 --> 00:16:25.779 for a very small amount of time. 00:16:26.799 --> 00:16:27.399 And so no matter 00:16:27.399 --> 00:16:28.740 how powerful you are, 00:16:30.339 --> 00:16:30.539 you know, 00:16:30.579 --> 00:16:31.699 even the most powerful kings, 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:32.679 some people are great kings, 00:16:32.759 --> 00:16:33.839 some people are small kings, 00:16:34.360 --> 00:16:35.639 some kings have a little power, 00:16:35.740 --> 00:16:36.919 some kings have a lot of power. 00:16:37.819 --> 00:16:38.639 Compared to God, 00:16:39.199 --> 00:16:39.980 they have no power. 00:16:42.519 --> 00:16:43.959 Some kings have a lot of power, 00:16:44.679 --> 00:16:45.959 some kings have little power. 00:16:46.559 --> 00:16:47.360 Compared to God, 00:16:47.899 --> 00:16:48.839 they don't have any power. 00:16:48.840 --> 00:16:52.879 And so the nations 00:16:52.879 --> 00:16:54.240 will not reign forever. 00:16:54.379 --> 00:16:55.040 There's encouragement 00:16:55.040 --> 00:16:55.879 for God's people 00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:57.700 and discouragement 00:16:57.700 --> 00:16:58.300 and challenge 00:16:58.300 --> 00:16:59.820 for anyone who forgets 00:16:59.820 --> 00:17:01.560 that God is the most powerful king. 00:17:05.140 --> 00:17:07.059 God laughs in verses 4 through 6 00:17:07.059 --> 00:17:07.819 and then we find out 00:17:07.819 --> 00:17:08.819 in verses 6 through 9 00:17:08.819 --> 00:17:09.960 why it is that he laughs. 00:17:11.660 --> 00:17:12.279 Verse 2, 00:17:12.360 --> 00:17:13.100 the kings of the earth 00:17:13.100 --> 00:17:13.960 set themselves. 00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:15.500 Verse 6, 00:17:15.579 --> 00:17:15.920 God says, 00:17:15.980 --> 00:17:16.400 guess what? 00:17:17.140 --> 00:17:18.380 I can set things up too. 00:17:19.480 --> 00:17:20.660 You want to set yourselves 00:17:20.660 --> 00:17:21.320 against me? 00:17:21.980 --> 00:17:22.360 Well, 00:17:22.500 --> 00:17:23.280 I have a king too. 00:17:23.360 --> 00:17:24.220 I've set that king 00:17:24.220 --> 00:17:25.180 on Zion, 00:17:25.300 --> 00:17:25.900 my holy hill. 00:17:27.080 --> 00:17:28.259 He talks about this king 00:17:28.259 --> 00:17:29.019 as his son. 00:17:30.060 --> 00:17:30.900 This language 00:17:30.900 --> 00:17:31.860 in the ancient Near East 00:17:31.860 --> 00:17:32.880 would have talked about 00:17:32.880 --> 00:17:33.759 someone who represents 00:17:33.759 --> 00:17:35.040 the interests of the father. 00:17:35.180 --> 00:17:35.820 So this son 00:17:35.820 --> 00:17:36.660 is a representative 00:17:36.660 --> 00:17:37.960 of God on the earth. 00:17:38.440 --> 00:17:38.840 Originally, 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:39.519 this psalm 00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:40.300 would have been sung 00:17:40.300 --> 00:17:41.140 in the Old Testament 00:17:41.140 --> 00:17:42.080 so it would have been talking 00:17:42.080 --> 00:17:43.800 about the king of Israel. 00:17:45.440 --> 00:17:45.660 And yet, 00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:46.420 these promises 00:17:46.420 --> 00:17:47.680 that are talked about 00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:48.200 of the king 00:17:48.200 --> 00:17:48.880 are things that 00:17:48.880 --> 00:17:50.340 were not fulfilled 00:17:50.340 --> 00:17:51.720 by any Old Testament king. 00:17:52.720 --> 00:17:53.600 So we see 00:17:53.600 --> 00:17:54.860 in verses 8 and 9 00:17:54.860 --> 00:17:56.160 this king, 00:17:56.759 --> 00:17:57.560 the son of God, 00:17:57.620 --> 00:17:58.500 the one who represents 00:17:58.500 --> 00:17:59.860 God's interests on the earth, 00:18:00.120 --> 00:18:01.279 who represents God 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:01.900 to his people 00:18:01.900 --> 00:18:02.640 and to the world. 00:18:03.160 --> 00:18:03.860 The nations are going 00:18:03.860 --> 00:18:04.540 to be his heritage. 00:18:04.720 --> 00:18:05.200 Verse 8, 00:18:05.759 --> 00:18:06.600 and the ends of the earth 00:18:06.600 --> 00:18:07.220 his possession. 00:18:07.920 --> 00:18:08.380 Verse 9, 00:18:08.460 --> 00:18:09.140 he's going to break them 00:18:09.140 --> 00:18:09.920 with a rod of iron 00:18:09.920 --> 00:18:10.960 and dash them in pieces 00:18:10.960 --> 00:18:12.000 like a potter's vessel. 00:18:13.080 --> 00:18:13.700 And so as people 00:18:13.700 --> 00:18:14.360 in the Old Testament 00:18:14.360 --> 00:18:14.820 read this, 00:18:14.819 --> 00:18:15.460 their hope 00:18:15.460 --> 00:18:16.779 and their confidence 00:18:16.779 --> 00:18:17.919 was that one day, 00:18:18.439 --> 00:18:19.179 even though they were 00:18:19.179 --> 00:18:20.059 just one nation, 00:18:20.819 --> 00:18:21.159 God, 00:18:21.319 --> 00:18:22.179 through his king, 00:18:22.299 --> 00:18:22.919 through David 00:18:22.919 --> 00:18:23.519 and the kings 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:24.359 who came after him 00:18:24.359 --> 00:18:25.200 in the Old Testament, 00:18:25.740 --> 00:18:26.519 would one day 00:18:26.519 --> 00:18:27.339 cause Israel 00:18:27.339 --> 00:18:28.799 to rule over the nations. 00:18:30.139 --> 00:18:31.200 And so that the king 00:18:31.200 --> 00:18:31.700 of Israel, 00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:33.159 the earthly king 00:18:33.159 --> 00:18:33.839 that the Old Testament 00:18:33.839 --> 00:18:34.720 people sang about 00:18:34.720 --> 00:18:35.419 in Psalm 2, 00:18:35.980 --> 00:18:36.779 would look forward 00:18:36.779 --> 00:18:38.279 to not just another king, 00:18:38.379 --> 00:18:39.200 a king one day, 00:18:39.259 --> 00:18:39.919 but would look forward 00:18:39.919 --> 00:18:40.759 to the king. 00:18:40.759 --> 00:18:42.980 That was the hope 00:18:42.980 --> 00:18:43.599 of God's people 00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:44.319 in the Old Testament. 00:18:44.920 --> 00:18:46.440 They trusted and hoped 00:18:46.440 --> 00:18:47.160 that that would happen, 00:18:47.240 --> 00:18:47.879 they just didn't know 00:18:47.879 --> 00:18:48.740 how it would happen. 00:18:50.259 --> 00:18:51.299 But they looked forward 00:18:51.299 --> 00:18:51.980 to this king 00:18:51.980 --> 00:18:52.740 and this kingship 00:18:52.740 --> 00:18:53.359 and while they were 00:18:53.359 --> 00:18:54.099 looking and hoping 00:18:54.099 --> 00:18:54.740 and knowing 00:18:54.740 --> 00:18:55.259 and trusting 00:18:55.259 --> 00:18:56.059 and having confidence 00:18:56.059 --> 00:18:56.839 that this would happen, 00:18:56.900 --> 00:18:58.460 they saw not that happen 00:18:58.460 --> 00:18:59.299 but the very opposite, 00:18:59.460 --> 00:18:59.599 right? 00:18:59.660 --> 00:19:00.299 Rather than being 00:19:00.299 --> 00:19:01.400 over the other nations, 00:19:02.099 --> 00:19:02.680 this is part of how 00:19:02.680 --> 00:19:03.279 they got themselves 00:19:03.279 --> 00:19:04.259 into the problem 00:19:04.259 --> 00:19:04.879 of Nehemiah, 00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:05.640 the other nations 00:19:05.640 --> 00:19:06.599 became over them 00:19:06.599 --> 00:19:07.460 because they did not 00:19:07.460 --> 00:19:08.319 follow after God. 00:19:08.319 --> 00:19:09.819 And so there's this vision 00:19:09.819 --> 00:19:10.379 over and over 00:19:10.379 --> 00:19:11.099 in the Old Testament, 00:19:11.259 --> 00:19:12.019 this promise 00:19:12.019 --> 00:19:12.759 that one day 00:19:12.759 --> 00:19:13.399 all things are going 00:19:13.399 --> 00:19:14.079 to be made right 00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:14.659 and this king 00:19:14.659 --> 00:19:15.359 is going to come 00:19:15.359 --> 00:19:16.240 in God's reign. 00:19:16.679 --> 00:19:17.599 His promise here, 00:19:17.679 --> 00:19:18.759 the word that he's spoken, 00:19:18.899 --> 00:19:20.079 this decree of verse 7 00:19:20.079 --> 00:19:20.799 is one day 00:19:20.799 --> 00:19:21.879 going to become true. 00:19:23.679 --> 00:19:24.519 And while the people 00:19:24.519 --> 00:19:25.099 in the Old Testament 00:19:25.099 --> 00:19:26.000 thought that this would come 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:27.359 through a political liberator, 00:19:27.460 --> 00:19:28.480 instead it happened 00:19:28.480 --> 00:19:29.740 in a very different way. 00:19:31.339 --> 00:19:32.599 This king of David, 00:19:33.799 --> 00:19:34.859 this one who is going 00:19:34.859 --> 00:19:35.639 to fulfill, 00:19:36.399 --> 00:19:37.639 verses 7 through 9, 00:19:38.319 --> 00:19:39.679 ended up not being 00:19:39.679 --> 00:19:40.799 a political ruler. 00:19:41.619 --> 00:19:42.059 However, 00:19:42.179 --> 00:19:43.099 it was a descendant 00:19:43.099 --> 00:19:43.460 of David 00:19:43.460 --> 00:19:44.240 and it was Jesus. 00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:46.299 And when I talk 00:19:46.299 --> 00:19:46.779 about Jesus, 00:19:46.899 --> 00:19:47.559 some of us perhaps 00:19:47.559 --> 00:19:48.799 think all kinds 00:19:48.799 --> 00:19:49.559 of different things. 00:19:50.279 --> 00:19:51.000 This is not 00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:53.039 long, flowing, 00:19:53.179 --> 00:19:53.700 pale Jesus 00:19:53.700 --> 00:19:54.259 from a picture. 00:19:55.480 --> 00:19:56.319 This is not 00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:57.519 storybook Jesus. 00:19:58.339 --> 00:19:59.259 This is Jesus, 00:19:59.419 --> 00:20:00.879 a historical person 00:20:00.879 --> 00:20:02.179 who lived in real space, 00:20:02.240 --> 00:20:02.799 in real time. 00:20:03.299 --> 00:20:04.279 He was born in a town. 00:20:04.319 --> 00:20:05.019 He was born in a town 00:20:05.019 --> 00:20:05.799 called Bethlehem, 00:20:05.879 --> 00:20:07.500 which was five or six miles 00:20:07.500 --> 00:20:08.700 south of the city 00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:09.220 of Jerusalem. 00:20:09.720 --> 00:20:10.740 And then he grew up 00:20:10.740 --> 00:20:12.079 in a town called Nazareth, 00:20:12.180 --> 00:20:14.160 which was 64 or 65 miles 00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:15.579 north of Jerusalem. 00:20:16.460 --> 00:20:17.799 Okay, he was a real person. 00:20:18.660 --> 00:20:19.400 Jesus had brothers 00:20:19.400 --> 00:20:20.000 and sisters. 00:20:20.920 --> 00:20:22.059 He was probably 00:20:22.059 --> 00:20:22.559 an oldest, 00:20:22.700 --> 00:20:23.740 unless Joseph had 00:20:23.740 --> 00:20:24.920 children from 00:20:24.920 --> 00:20:25.900 a previous marriage. 00:20:26.960 --> 00:20:27.740 The Gospels tell us 00:20:27.740 --> 00:20:28.680 he had four brothers. 00:20:29.380 --> 00:20:30.980 We hear of two sisters. 00:20:31.200 --> 00:20:31.700 He may have had 00:20:31.700 --> 00:20:32.259 more than that. 00:20:33.420 --> 00:20:34.160 And so when I say 00:20:34.160 --> 00:20:35.359 Jesus is the fulfillment 00:20:35.359 --> 00:20:35.679 of this, 00:20:35.740 --> 00:20:36.579 I am talking about 00:20:36.579 --> 00:20:37.319 a real man 00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:38.319 who lived in real time 00:20:38.319 --> 00:20:39.019 and real space, 00:20:39.639 --> 00:20:41.019 who had real brothers 00:20:41.019 --> 00:20:41.479 and sisters, 00:20:41.579 --> 00:20:42.419 a real mother and father. 00:20:42.539 --> 00:20:43.500 He walked on the earth. 00:20:43.979 --> 00:20:45.159 He lived in this world 00:20:45.159 --> 00:20:46.079 for 30 years. 00:20:46.939 --> 00:20:48.339 He worked with his hands. 00:20:48.399 --> 00:20:49.079 He was a carpenter 00:20:49.079 --> 00:20:49.639 or a builder. 00:20:51.519 --> 00:20:52.519 And this man, 00:20:52.839 --> 00:20:54.319 who as we talked about 00:20:54.319 --> 00:20:54.819 before Easter, 00:20:54.919 --> 00:20:55.539 came into Jerusalem 00:20:55.539 --> 00:20:56.179 on a donkey 00:20:56.179 --> 00:20:57.119 rather than a horse, 00:20:57.959 --> 00:20:59.219 is the one 00:20:59.219 --> 00:21:00.059 that is going to be 00:21:00.059 --> 00:21:00.679 the king 00:21:00.679 --> 00:21:01.439 that the Lord 00:21:01.439 --> 00:21:02.039 has begotten 00:21:02.039 --> 00:21:02.719 from verse 7. 00:21:02.720 --> 00:21:05.180 Now I told you 00:21:05.180 --> 00:21:06.120 last week, 00:21:06.200 --> 00:21:06.480 I think, 00:21:06.519 --> 00:21:07.140 or maybe I mentioned 00:21:07.140 --> 00:21:08.140 it in a Friday email, 00:21:08.299 --> 00:21:09.500 that the book of Psalms 00:21:09.500 --> 00:21:10.440 is quoted 00:21:10.440 --> 00:21:11.519 in the New Testament 00:21:11.519 --> 00:21:12.799 more than any other 00:21:12.799 --> 00:21:15.720 Old Testament book. 00:21:15.799 --> 00:21:16.460 So the New Testament 00:21:16.460 --> 00:21:17.440 quotes the Psalms 00:21:17.440 --> 00:21:20.000 more than the 38 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:20.720 other books 00:21:20.720 --> 00:21:21.420 of the Old Testament. 00:21:22.460 --> 00:21:23.779 Not only is the Psalms 00:21:23.779 --> 00:21:24.620 the most quoted 00:21:24.620 --> 00:21:25.480 Old Testament book 00:21:25.480 --> 00:21:26.339 in the New Testament, 00:21:27.019 --> 00:21:28.039 but Psalm 2, 00:21:28.460 --> 00:21:29.180 this Psalm, 00:21:29.539 --> 00:21:30.839 is of all the Psalms, 00:21:30.839 --> 00:21:32.200 the one that's most quoted 00:21:32.200 --> 00:21:32.920 in the New Testament. 00:21:33.940 --> 00:21:35.900 This is the top-hit Psalm. 00:21:37.840 --> 00:21:38.660 And the reason 00:21:38.660 --> 00:21:39.880 it's the top-hit Psalm 00:21:39.880 --> 00:21:40.759 is because author 00:21:40.759 --> 00:21:41.480 after author 00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:43.140 applies this Psalm 00:21:43.140 --> 00:21:43.720 to Jesus. 00:21:43.900 --> 00:21:44.860 It happens in Hebrews 00:21:44.860 --> 00:21:46.299 chapter 1. 00:21:46.360 --> 00:21:47.640 It happens in 1 Corinthians. 00:21:48.299 --> 00:21:49.340 It happens twice 00:21:49.340 --> 00:21:50.259 in the book of Acts. 00:21:50.319 --> 00:21:51.080 When people are preaching, 00:21:51.240 --> 00:21:51.640 they say, 00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:52.819 and this is the fulfillment, 00:21:53.500 --> 00:21:54.840 that Jesus is the one 00:21:54.840 --> 00:21:56.140 who has come to fulfill 00:21:56.140 --> 00:21:56.940 Psalm 2, 00:21:57.019 --> 00:21:57.940 verses 7 through 9. 00:21:58.759 --> 00:21:59.940 It doesn't just happen, 00:21:59.940 --> 00:22:00.519 by the way, 00:22:00.519 --> 00:22:01.519 in the letters 00:22:01.519 --> 00:22:02.139 that people write 00:22:02.139 --> 00:22:02.680 in the New Testament. 00:22:02.819 --> 00:22:03.319 It also happens 00:22:03.319 --> 00:22:04.000 in the Gospels. 00:22:04.480 --> 00:22:04.920 And it happens 00:22:04.920 --> 00:22:05.539 in the Gospels 00:22:05.539 --> 00:22:06.799 when Jesus is baptized 00:22:06.799 --> 00:22:07.960 because we hear 00:22:07.960 --> 00:22:08.839 a voice of the Father 00:22:08.839 --> 00:22:10.139 speaking from heaven 00:22:10.139 --> 00:22:10.839 and he says what? 00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:14.139 This is my son. 00:22:14.940 --> 00:22:15.799 It's an echo 00:22:15.799 --> 00:22:17.799 of Psalm 2 00:22:17.799 --> 00:22:19.460 and also 2 Samuel 7 00:22:19.460 --> 00:22:20.440 when David is anointed. 00:22:21.599 --> 00:22:22.480 The Lord said to me, 00:22:22.539 --> 00:22:23.920 you are my son. 00:22:24.039 --> 00:22:24.579 Verse 7. 00:22:25.680 --> 00:22:26.139 In other words, 00:22:26.200 --> 00:22:27.079 at Jesus' baptism, 00:22:27.259 --> 00:22:28.099 he was anointed 00:22:28.099 --> 00:22:30.419 as the Psalm 2 king. 00:22:32.719 --> 00:22:33.819 And everyone else 00:22:33.819 --> 00:22:34.500 throughout the rest 00:22:34.500 --> 00:22:35.259 of the New Testament 00:22:35.259 --> 00:22:36.139 saw Jesus 00:22:36.139 --> 00:22:37.759 as the Psalm 2 king. 00:22:40.219 --> 00:22:41.399 And it's even echoed 00:22:41.399 --> 00:22:41.919 more than that 00:22:41.919 --> 00:22:43.599 in Matthew chapter 28 00:22:43.599 --> 00:22:44.859 when Jesus sends out 00:22:44.859 --> 00:22:45.539 his disciples. 00:22:46.500 --> 00:22:46.919 He says, 00:22:47.219 --> 00:22:47.599 go therefore 00:22:47.599 --> 00:22:50.779 into all nations. 00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:51.599 Right? 00:22:52.139 --> 00:22:52.659 Verse 8. 00:22:52.980 --> 00:22:53.500 Ask of me 00:22:53.500 --> 00:22:54.119 and I will make 00:22:54.119 --> 00:22:55.519 the nations 00:22:55.519 --> 00:22:56.400 your heritage 00:22:56.400 --> 00:22:57.039 and the ends 00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:57.559 of the earth 00:22:57.559 --> 00:22:58.480 your possession. 00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:01.460 When Jesus said 00:23:01.460 --> 00:23:02.000 that he almost 00:23:02.000 --> 00:23:02.980 certainly had 00:23:02.980 --> 00:23:04.319 Psalm 2 in mind. 00:23:09.460 --> 00:23:10.319 And so, 00:23:10.460 --> 00:23:11.279 what do we do 00:23:11.279 --> 00:23:12.319 with evil kings? 00:23:14.539 --> 00:23:15.460 God laughs. 00:23:16.519 --> 00:23:17.559 And God laughs 00:23:17.559 --> 00:23:18.099 because he has 00:23:18.099 --> 00:23:18.720 a great king. 00:23:19.779 --> 00:23:20.819 He has a king 00:23:20.819 --> 00:23:21.440 that's greater 00:23:21.440 --> 00:23:22.500 than all the other kings. 00:23:22.500 --> 00:23:24.980 And so, 00:23:25.059 --> 00:23:25.779 there's a sense 00:23:25.779 --> 00:23:27.039 in which 00:23:27.039 --> 00:23:27.740 we can laugh 00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:28.220 as well. 00:23:30.440 --> 00:23:30.839 Now, 00:23:30.880 --> 00:23:31.339 I'm not saying 00:23:31.339 --> 00:23:31.859 that there aren't 00:23:31.859 --> 00:23:32.559 things to be afraid 00:23:32.559 --> 00:23:33.119 of in this world. 00:23:33.200 --> 00:23:33.599 There aren't things 00:23:33.599 --> 00:23:33.920 that we need 00:23:33.920 --> 00:23:34.779 to pray for 00:23:34.779 --> 00:23:35.359 earnestly. 00:23:35.819 --> 00:23:36.400 We're told 00:23:36.400 --> 00:23:37.480 to pray for rulers 00:23:37.480 --> 00:23:38.480 in 1 Timothy 2. 00:23:38.940 --> 00:23:39.740 There aren't things 00:23:39.740 --> 00:23:40.279 that we should be 00:23:40.279 --> 00:23:40.960 cautious about 00:23:40.960 --> 00:23:41.740 and wary of. 00:23:42.599 --> 00:23:43.440 But God 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:46.180 is our great king. 00:23:47.359 --> 00:23:48.460 And he has sent us 00:23:48.460 --> 00:23:48.799 Jesus 00:23:48.799 --> 00:23:50.079 as his 00:23:50.079 --> 00:23:51.000 great king. 00:23:52.500 --> 00:23:54.279 There is no other king 00:23:54.279 --> 00:23:55.140 in all the nations 00:23:55.140 --> 00:23:56.319 who can challenge him. 00:23:58.279 --> 00:23:59.000 In fact, 00:23:59.119 --> 00:23:59.839 he is going to, 00:23:59.960 --> 00:24:00.420 verse 9, 00:24:00.539 --> 00:24:01.000 break them with 00:24:01.000 --> 00:24:01.740 a rod of iron 00:24:01.740 --> 00:24:02.440 and dash them 00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:02.880 in pieces 00:24:02.880 --> 00:24:04.279 like a potter's vessel. 00:24:06.339 --> 00:24:06.880 And so, 00:24:06.940 --> 00:24:07.619 that leaves us 00:24:07.619 --> 00:24:09.380 just like we had 00:24:09.380 --> 00:24:09.839 last week 00:24:09.839 --> 00:24:10.619 with two options 00:24:10.619 --> 00:24:12.500 in verses 10-12. 00:24:13.500 --> 00:24:14.599 And our two options 00:24:14.599 --> 00:24:15.119 are this. 00:24:16.200 --> 00:24:17.140 We can either 00:24:17.140 --> 00:24:18.240 take refuge 00:24:18.240 --> 00:24:20.019 or we can rebel. 00:24:20.019 --> 00:24:25.579 It tells us 00:24:25.579 --> 00:24:26.299 in verse 12, 00:24:27.000 --> 00:24:27.779 blessed are all 00:24:27.779 --> 00:24:28.799 who take refuge 00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:29.539 in him. 00:24:30.400 --> 00:24:31.240 So just like we saw 00:24:31.240 --> 00:24:31.839 one path 00:24:31.839 --> 00:24:32.839 is following after God 00:24:32.839 --> 00:24:33.480 in Psalm 1, 00:24:33.579 --> 00:24:33.980 it's the same 00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:34.639 in Psalm 2. 00:24:35.400 --> 00:24:35.839 There are those 00:24:35.839 --> 00:24:36.639 who take refuge 00:24:36.639 --> 00:24:37.220 in God. 00:24:38.139 --> 00:24:38.859 And then, 00:24:39.000 --> 00:24:39.700 there are those 00:24:39.700 --> 00:24:40.900 who rebel against God. 00:24:41.099 --> 00:24:41.619 We saw that in 00:24:41.619 --> 00:24:42.559 verses 1-3. 00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:43.720 And then we see 00:24:43.720 --> 00:24:44.660 a final warning 00:24:44.660 --> 00:24:45.980 in verses 10-11. 00:24:46.720 --> 00:24:47.160 This is sort of 00:24:47.160 --> 00:24:47.879 the final warning 00:24:47.879 --> 00:24:48.660 that someone gives. 00:24:48.660 --> 00:24:49.660 Hey, if you don't stop, 00:24:50.900 --> 00:24:51.460 we're going to have 00:24:51.460 --> 00:24:52.880 to take care of you. 00:24:52.940 --> 00:24:53.240 We're going to send 00:24:53.240 --> 00:24:53.740 the dogs out. 00:24:53.779 --> 00:24:54.400 We're going to open fire. 00:24:54.460 --> 00:24:55.600 Whatever analogy you want. 00:24:56.100 --> 00:24:57.140 This is the final warning 00:24:57.140 --> 00:24:57.720 to the kings 00:24:57.720 --> 00:24:58.800 in verses 10-11. 00:24:59.460 --> 00:25:00.180 Be warned. 00:25:00.860 --> 00:25:01.640 Be wise. 00:25:02.400 --> 00:25:02.860 Serve the Lord 00:25:02.860 --> 00:25:03.300 with fear 00:25:03.300 --> 00:25:03.820 and rejoice 00:25:03.820 --> 00:25:04.420 with trembling. 00:25:05.779 --> 00:25:06.960 We either perish 00:25:06.960 --> 00:25:08.800 or we take refuge 00:25:08.800 --> 00:25:09.240 in God. 00:25:11.320 --> 00:25:12.540 We either perish 00:25:12.540 --> 00:25:13.800 or we take refuge 00:25:13.800 --> 00:25:14.240 in God. 00:25:15.519 --> 00:25:16.620 We either rebel 00:25:16.620 --> 00:25:17.420 against God 00:25:17.420 --> 00:25:18.779 or we find 00:25:18.779 --> 00:25:19.960 safety in Him. 00:25:20.860 --> 00:25:21.860 If we rebel, 00:25:22.440 --> 00:25:23.480 we will be destroyed. 00:25:25.120 --> 00:25:26.340 If we take refuge 00:25:26.340 --> 00:25:26.820 in Him, 00:25:27.320 --> 00:25:28.220 we will be saved. 00:25:29.720 --> 00:25:30.660 And this is something 00:25:30.660 --> 00:25:32.000 that even as people 00:25:32.000 --> 00:25:32.779 in the Old Testament 00:25:32.779 --> 00:25:33.620 look forward to it, 00:25:33.640 --> 00:25:34.220 we look forward 00:25:34.220 --> 00:25:34.960 to it as well 00:25:34.960 --> 00:25:36.000 because it's partially 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:36.920 fulfilled now 00:25:36.920 --> 00:25:38.660 in Jesus' first coming 00:25:38.660 --> 00:25:40.800 and will be fully fulfilled 00:25:40.800 --> 00:25:41.840 in His second coming. 00:25:41.839 --> 00:25:45.039 And so our hope 00:25:45.039 --> 00:25:45.879 as Christians 00:25:45.879 --> 00:25:47.079 is in Jesus' second coming 00:25:47.079 --> 00:25:48.000 that He would come back 00:25:48.000 --> 00:25:48.839 and be the King 00:25:48.839 --> 00:25:51.139 that rules all the nations. 00:25:55.339 --> 00:25:56.619 And so our final question, 00:25:56.699 --> 00:25:57.439 our last question 00:25:57.439 --> 00:25:58.619 that this psalm poses to us 00:25:58.619 --> 00:25:59.559 is are we rebelling 00:25:59.559 --> 00:26:01.059 or are we finding refuge? 00:26:01.059 --> 00:26:05.460 If we're finding refuge, 00:26:05.579 --> 00:26:06.440 that means that we have 00:26:06.440 --> 00:26:07.720 faith in Christ. 00:26:08.619 --> 00:26:09.519 And I've said 00:26:09.519 --> 00:26:10.200 faith in Christ 00:26:10.200 --> 00:26:10.779 many times. 00:26:10.879 --> 00:26:11.579 I've never given you 00:26:11.579 --> 00:26:12.419 a full definition 00:26:12.419 --> 00:26:13.099 so I'm going to give you 00:26:13.099 --> 00:26:13.440 that now. 00:26:13.539 --> 00:26:13.879 Faith, 00:26:14.359 --> 00:26:16.220 this comes from Charles Spurgeon, 00:26:16.279 --> 00:26:17.599 has three components to it. 00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:18.940 It is knowledge, 00:26:19.859 --> 00:26:20.299 belief, 00:26:20.919 --> 00:26:21.599 and trust. 00:26:22.839 --> 00:26:23.859 Faith is knowledge, 00:26:24.379 --> 00:26:24.720 belief, 00:26:24.919 --> 00:26:25.659 and trust. 00:26:26.220 --> 00:26:27.139 And so faith is, 00:26:27.319 --> 00:26:27.639 first of all, 00:26:27.700 --> 00:26:29.019 knowing what is true 00:26:29.019 --> 00:26:29.839 about Jesus, 00:26:29.839 --> 00:26:30.959 that He was a real man 00:26:30.959 --> 00:26:31.579 in real space 00:26:31.579 --> 00:26:32.159 in real time 00:26:32.159 --> 00:26:32.740 who came 00:26:32.740 --> 00:26:33.939 and He died. 00:26:34.019 --> 00:26:35.000 And the reason He had to die 00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:36.339 is because of our sins, 00:26:36.759 --> 00:26:38.159 that God was pouring out 00:26:38.159 --> 00:26:39.259 His wrath on the earth, 00:26:39.339 --> 00:26:40.819 bringing full and final justice 00:26:40.819 --> 00:26:41.639 to everyone 00:26:41.639 --> 00:26:43.139 who rebels against Him. 00:26:44.000 --> 00:26:44.879 But that for anyone 00:26:44.879 --> 00:26:45.639 who has faith 00:26:45.639 --> 00:26:46.220 and trust 00:26:46.220 --> 00:26:47.220 and hope in Jesus, 00:26:47.359 --> 00:26:48.159 Jesus' death 00:26:48.159 --> 00:26:49.359 as a perfect man 00:26:49.359 --> 00:26:50.159 pays the penalty 00:26:50.159 --> 00:26:50.919 for our sins. 00:26:52.699 --> 00:26:53.480 And so faith is, 00:26:53.699 --> 00:26:53.959 first of all, 00:26:54.000 --> 00:26:54.619 that knowledge, 00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:55.859 what is true about Jesus. 00:26:56.000 --> 00:26:56.539 Second of all, 00:26:56.579 --> 00:26:57.359 it's actually belief. 00:26:57.439 --> 00:26:58.139 Many people know 00:26:58.139 --> 00:26:59.159 the facts about Jesus. 00:26:59.160 --> 00:27:00.120 There are people 00:27:00.120 --> 00:27:00.860 who are not Christians 00:27:00.860 --> 00:27:01.700 who could have told you 00:27:01.700 --> 00:27:02.480 what I just told you. 00:27:02.900 --> 00:27:03.320 They would say, 00:27:03.360 --> 00:27:03.660 Christians, 00:27:03.800 --> 00:27:04.360 believe this. 00:27:05.560 --> 00:27:06.759 And so faith is not just knowledge, 00:27:06.860 --> 00:27:07.620 it's also belief. 00:27:07.720 --> 00:27:09.120 It's believing that those things 00:27:09.120 --> 00:27:09.680 are true. 00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:11.060 Actually believing 00:27:11.060 --> 00:27:12.340 that we are so sinful 00:27:12.340 --> 00:27:13.340 that we have no hope 00:27:13.340 --> 00:27:14.100 outside of Jesus. 00:27:14.779 --> 00:27:16.000 Believing that He is the one 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:16.779 who can save us. 00:27:17.820 --> 00:27:19.140 So knowledge and belief 00:27:19.140 --> 00:27:20.519 and then trust. 00:27:21.480 --> 00:27:23.019 Trust is knowing, 00:27:23.180 --> 00:27:24.100 not just saying these things 00:27:24.100 --> 00:27:24.960 are true and believing them, 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:26.000 but then living our lives 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:26.779 as if they are true. 00:27:26.779 --> 00:27:29.379 We can say we believe something, 00:27:29.500 --> 00:27:30.139 but if our lives 00:27:30.139 --> 00:27:30.799 don't reflect it, 00:27:30.879 --> 00:27:32.039 it shows everyone 00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:33.460 that we don't actually believe it. 00:27:34.619 --> 00:27:35.639 And so faith in Christ 00:27:35.639 --> 00:27:36.379 is knowledge, 00:27:37.160 --> 00:27:38.019 it's belief, 00:27:38.399 --> 00:27:39.399 and it's trust. 00:27:40.259 --> 00:27:41.660 It's knowing what's true 00:27:41.660 --> 00:27:42.980 and then living out 00:27:42.980 --> 00:27:43.579 of that truth. 00:27:45.180 --> 00:27:46.519 If you ever want to talk more 00:27:46.519 --> 00:27:47.399 about any of those things, 00:27:47.460 --> 00:27:48.519 I'm happy to talk to anyone 00:27:48.519 --> 00:27:49.339 after the service 00:27:49.339 --> 00:27:51.039 to talk more about 00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:51.700 faith in Christ 00:27:51.700 --> 00:27:52.160 if that's something 00:27:52.160 --> 00:27:53.240 you have questions about, 00:27:54.039 --> 00:27:54.480 if that's something 00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:55.519 you're confused about. 00:27:55.519 --> 00:27:57.519 But that is what it means 00:27:57.519 --> 00:27:58.400 to take refuge. 00:27:58.539 --> 00:27:59.579 That's what's being talked about 00:27:59.579 --> 00:28:00.200 in verse 12. 00:28:00.359 --> 00:28:01.059 Blessed are all 00:28:01.059 --> 00:28:02.879 who take refuge in Him. 00:28:04.720 --> 00:28:05.700 And so there's those 00:28:05.700 --> 00:28:06.400 who take refuge 00:28:06.400 --> 00:28:07.839 and then there are those 00:28:07.839 --> 00:28:08.299 who rebel. 00:28:09.740 --> 00:28:10.579 We're told that those 00:28:10.579 --> 00:28:11.940 who do not take refuge 00:28:11.940 --> 00:28:13.400 will face God's full 00:28:13.400 --> 00:28:14.539 and final justice 00:28:14.539 --> 00:28:16.400 when His King returns. 00:28:16.879 --> 00:28:18.099 When Jesus comes back 00:28:18.099 --> 00:28:18.619 to the earth, 00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:19.839 He is going to bring 00:28:19.839 --> 00:28:21.639 God's justice on everyone 00:28:21.639 --> 00:28:23.039 who does not have faith 00:28:23.039 --> 00:28:23.519 in Christ. 00:28:23.519 --> 00:28:23.579 Christ. 00:28:26.259 --> 00:28:27.019 This is something 00:28:27.019 --> 00:28:27.799 that's challenging 00:28:27.799 --> 00:28:28.839 for many people 00:28:28.839 --> 00:28:30.279 in this particular country 00:28:30.279 --> 00:28:31.059 and this part of the world 00:28:31.059 --> 00:28:31.879 to think of a God 00:28:31.879 --> 00:28:32.379 of judgment. 00:28:33.500 --> 00:28:34.259 And yet this is what 00:28:34.259 --> 00:28:34.839 would be true 00:28:34.839 --> 00:28:35.960 of any great king. 00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:38.379 If someone tried 00:28:38.379 --> 00:28:39.539 to attack Fort Carson 00:28:39.539 --> 00:28:40.039 right now, 00:28:40.099 --> 00:28:41.240 not with a riding lawnmower 00:28:41.240 --> 00:28:43.019 but with something 00:28:43.019 --> 00:28:44.019 that's actually powerful 00:28:44.019 --> 00:28:45.240 enough to take down gates, 00:28:45.639 --> 00:28:47.599 we would not complain 00:28:47.599 --> 00:28:49.440 about them being destroyed 00:28:49.440 --> 00:28:50.180 by Fort Carson. 00:28:50.180 --> 00:28:52.620 We would not say, 00:28:52.860 --> 00:28:53.940 how could a loving fort, 00:28:55.420 --> 00:28:56.660 how would a loving fort, 00:28:57.100 --> 00:28:58.120 how could they judge 00:28:58.120 --> 00:28:59.060 and destroy 00:28:59.060 --> 00:29:00.140 these people attacking them? 00:29:01.160 --> 00:29:01.640 Right? 00:29:01.799 --> 00:29:02.060 No. 00:29:02.299 --> 00:29:03.900 That is what great kings do. 00:29:05.420 --> 00:29:06.740 How much more 00:29:06.740 --> 00:29:07.920 the great king? 00:29:10.420 --> 00:29:11.560 How much more 00:29:11.560 --> 00:29:12.480 the great king? 00:29:13.400 --> 00:29:14.440 And so if we 00:29:14.440 --> 00:29:15.580 have objections 00:29:15.580 --> 00:29:16.200 and problems 00:29:16.200 --> 00:29:17.220 with God's judgment, 00:29:17.340 --> 00:29:18.120 it means two things. 00:29:18.119 --> 00:29:19.379 First, we underestimate 00:29:19.379 --> 00:29:20.759 how much, 00:29:21.059 --> 00:29:22.399 how great our sin is. 00:29:22.899 --> 00:29:24.019 We don't actually believe 00:29:24.019 --> 00:29:25.039 verses one and two 00:29:25.039 --> 00:29:25.819 that when we sin, 00:29:25.919 --> 00:29:27.119 we are setting ourselves 00:29:27.119 --> 00:29:27.919 against God, 00:29:28.479 --> 00:29:29.439 that we're raging 00:29:29.439 --> 00:29:29.959 against him 00:29:29.959 --> 00:29:31.000 and plotting against him. 00:29:31.939 --> 00:29:32.500 And second, 00:29:32.599 --> 00:29:33.439 we're underestimating 00:29:33.439 --> 00:29:34.759 what a great king 00:29:34.759 --> 00:29:35.839 God is. 00:29:38.179 --> 00:29:39.599 And so there's two options. 00:29:40.219 --> 00:29:41.659 We either take refuge 00:29:41.659 --> 00:29:43.399 and are saved 00:29:43.399 --> 00:29:44.699 or we rebel 00:29:44.699 --> 00:29:46.359 and we are destroyed. 00:29:46.359 --> 00:29:49.240 If we take refuge 00:29:49.240 --> 00:29:50.000 in God, 00:29:50.799 --> 00:29:51.839 then when we look 00:29:51.839 --> 00:29:52.379 at the kings, 00:29:52.479 --> 00:29:53.199 we can laugh 00:29:53.199 --> 00:29:54.159 with God. 00:29:55.599 --> 00:29:57.019 When we take refuge 00:29:57.019 --> 00:29:57.699 in God, 00:29:57.859 --> 00:29:58.899 we can laugh 00:29:58.899 --> 00:29:59.779 with God. 00:30:00.979 --> 00:30:01.799 And so that's our hope 00:30:01.799 --> 00:30:02.599 and our confidence 00:30:02.599 --> 00:30:03.359 and our trust. 00:30:04.019 --> 00:30:04.939 The final passage 00:30:04.939 --> 00:30:05.819 that I didn't mention, 00:30:05.939 --> 00:30:07.139 which alludes to Psalm 2, 00:30:07.679 --> 00:30:08.859 is from our reading 00:30:08.859 --> 00:30:09.459 from Revelation, 00:30:09.559 --> 00:30:10.359 our New Testament reading 00:30:10.359 --> 00:30:10.819 this morning, 00:30:11.279 --> 00:30:13.179 which almost quotes 00:30:13.179 --> 00:30:14.619 verses 8 and 9. 00:30:14.619 --> 00:30:17.859 talks about him ruling 00:30:17.859 --> 00:30:18.679 with a rod of iron 00:30:18.679 --> 00:30:19.379 and dashing them 00:30:19.379 --> 00:30:20.779 in pieces like a potter's vessel. 00:30:21.599 --> 00:30:22.619 That this picture 00:30:22.619 --> 00:30:23.500 of Revelation 19 00:30:23.500 --> 00:30:25.139 is of Jesus' second coming. 00:30:25.859 --> 00:30:27.359 That he is coming back, 00:30:27.419 --> 00:30:28.479 not in his first coming 00:30:28.479 --> 00:30:29.579 to bring salvation 00:30:29.579 --> 00:30:30.319 through his death, 00:30:30.759 --> 00:30:32.259 but in his second coming 00:30:32.259 --> 00:30:33.299 to bring salvation 00:30:33.299 --> 00:30:34.899 through his judgment. 00:30:35.500 --> 00:30:36.799 That he's going to save 00:30:36.799 --> 00:30:37.359 his world 00:30:37.359 --> 00:30:38.359 from all the sin 00:30:38.359 --> 00:30:39.259 that has destroyed him. 00:30:39.259 --> 00:30:42.599 So I promised you 00:30:42.599 --> 00:30:43.460 at the beginning, 00:30:43.720 --> 00:30:44.299 this psalm was going 00:30:44.299 --> 00:30:45.940 to make complex things simple. 00:30:49.400 --> 00:30:50.160 Evil rulers 00:30:50.160 --> 00:30:51.059 are complicated. 00:30:52.000 --> 00:30:52.640 And the question 00:30:52.640 --> 00:30:53.480 of what to do with them 00:30:53.480 --> 00:30:54.099 and how to respond 00:30:54.099 --> 00:30:54.839 to them is complicated 00:30:54.839 --> 00:30:55.400 as well. 00:30:56.019 --> 00:30:56.660 And God, 00:30:56.799 --> 00:30:57.379 in this psalm, 00:30:57.379 --> 00:30:58.579 makes it simple for us. 00:30:59.940 --> 00:31:01.379 We either take refuge 00:31:01.379 --> 00:31:02.240 and are saved, 00:31:02.900 --> 00:31:04.119 or we rebel 00:31:04.119 --> 00:31:05.000 and are destroyed. 00:31:05.799 --> 00:31:07.099 And if we take refuge 00:31:07.099 --> 00:31:07.700 in God, 00:31:08.279 --> 00:31:09.059 then when we look 00:31:09.059 --> 00:31:09.700 at the nations 00:31:09.700 --> 00:31:10.980 and evil rulers, 00:31:11.059 --> 00:31:12.500 we can laugh with God. 00:31:12.920 --> 00:31:13.680 That's our hope 00:31:13.680 --> 00:31:14.759 and our confidence 00:31:14.759 --> 00:31:15.819 and our trust. 00:31:16.380 --> 00:31:17.299 Please pray with me. 00:31:19.119 --> 00:31:20.180 Dear Father in heaven, 00:31:20.259 --> 00:31:20.839 we thank you 00:31:20.839 --> 00:31:21.539 for your word 00:31:21.539 --> 00:31:23.119 that guides us 00:31:23.119 --> 00:31:23.900 and nurtures us 00:31:23.900 --> 00:31:24.740 and nourishes us. 00:31:26.220 --> 00:31:27.059 Ask for anyone 00:31:27.059 --> 00:31:28.279 who does not have faith 00:31:28.279 --> 00:31:28.839 in you, 00:31:29.980 --> 00:31:30.920 that you would be at work 00:31:30.920 --> 00:31:32.099 calling them to yourself, 00:31:32.200 --> 00:31:33.160 that they would understand 00:31:33.160 --> 00:31:35.060 the great salvation 00:31:35.060 --> 00:31:35.759 that you offer 00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:37.180 and also the great judgment 00:31:37.180 --> 00:31:37.900 that is to come. 00:31:38.680 --> 00:31:39.500 I ask that you'd give us 00:31:39.500 --> 00:31:40.180 the encouragement 00:31:40.180 --> 00:31:41.019 that comes 00:31:41.019 --> 00:31:42.040 from knowing 00:31:42.040 --> 00:31:43.340 that you are the great king 00:31:43.340 --> 00:31:44.779 and you rule over everyone 00:31:44.779 --> 00:31:45.420 and everything. 00:31:46.120 --> 00:31:47.080 And we ask that you'd drive 00:31:47.080 --> 00:31:48.080 this deep into our hearts 00:31:48.080 --> 00:31:48.400 so that we'd have 00:31:48.400 --> 00:31:48.940 the confidence 00:31:48.940 --> 00:31:49.740 and the hope 00:31:49.740 --> 00:31:50.779 that comes from knowing it. 00:31:51.300 --> 00:31:52.640 And we ask all these things 00:31:52.640 --> 00:31:53.440 in Jesus' name. 00:31:54.000 --> 00:31:54.220 Amen. 00:31:55.980 --> 00:31:57.080 I invite you to stand 00:31:57.080 --> 00:31:57.700 for our closing.