WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:11.759 Psalm 2, verses 1 to 12, let the whole psalm begin, read it out loud for us. 00:00:22.440 --> 00:00:26.400 Why do the nations rage, and the peoples fought in vain? 00:00:26.399 --> 00:00:31.320 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, 00:00:32.219 --> 00:00:35.060 against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, 00:00:35.600 --> 00:00:39.679 Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their courts from us. 00:00:41.420 --> 00:00:45.539 He who sits in the heavens laughs. 00:00:47.039 --> 00:00:49.099 The Lord holds them in derision. 00:00:50.820 --> 00:00:56.259 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 00:00:56.780 --> 00:01:01.100 Ask for me, I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill. 00:01:02.619 --> 00:01:05.840 I will tell of the decree, the Lord said to me, 00:01:05.980 --> 00:01:08.799 You are my son, today I have begotten you. 00:01:09.920 --> 00:01:12.959 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, 00:01:13.599 --> 00:01:15.579 and the ends of the earth your possession. 00:01:16.799 --> 00:01:19.519 You shall break them with a rod of iron, 00:01:20.000 --> 00:01:22.799 and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. 00:01:22.799 --> 00:01:26.299 Now therefore, O kings, be wise. 00:01:26.620 --> 00:01:28.739 Be warned, O rulers of the earth. 00:01:29.539 --> 00:01:32.840 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 00:01:33.599 --> 00:01:38.299 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way. 00:01:39.159 --> 00:01:41.340 For his wrath is quickly kindled. 00:01:41.340 --> 00:01:46.240 Blessed are all who take refuge in him. 00:01:46.740 --> 00:01:47.299 Amen. 00:01:47.299 --> 00:01:57.179 This is what people call an enthronement psalm, 00:01:57.239 --> 00:02:01.840 a psalm that Israelites used during the coronation ceremony of their kings. 00:02:02.979 --> 00:02:07.879 And frequently it speaks of the theological reality, 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:09.819 the spiritual reality of God's reign, 00:02:10.039 --> 00:02:15.000 and what seems to be the earthly reality of people not living under that reign, 00:02:15.000 --> 00:02:17.099 people revolting and rebelling against God. 00:02:17.800 --> 00:02:20.599 And frequently we too feel very small in this world. 00:02:21.039 --> 00:02:23.080 We feel like we can't control our relationships, 00:02:23.939 --> 00:02:26.680 the trajectory of our careers. 00:02:28.120 --> 00:02:32.420 We can't control our own lives, 00:02:32.500 --> 00:02:34.860 let alone the things that happen at the national scale, 00:02:35.080 --> 00:02:39.060 the political movements, the cultural trends, the global happenings. 00:02:39.340 --> 00:02:42.199 We feel like just little minions that have little control 00:02:42.199 --> 00:02:44.759 over the things that happen in this world. 00:02:45.519 --> 00:02:49.339 And so frequently people feel disempowered and disenfranchised. 00:02:50.179 --> 00:02:52.659 And Christians in certain parts of the world 00:02:52.659 --> 00:02:55.179 feel particularly disenfranchised and disempowered. 00:02:55.639 --> 00:02:58.819 And sometimes that leads us to turn to other champions, 00:02:59.280 --> 00:03:04.019 which may explain some of what's happening this season, 00:03:04.179 --> 00:03:05.280 you know, in the U.S. 00:03:05.919 --> 00:03:07.039 during the election cycle. 00:03:07.039 --> 00:03:10.639 But in their best moments in church history, 00:03:10.759 --> 00:03:12.739 Christians have always turned to God as their champion 00:03:12.739 --> 00:03:15.319 and not to men as their champion. 00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:19.379 And this passage speaks about that reality. 00:03:20.180 --> 00:03:22.879 And the main point that the psalm reminds us of 00:03:22.879 --> 00:03:27.699 is that even though we battle with the sense of embattlement, 00:03:27.819 --> 00:03:30.280 that we're kind of being attacked 00:03:30.280 --> 00:03:34.039 or that we are surrounded by enemies 00:03:34.039 --> 00:03:35.500 or people that don't share our values, 00:03:36.000 --> 00:03:39.500 really we can take refuge in God 00:03:39.500 --> 00:03:43.020 because God remains enthroned as king overall. 00:03:43.240 --> 00:03:45.560 So when we are embattled, we can take refuge in Him 00:03:45.560 --> 00:03:49.099 because He remains enthroned as king overall. 00:03:49.479 --> 00:03:53.520 So let's first look at how the Israelites felt 00:03:53.520 --> 00:03:54.659 embattled by the nations. 00:03:54.840 --> 00:03:57.759 And then secondly, how God remains enthroned above the nations 00:03:57.759 --> 00:03:59.360 by looking at Psalm 2. 00:03:59.360 --> 00:04:02.980 So first, it tells us about the nations' rage 00:04:02.980 --> 00:04:05.780 and how Israelites felt embattled by them 00:04:05.780 --> 00:04:06.940 in verses 1 to 3. 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:10.740 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 00:04:11.080 --> 00:04:12.740 The kings of the earth set themselves 00:04:12.740 --> 00:04:14.520 and the rulers take counsel together 00:04:14.520 --> 00:04:17.639 against the Lord and against His anointed, 00:04:17.860 --> 00:04:20.020 saying, let us burst their bonds apart 00:04:20.020 --> 00:04:22.939 and cast away their cords from us. 00:04:24.259 --> 00:04:27.740 The words are telling, their nations are raging, 00:04:27.740 --> 00:04:31.360 they're plotting, they're setting themselves 00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:33.480 against God and His anointed. 00:04:33.660 --> 00:04:35.019 They're taking counsel together. 00:04:35.540 --> 00:04:38.379 And this could be, this is not very threatening 00:04:38.379 --> 00:04:42.500 because we know that men are capable of accomplishing a lot. 00:04:42.900 --> 00:04:44.780 People are capable of accomplishing a lot 00:04:44.780 --> 00:04:45.800 when they put their heads together, 00:04:45.980 --> 00:04:47.160 when they get counseled together, 00:04:47.280 --> 00:04:48.699 when the nations gather together. 00:04:49.199 --> 00:04:51.180 And we see an example of this in Genesis 00:04:51.180 --> 00:04:54.340 when just before Abrahamic covenant, 00:04:54.560 --> 00:04:56.740 Genesis 11, people try to build a tower of Babel. 00:04:57.519 --> 00:05:00.180 They try to build a tower that reaches the heavens 00:05:00.180 --> 00:05:01.459 for their own glory 00:05:01.459 --> 00:05:03.840 and so that they don't have to be scattered 00:05:03.840 --> 00:05:04.660 throughout the earth, 00:05:05.379 --> 00:05:09.620 which is in direct affront to God's glory 00:05:09.620 --> 00:05:12.060 and in direct violation of God's command 00:05:12.060 --> 00:05:13.240 to spread throughout the earth. 00:05:13.240 --> 00:05:16.860 So God punishes them, 00:05:16.960 --> 00:05:17.800 but as He does that, 00:05:17.860 --> 00:05:19.600 He says this in chapter 11, verse 9, 00:05:19.680 --> 00:05:21.000 Behold, they are one people 00:05:21.000 --> 00:05:22.319 and they have all one language 00:05:22.319 --> 00:05:24.439 and this is only the beginning of what they will do. 00:05:24.900 --> 00:05:26.639 And nothing that they propose to do 00:05:26.639 --> 00:05:28.560 will now be impossible for them. 00:05:29.340 --> 00:05:30.840 So nothing that they propose to do 00:05:30.840 --> 00:05:31.620 will be impossible for them. 00:05:31.680 --> 00:05:33.160 And when the nations conspire together, 00:05:33.379 --> 00:05:35.540 and of course this is kind of general comment 00:05:35.540 --> 00:05:36.939 on the ingenuity of men, 00:05:37.100 --> 00:05:37.960 what they're able to do, 00:05:38.340 --> 00:05:41.720 not an expression of God feeling threatened by men. 00:05:41.720 --> 00:05:42.860 And we know that, 00:05:43.020 --> 00:05:43.960 and especially in this psalm, 00:05:44.040 --> 00:05:46.660 it shows this because if you look at verse 4, 00:05:46.800 --> 00:05:47.540 starting in verse 4, 00:05:48.280 --> 00:05:48.500 it says, 00:05:48.820 --> 00:05:51.100 He who sits in the heavens laughs. 00:05:51.800 --> 00:05:54.000 The Lord holds them in division. 00:05:54.560 --> 00:05:56.080 So this is in stark contrast 00:05:56.080 --> 00:05:57.900 to what the people are doing. 00:05:57.980 --> 00:05:58.580 They're plotting. 00:05:58.800 --> 00:05:59.500 They're busy. 00:05:59.820 --> 00:06:02.060 They're putting their heads 00:06:02.060 --> 00:06:03.180 to get a council together. 00:06:03.440 --> 00:06:06.920 But the Lord is not anxiously standing 00:06:06.920 --> 00:06:08.160 looking to see what can happen 00:06:08.160 --> 00:06:10.240 or pacing around in anxiety. 00:06:10.620 --> 00:06:11.380 He's sitting. 00:06:11.720 --> 00:06:12.020 I mean, 00:06:12.460 --> 00:06:13.640 He's enthroned. 00:06:13.740 --> 00:06:14.700 That's what it literally is. 00:06:14.740 --> 00:06:15.120 He says, 00:06:15.400 --> 00:06:16.180 He sits. 00:06:16.260 --> 00:06:18.240 He's enthroned in the heavens. 00:06:19.060 --> 00:06:20.220 He laughs. 00:06:20.720 --> 00:06:21.920 He laughs at them 00:06:21.920 --> 00:06:24.740 and He holds them in division. 00:06:25.800 --> 00:06:28.240 And it says that He's the Lord, right? 00:06:28.960 --> 00:06:31.020 The Lord holds them in division. 00:06:31.460 --> 00:06:33.660 So the word Lord occurs several times 00:06:33.660 --> 00:06:34.640 in this chapter, 00:06:35.180 --> 00:06:37.740 but this is different from the other occurrences 00:06:37.740 --> 00:06:39.100 because it's not capitalized. 00:06:39.180 --> 00:06:39.940 It's not in all caps. 00:06:39.939 --> 00:06:42.319 So that when it's all in all caps, 00:06:42.360 --> 00:06:44.019 it's referring to the personal name of God, 00:06:44.620 --> 00:06:45.899 the covenant name of God 00:06:45.899 --> 00:06:47.500 that He revealed to Israel. 00:06:47.860 --> 00:06:48.379 But here, 00:06:48.660 --> 00:06:49.779 because it's not in all caps, 00:06:49.860 --> 00:06:52.060 it's actually the word Lord that is used. 00:06:52.540 --> 00:06:55.000 And the reason why the Lord sits enthroned 00:06:55.000 --> 00:06:56.399 and laughs and holds them in division 00:06:56.399 --> 00:06:57.459 is because He's the Lord. 00:06:58.000 --> 00:06:58.740 He's the master. 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:00.060 He's the one in charge. 00:07:00.220 --> 00:07:01.240 And He's not afraid. 00:07:01.399 --> 00:07:04.220 He's undaunted by what these nations are plotting. 00:07:04.220 --> 00:07:06.680 I kind of think of it in my image 00:07:06.680 --> 00:07:11.200 like these people are like busy bees 00:07:11.200 --> 00:07:13.420 buzzing around and forming, 00:07:13.600 --> 00:07:15.180 doing stuff in their honeycomb. 00:07:16.060 --> 00:07:19.340 And God's like this 800-pound grizzly bear 00:07:19.340 --> 00:07:22.560 that just comes and takes the honey 00:07:22.560 --> 00:07:25.300 and actually grizzly bears eat not just the honey, 00:07:25.420 --> 00:07:26.300 but along with it, 00:07:26.380 --> 00:07:28.620 the bees and the honeycomb as well. 00:07:28.620 --> 00:07:28.660 So, 00:07:29.540 --> 00:07:32.139 and in real life, 00:07:32.240 --> 00:07:33.319 it's not like Winnie the Pooh 00:07:33.319 --> 00:07:34.980 that runs away from the honeybees. 00:07:35.139 --> 00:07:35.259 You know, 00:07:35.319 --> 00:07:36.699 the grizzly bears don't care 00:07:36.699 --> 00:07:38.980 about the bees stinging them 00:07:38.980 --> 00:07:40.259 because the fur is too thick. 00:07:40.740 --> 00:07:41.980 They can't penetrate the fur. 00:07:42.420 --> 00:07:42.860 So, 00:07:42.959 --> 00:07:43.879 the bear comes, 00:07:44.100 --> 00:07:44.879 takes the honey 00:07:44.879 --> 00:07:46.379 and then saunters off. 00:07:46.759 --> 00:07:47.639 And all he needs to do 00:07:47.639 --> 00:07:49.100 is just vigorously shake himself 00:07:49.100 --> 00:07:50.780 to shake off the dead bees, 00:07:50.860 --> 00:07:52.019 dead honeybees from his fur 00:07:52.019 --> 00:07:53.660 just like he shakes off water 00:07:53.660 --> 00:07:55.340 and then he goes off to his next destination. 00:07:55.759 --> 00:07:56.780 He's unfazed 00:07:56.779 --> 00:07:59.879 as he sees these busy bees 00:07:59.879 --> 00:08:01.459 buzzing about him. 00:08:02.739 --> 00:08:04.019 And it's kind of like that. 00:08:04.079 --> 00:08:05.239 It's the nations raise, 00:08:05.319 --> 00:08:05.799 they plot, 00:08:05.879 --> 00:08:06.759 they counsel together, 00:08:06.879 --> 00:08:08.439 yet the Lord sits, 00:08:08.859 --> 00:08:09.799 is enthroned. 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:11.079 When the nations, 00:08:11.519 --> 00:08:14.059 when his people feel embattled, 00:08:14.159 --> 00:08:16.419 when the nations seem to wage war against him, 00:08:17.000 --> 00:08:18.799 he sits enthroned and laughs 00:08:18.799 --> 00:08:20.279 and holds them in the nation. 00:08:22.019 --> 00:08:23.759 And similarly, 00:08:23.759 --> 00:08:27.120 God responds that way 00:08:27.120 --> 00:08:28.659 if you look at verses 5 to 6. 00:08:29.319 --> 00:08:31.240 Then he will speak to them in his wrath 00:08:31.240 --> 00:08:32.819 and terrify them in his fury, 00:08:33.019 --> 00:08:33.299 saying, 00:08:33.439 --> 00:08:34.120 As for me, 00:08:34.439 --> 00:08:36.039 I have set my king on Zion, 00:08:36.259 --> 00:08:37.539 my holy hill. 00:08:38.799 --> 00:08:40.779 God speaks to them in his wrath 00:08:40.779 --> 00:08:42.460 and then just terrifies the people 00:08:42.460 --> 00:08:43.580 that are plying against him. 00:08:44.100 --> 00:08:45.419 And how he responds 00:08:45.419 --> 00:08:47.759 is by setting up his own king. 00:08:48.059 --> 00:08:50.159 As the earthly kings rage against him, 00:08:50.200 --> 00:08:51.580 he sets up his own king 00:08:51.580 --> 00:08:52.740 on his own holy hill. 00:08:53.540 --> 00:08:55.620 And this is significant 00:08:55.620 --> 00:08:57.300 because Israel, 00:08:58.080 --> 00:09:00.139 though it was a monarchy in a sense, 00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:01.000 they had kings, 00:09:01.379 --> 00:09:03.139 it was strictly speaking not a monarchy, 00:09:03.139 --> 00:09:04.080 it was a theocracy 00:09:04.080 --> 00:09:06.379 because the king was viewed 00:09:06.379 --> 00:09:07.860 not as a sovereign ruler, 00:09:08.420 --> 00:09:09.940 but as God's representative. 00:09:10.220 --> 00:09:12.440 He ruled as God's representative. 00:09:13.139 --> 00:09:14.520 And that's the case here. 00:09:14.519 --> 00:09:17.179 So if you look at verses 7 to 9, 00:09:17.340 --> 00:09:18.819 the anointed one, 00:09:18.919 --> 00:09:20.740 the king that God puts in place, 00:09:21.120 --> 00:09:22.419 then speaks about the decree 00:09:22.419 --> 00:09:23.360 that God gave him. 00:09:23.659 --> 00:09:24.639 So verses 7 to 9, 00:09:24.720 --> 00:09:25.179 read with me. 00:09:26.399 --> 00:09:26.939 It says, 00:09:27.019 --> 00:09:28.240 I will tell of the decree. 00:09:28.740 --> 00:09:29.980 The Lord said to me, 00:09:30.319 --> 00:09:31.539 You are my son. 00:09:31.659 --> 00:09:32.939 Today I have begotten you. 00:09:33.460 --> 00:09:34.139 Ask of me, 00:09:34.199 --> 00:09:35.299 and I will make the nations 00:09:35.299 --> 00:09:36.019 your heritage 00:09:36.019 --> 00:09:37.299 and the ends of the earth 00:09:37.299 --> 00:09:38.000 your possession. 00:09:38.559 --> 00:09:39.620 You shall break them 00:09:39.620 --> 00:09:40.720 with a rod of iron 00:09:40.720 --> 00:09:42.019 and dash them in pieces 00:09:42.019 --> 00:09:44.680 like a potter's vessel. 00:09:46.340 --> 00:09:49.259 And this has very clear 00:09:49.259 --> 00:09:50.860 Christological implications. 00:09:51.139 --> 00:09:52.279 It speaks of Christ. 00:09:52.720 --> 00:09:53.879 This is why Psalm 2 00:09:53.879 --> 00:09:56.560 is one of the most frequently cited 00:09:56.560 --> 00:09:57.639 Old Testament passages 00:09:57.639 --> 00:09:58.500 in the New Testament. 00:09:59.560 --> 00:10:00.820 And Christians throughout the ages 00:10:00.820 --> 00:10:03.420 have seen a prediction 00:10:03.420 --> 00:10:05.340 or prophecy of Christ 00:10:05.340 --> 00:10:06.300 in this passage. 00:10:07.560 --> 00:10:10.519 And the connection is very obvious 00:10:10.519 --> 00:10:11.139 in verse 7, 00:10:11.360 --> 00:10:12.279 he calls this, 00:10:12.379 --> 00:10:13.679 You are my son. 00:10:14.139 --> 00:10:15.919 Today I have begotten you. 00:10:16.620 --> 00:10:17.079 There is, 00:10:17.299 --> 00:10:17.639 of course, 00:10:17.740 --> 00:10:19.179 the kings were referred to 00:10:19.179 --> 00:10:20.919 as sons of God, 00:10:21.759 --> 00:10:23.799 but Israelite kings 00:10:23.799 --> 00:10:25.759 were distinctly earthly. 00:10:25.960 --> 00:10:26.600 They were humans. 00:10:26.779 --> 00:10:28.639 They were not considered divine 00:10:28.639 --> 00:10:29.740 like some of the pagan nations 00:10:29.740 --> 00:10:30.460 consider their kings 00:10:30.460 --> 00:10:30.960 to be divine. 00:10:32.079 --> 00:10:33.039 Yet here, 00:10:33.259 --> 00:10:34.319 it speaks of him 00:10:34.319 --> 00:10:35.740 being begotten, 00:10:36.360 --> 00:10:39.699 which later in John 00:10:39.700 --> 00:10:40.440 gets picked up 00:10:40.440 --> 00:10:41.840 as language of the unique 00:10:41.840 --> 00:10:42.540 son of God. 00:10:43.379 --> 00:10:44.759 And not only that, 00:10:45.360 --> 00:10:47.840 it looks forward to the time 00:10:47.840 --> 00:10:48.879 when Christ will come 00:10:48.879 --> 00:10:51.420 because this sonship language 00:10:51.420 --> 00:10:52.320 is the language of God 00:10:52.320 --> 00:10:53.060 originally used 00:10:53.060 --> 00:10:53.860 when he made a covenant 00:10:53.860 --> 00:10:54.620 with King David 00:10:54.620 --> 00:10:56.200 saying that Solomon 00:10:56.200 --> 00:10:56.900 will be to him 00:10:56.900 --> 00:10:57.420 like a son. 00:10:57.520 --> 00:10:58.680 He'll be like a father to him. 00:10:59.680 --> 00:11:02.100 And he promised him 00:11:02.100 --> 00:11:03.300 an everlasting kingdom. 00:11:03.980 --> 00:11:04.540 Yet, of course, 00:11:04.620 --> 00:11:05.480 no earthly kingdom 00:11:05.480 --> 00:11:06.220 is everlasting. 00:11:06.220 --> 00:11:07.980 So the kingdom here in view, 00:11:08.060 --> 00:11:09.460 the king here in view 00:11:09.460 --> 00:11:11.180 points ultimately to Christ 00:11:11.180 --> 00:11:12.500 who alone reigns forever. 00:11:12.960 --> 00:11:13.940 So he's the son 00:11:13.940 --> 00:11:15.560 that's in view here. 00:11:16.399 --> 00:11:19.740 And Christ, 00:11:20.060 --> 00:11:21.320 as it says here, 00:11:21.420 --> 00:11:22.600 also inherits nations. 00:11:22.779 --> 00:11:23.460 It's verse 8. 00:11:23.620 --> 00:11:23.720 It says, 00:11:23.800 --> 00:11:24.700 I will make the nations 00:11:24.700 --> 00:11:25.300 your heritage 00:11:25.300 --> 00:11:26.580 and the ends of the earth 00:11:26.580 --> 00:11:27.700 your possession. 00:11:28.500 --> 00:11:29.259 And if you look at 00:11:29.259 --> 00:11:30.160 the book of Acts, 00:11:30.519 --> 00:11:31.620 it chronicles how 00:11:31.620 --> 00:11:32.920 the gospel of Jesus Christ 00:11:32.920 --> 00:11:34.279 goes from Jerusalem 00:11:34.279 --> 00:11:35.240 to Judea and Samaria 00:11:35.240 --> 00:11:35.860 and to the ends 00:11:35.860 --> 00:11:36.299 of the earth. 00:11:36.399 --> 00:11:37.519 So he goes to all nations. 00:11:37.899 --> 00:11:38.679 Christ inherits 00:11:38.679 --> 00:11:39.519 all the nations 00:11:39.519 --> 00:11:40.379 because he reigns 00:11:40.379 --> 00:11:41.899 over the entire universe. 00:11:42.559 --> 00:11:43.220 And then finally, 00:11:43.319 --> 00:11:43.919 God promises, 00:11:44.500 --> 00:11:45.459 you shall break them 00:11:45.459 --> 00:11:46.559 with a rod of iron 00:11:46.559 --> 00:11:47.779 and dash them in pieces 00:11:47.779 --> 00:11:48.879 like a potter's vessel. 00:11:49.600 --> 00:11:52.000 This is a really powerful image 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:53.860 of unbreakable iron 00:11:53.860 --> 00:11:54.879 shattering something 00:11:54.879 --> 00:11:55.879 that's weak and brittle 00:11:55.879 --> 00:11:56.720 like pottery. 00:11:57.039 --> 00:11:57.220 I mean, 00:11:57.279 --> 00:11:58.059 when you take an iron 00:11:58.059 --> 00:11:58.659 to pottery, 00:11:58.839 --> 00:11:59.799 you know what's going to break. 00:12:00.259 --> 00:12:01.519 And that's Jesus. 00:12:01.879 --> 00:12:03.439 He destroys his enemies. 00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:04.720 And even though 00:12:04.720 --> 00:12:06.180 he died on the cross 00:12:06.180 --> 00:12:06.860 and that seemed, 00:12:07.040 --> 00:12:07.820 appeared to be 00:12:07.820 --> 00:12:08.580 like a defeat, 00:12:09.080 --> 00:12:10.200 yet he was triumphing 00:12:10.200 --> 00:12:11.460 over sin and death. 00:12:11.620 --> 00:12:12.580 He was defeating 00:12:12.580 --> 00:12:13.360 his enemies 00:12:13.360 --> 00:12:14.920 because the true enemy 00:12:14.920 --> 00:12:16.040 is the world 00:12:16.040 --> 00:12:16.860 flesh and the devil, 00:12:17.080 --> 00:12:17.260 right? 00:12:17.440 --> 00:12:19.760 It's not ultimately 00:12:19.760 --> 00:12:20.680 the people, 00:12:20.940 --> 00:12:21.800 but it's the world 00:12:21.800 --> 00:12:22.660 flesh and the devil 00:12:22.660 --> 00:12:24.300 that are the enemies 00:12:24.300 --> 00:12:24.780 of God 00:12:24.780 --> 00:12:26.480 that lead people astray, 00:12:26.640 --> 00:12:27.320 that lead people 00:12:27.320 --> 00:12:27.980 in this rebellion 00:12:27.980 --> 00:12:28.680 against God. 00:12:29.100 --> 00:12:29.600 And Christ 00:12:29.600 --> 00:12:31.180 definitively destroys 00:12:31.180 --> 00:12:32.420 and defeats 00:12:32.420 --> 00:12:32.880 the enemies 00:12:32.879 --> 00:12:33.580 sin and death. 00:12:35.100 --> 00:12:36.019 And that's, 00:12:37.019 --> 00:12:38.080 and so Christ 00:12:38.080 --> 00:12:39.259 is the ultimate 00:12:39.259 --> 00:12:40.120 anointed one. 00:12:40.200 --> 00:12:40.899 So anointed one, 00:12:41.019 --> 00:12:41.439 actually Christ 00:12:41.439 --> 00:12:42.399 means anointed one, 00:12:42.559 --> 00:12:42.720 right? 00:12:42.779 --> 00:12:43.639 And he's the ultimate 00:12:43.639 --> 00:12:44.240 anointed one 00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:44.740 in view 00:12:44.740 --> 00:12:46.080 as this passage 00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:47.860 was used 00:12:47.860 --> 00:12:48.500 in the coronation 00:12:48.500 --> 00:12:50.600 of Israelite kings. 00:12:51.019 --> 00:12:52.019 It envisioned 00:12:52.019 --> 00:12:52.539 the time 00:12:52.539 --> 00:12:53.360 when the ultimate king, 00:12:53.439 --> 00:12:53.820 the ultimate 00:12:53.820 --> 00:12:54.500 anointed one 00:12:54.500 --> 00:12:55.100 would come. 00:12:56.360 --> 00:12:56.940 And then verses 00:12:56.940 --> 00:12:58.179 10 to 12 00:12:58.179 --> 00:12:59.519 conclude this passage. 00:12:59.740 --> 00:12:59.960 It says, 00:12:59.960 --> 00:13:00.920 Now therefore, 00:13:01.080 --> 00:13:01.540 O kings, 00:13:01.620 --> 00:13:02.280 be wise, 00:13:02.420 --> 00:13:03.100 be warned, 00:13:03.259 --> 00:13:04.320 O rulers of the earth. 00:13:04.860 --> 00:13:05.720 Serve the Lord 00:13:05.720 --> 00:13:06.379 with fear 00:13:06.379 --> 00:13:06.960 and rejoice 00:13:06.960 --> 00:13:07.780 with trembling. 00:13:08.320 --> 00:13:09.040 Kiss the son, 00:13:09.460 --> 00:13:10.259 lest he be angry 00:13:10.259 --> 00:13:10.980 and you perish 00:13:10.980 --> 00:13:11.400 in the way, 00:13:11.480 --> 00:13:12.060 for his wrath 00:13:12.060 --> 00:13:13.000 is quickly kindled. 00:13:14.360 --> 00:13:15.100 Blessed are all 00:13:15.100 --> 00:13:16.360 who take refuge 00:13:16.360 --> 00:13:17.019 in him. 00:13:17.019 --> 00:13:19.039 the language 00:13:19.039 --> 00:13:20.079 of kiss the son 00:13:20.079 --> 00:13:21.279 means be subject 00:13:21.279 --> 00:13:21.620 to him. 00:13:21.819 --> 00:13:23.159 You kiss loyalty. 00:13:23.500 --> 00:13:24.059 You kiss 00:13:24.059 --> 00:13:27.399 your suzerain king, 00:13:27.480 --> 00:13:28.399 the king that reigns 00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:28.840 over you. 00:13:28.899 --> 00:13:29.579 And he's basically 00:13:29.579 --> 00:13:30.679 calling his earthly kings 00:13:30.679 --> 00:13:31.980 to become vassal kings 00:13:31.980 --> 00:13:33.279 as kings who are subject 00:13:33.279 --> 00:13:34.639 to this high king. 00:13:36.079 --> 00:13:38.120 And because Christ 00:13:38.120 --> 00:13:40.199 reigns, 00:13:40.399 --> 00:13:41.759 even in our embattlement 00:13:41.759 --> 00:13:43.059 because Christ is enthroned, 00:13:43.199 --> 00:13:44.759 because God is enthroned, 00:13:44.759 --> 00:13:46.700 those who take refuge 00:13:46.700 --> 00:13:47.779 in him are blessed. 00:13:48.299 --> 00:13:48.919 So he concludes, 00:13:49.039 --> 00:13:49.899 Blessed are all 00:13:49.899 --> 00:13:51.740 who take refuge 00:13:51.740 --> 00:13:52.360 in him. 00:13:53.419 --> 00:13:54.179 And so if we think 00:13:54.179 --> 00:13:54.779 about that, 00:13:55.159 --> 00:13:56.980 we need to apply 00:13:56.980 --> 00:13:57.759 this to our lives. 00:13:57.879 --> 00:13:58.580 In a way, 00:13:58.700 --> 00:13:59.539 think of our world, 00:13:59.819 --> 00:14:00.399 our lives, 00:14:00.600 --> 00:14:01.879 as kind of 00:14:01.879 --> 00:14:02.799 a virtual reality. 00:14:03.080 --> 00:14:03.259 I mean, 00:14:03.500 --> 00:14:04.899 it seems like 00:14:04.899 --> 00:14:06.159 the world we live in 00:14:06.159 --> 00:14:07.379 is real, 00:14:07.519 --> 00:14:07.960 it's raw, 00:14:08.059 --> 00:14:09.200 that's what's most real 00:14:09.200 --> 00:14:10.340 in our lives sometimes. 00:14:10.899 --> 00:14:11.620 But really, 00:14:11.860 --> 00:14:13.220 things are not 00:14:13.220 --> 00:14:14.220 as they seem. 00:14:14.220 --> 00:14:15.740 When we feel 00:14:15.740 --> 00:14:16.720 oppressed by the 00:14:16.720 --> 00:14:17.340 daily pressures 00:14:17.340 --> 00:14:18.180 at work, 00:14:18.360 --> 00:14:19.240 where maybe they 00:14:19.240 --> 00:14:19.899 herald 00:14:19.899 --> 00:14:22.639 the values 00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:23.460 that are contrary 00:14:23.460 --> 00:14:24.940 to the values 00:14:24.940 --> 00:14:25.460 of Christ, 00:14:26.019 --> 00:14:26.960 or when 00:14:26.960 --> 00:14:29.500 we are oppressed 00:14:29.500 --> 00:14:30.379 by society 00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:31.320 where their own vision 00:14:31.320 --> 00:14:32.300 of human flourishing 00:14:32.300 --> 00:14:32.899 and goodness 00:14:32.899 --> 00:14:34.840 contradicts that of God 00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:35.860 and that of God's word, 00:14:36.200 --> 00:14:37.240 when you feel grieved 00:14:37.240 --> 00:14:38.519 by people's sinfulness, 00:14:38.639 --> 00:14:39.700 maybe your own sinfulness 00:14:39.700 --> 00:14:40.340 in your life, 00:14:40.379 --> 00:14:41.019 when you feel 00:14:41.019 --> 00:14:42.480 embattled by all the things 00:14:42.480 --> 00:14:43.139 that are going on 00:14:43.139 --> 00:14:43.759 around you 00:14:43.759 --> 00:14:44.559 and in you, 00:14:45.100 --> 00:14:46.019 we remember 00:14:46.019 --> 00:14:46.819 that Christ 00:14:46.819 --> 00:14:48.639 came to destroy 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:49.299 sin and death, 00:14:49.379 --> 00:14:50.019 that he's the one 00:14:50.019 --> 00:14:51.019 that breaks them 00:14:51.019 --> 00:14:52.100 with the rod of iron 00:14:52.100 --> 00:14:53.100 and dashes them 00:14:53.100 --> 00:14:53.620 in pieces 00:14:53.620 --> 00:14:55.100 like a potter's vessel. 00:14:56.159 --> 00:14:56.659 We have to remember 00:14:56.659 --> 00:14:57.179 that Christ, 00:14:57.319 --> 00:14:57.980 who broke the potter 00:14:57.980 --> 00:14:58.419 of sin, 00:14:58.519 --> 00:14:59.360 killed death, 00:14:59.460 --> 00:15:00.419 and he subjected 00:15:00.419 --> 00:15:01.740 the spiritual powers 00:15:01.740 --> 00:15:02.399 and authorities 00:15:02.399 --> 00:15:03.860 of the world. 00:15:04.659 --> 00:15:05.259 And that's why 00:15:05.259 --> 00:15:06.000 no matter what 00:15:06.000 --> 00:15:07.039 situation we're in, 00:15:07.159 --> 00:15:08.340 we can take refuge 00:15:08.340 --> 00:15:09.159 in God 00:15:09.159 --> 00:15:10.399 when we are embattled, 00:15:10.399 --> 00:15:11.539 because we remember 00:15:11.539 --> 00:15:12.100 that God 00:15:12.100 --> 00:15:13.340 may be enthroned 00:15:13.340 --> 00:15:15.360 as king over all. 00:15:17.199 --> 00:15:18.459 So with that in mind, 00:15:18.639 --> 00:15:20.220 let's sing, 00:15:20.399 --> 00:15:21.819 sing glorious Christ 00:15:21.819 --> 00:15:22.840 and let's begin 00:15:22.840 --> 00:15:23.240 a prayer 00:15:23.240 --> 00:15:24.379 in response to Christ. 00:15:24.860 --> 00:15:25.279 Amen. 00:15:25.279 --> 00:15:25.340 Amen. 00:15:25.340 --> 00:15:25.360 Amen. 00:15:25.360 --> 00:15:25.939 Amen. 00:15:25.939 --> 00:15:26.039 Amen. 00:15:26.039 --> 00:15:26.220 Amen. 00:15:26.220 --> 00:15:27.220 Amen. 00:15:27.220 --> 00:15:27.279 Amen. 00:15:27.279 --> 00:15:27.340 Amen. 00:15:27.340 --> 00:15:27.360 Amen. 00:15:27.360 --> 00:15:27.379 Amen. 00:15:27.379 --> 00:15:27.779 Amen. 00:15:27.779 --> 00:15:27.879 Amen. 00:15:27.879 --> 00:15:27.899 Amen. 00:15:27.899 --> 00:15:27.919 Amen. 00:15:27.919 --> 00:15:27.959 Amen. 00:15:27.959 --> 00:15:28.019 Amen. 00:15:28.019 --> 00:15:28.039 Amen.