WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.820 Good afternoon everyone, as Paul said, I'm Ian and I'm delighted to join in the welcome you've already had at our Oly's service this morning. 00:00:08.679 --> 00:00:16.839 I want to start with a short quiz, test your memories a bit maybe, and our quiz is about national anthems. 00:00:17.760 --> 00:00:23.420 Now most of us who are certainly interested in sport would recognise the tunes of quite a few national anthems. 00:00:24.360 --> 00:00:35.480 But alongside tunes, most and not all of them also have words, words that are designed to stir us up, to fill us with patriotic pride, and perhaps to strike fear into the hands of our opponents. 00:00:36.300 --> 00:00:42.719 But in practice, certainly if you're a Brit, you probably don't know much more than the words of the first verse of your own national anthems. 00:00:42.719 --> 00:00:49.040 So we're going to have a quiz about national anthems, and you have to identify which country's national anthem it is. 00:00:49.100 --> 00:00:51.000 No prizes, just shout out the answers. 00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:54.740 As a clue, all of them are associated with people in this church. 00:00:54.740 --> 00:00:59.380 People in this church who come from all the countries that we're going to put up on the screen. 00:01:00.740 --> 00:01:01.659 So here's the first one. 00:01:01.759 --> 00:01:08.359 Blessed with victory and peace, may the heaven-rescued land praise the power that hath made and preserved us and nation. 00:01:09.420 --> 00:01:12.299 Any idea of what country that is national anthem of? 00:01:13.579 --> 00:01:15.500 If we don't get this one, we're going to be really striking later. 00:01:18.939 --> 00:01:19.659 Any thoughts? 00:01:19.659 --> 00:01:19.700 Any thoughts? 00:01:21.000 --> 00:01:23.340 Okay. 00:01:24.959 --> 00:01:26.420 It's the Star Spangled Banner. 00:01:26.560 --> 00:01:28.359 It's the anthem of the United States. 00:01:31.960 --> 00:01:32.700 Second one. 00:01:33.400 --> 00:01:34.939 God bless us, your children. 00:01:35.120 --> 00:01:39.480 God, we ask you to protect our nation, intervene, and end all conflicts. 00:01:40.500 --> 00:01:42.700 I'm not sure the people from that country are here. 00:01:42.960 --> 00:01:43.439 Anyone? 00:01:46.260 --> 00:01:46.740 Okay. 00:01:46.739 --> 00:01:48.019 South Africa. 00:01:48.019 --> 00:01:48.059 South Africa. 00:01:48.299 --> 00:01:52.099 It's the Rainbow Nation part of the national anthem of South Africa. 00:01:52.199 --> 00:01:52.959 Translated to English. 00:01:53.079 --> 00:01:55.979 South African anthem is in about four different languages, I think. 00:01:56.339 --> 00:01:58.939 This is one of the parts of the verse translated to English. 00:02:00.539 --> 00:02:00.899 Okay. 00:02:00.979 --> 00:02:01.640 Number three. 00:02:01.640 --> 00:02:04.900 We swear to set free the land of our birth. 00:02:05.379 --> 00:02:06.739 United for God. 00:02:07.099 --> 00:02:08.680 Who can overcome us? 00:02:11.960 --> 00:02:13.400 I don't think anyone knows their national anthem. 00:02:13.500 --> 00:02:14.420 That's an Italian one. 00:02:15.780 --> 00:02:18.520 A rising tune, but it's several verses in. 00:02:19.280 --> 00:02:19.560 Right. 00:02:19.939 --> 00:02:20.780 Hope we get this one. 00:02:22.240 --> 00:02:23.620 O Lord, our God, arise. 00:02:23.800 --> 00:02:26.180 Scatter her enemies and make them fall. 00:02:27.920 --> 00:02:28.900 UK, yes. 00:02:30.400 --> 00:02:32.460 At least someone knows the second verse of the UK anthem. 00:02:33.180 --> 00:02:33.400 Right. 00:02:33.439 --> 00:02:34.379 That was just a bit of fun. 00:02:34.900 --> 00:02:40.099 But I want to think about what could be thought of as a Jewish national anthem. 00:02:40.240 --> 00:02:41.099 Say, Psalm 2. 00:02:41.099 --> 00:02:46.819 If you are living in the few hundred years before Jesus was born, then Psalm 2 has many 00:02:46.819 --> 00:02:50.439 of the same kind of features as the anthems we've been thinking about. 00:02:50.879 --> 00:02:54.740 If you are noticing the words, rather than just think what country they were, all of the 00:02:54.740 --> 00:03:00.539 words that we put up were countries saying, God is on our side and we will be victorious 00:03:00.539 --> 00:03:02.939 in one way or another. 00:03:03.579 --> 00:03:06.159 And that very much is what Psalm 2 is about. 00:03:06.159 --> 00:03:12.800 It's saying God is on the side of his people and his king, king of Israel, and we will be 00:03:12.800 --> 00:03:14.460 victorious through him. 00:03:14.519 --> 00:03:16.599 It's a psalm of victory. 00:03:17.840 --> 00:03:21.659 It's also, like Psalm 1, an introduction to the book of Psalms. 00:03:22.240 --> 00:03:25.240 Psalm 1 and Psalm 2 may originally have been just one psalm. 00:03:25.319 --> 00:03:29.379 You notice Psalm 1 starts with, blesses the man who does not walk in the counsel of the 00:03:29.379 --> 00:03:29.620 wicked. 00:03:30.199 --> 00:03:34.219 And Psalm 2 ends with, blessed are all those who take refuge in him. 00:03:34.219 --> 00:03:36.319 And these two verses bracket the two psalms. 00:03:36.719 --> 00:03:39.000 They may have been one to begin with. 00:03:39.599 --> 00:03:43.719 But there are significant differences between Psalm 1 and Psalm 2. 00:03:44.800 --> 00:03:50.000 Psalm 1 is very much about me and my relationship with God. 00:03:50.080 --> 00:03:53.919 It's about the individual, the man who walks in God's ways. 00:03:54.840 --> 00:03:56.819 Psalm 2 is very much more about the nation. 00:03:56.960 --> 00:03:59.539 Nations as represented by kings and by rulers. 00:03:59.539 --> 00:04:06.299 But it's more of a corporate psalm about the people of God and about the enemies of God. 00:04:07.579 --> 00:04:10.180 Psalm 1 is very much my relationship with God. 00:04:10.620 --> 00:04:12.439 It is walking in God's way. 00:04:12.840 --> 00:04:14.759 It is recognizing God. 00:04:15.500 --> 00:04:18.379 Psalm 2 is about my relationship with the king. 00:04:18.980 --> 00:04:22.300 The king of Israel, we'll think about in a few minutes what it originally meant. 00:04:22.680 --> 00:04:26.219 For us, looking forward, Jesus, our king. 00:04:26.220 --> 00:04:32.280 And then Psalm 1, as we look forward, as we think of a New Testament context, 00:04:32.600 --> 00:04:34.880 Psalm 1, as Graham presented to us last week, 00:04:35.300 --> 00:04:39.220 Jesus is the perfect example of someone who lives like Psalm 1, 00:04:39.320 --> 00:04:41.520 what Graham called Mr. Psalm 1. 00:04:41.780 --> 00:04:46.380 If we want to know what it's like to live the way that the psalmist tells us to, 00:04:46.680 --> 00:04:50.240 we look at Jesus and he shows that perfectly. 00:04:51.400 --> 00:04:56.000 Psalm 2 much more directly points forward to Jesus himself. 00:04:56.220 --> 00:05:02.100 And tells us that Jesus is the one whom we have to worship and we have to serve. 00:05:02.820 --> 00:05:05.720 It's the first of what are quite often called the Messianic Psalms. 00:05:05.800 --> 00:05:08.100 There are quite a number of them scattered through the book of Psalms. 00:05:08.580 --> 00:05:11.640 There are songs that look forward, when we look back at them as Christians, 00:05:11.640 --> 00:05:14.520 we can see these are about Jesus. 00:05:15.540 --> 00:05:19.420 And that's not just us thinking that or putting two and two together. 00:05:19.640 --> 00:05:25.740 Psalm 2 is quoted many times in the New Testament as referring to Jesus. 00:05:26.220 --> 00:05:29.440 So although there was an original context, which we'll cover briefly, 00:05:29.880 --> 00:05:33.980 when we look at Psalm 2 as Christians, as those who know the Lord Jesus, 00:05:34.420 --> 00:05:38.500 we look back and see we can see a lot about Jesus in this psalm. 00:05:38.560 --> 00:05:42.020 He's pointing forward to him as the ultimate king, 00:05:42.260 --> 00:05:46.280 as the ultimate one who is the Son of God. 00:05:46.960 --> 00:05:49.800 And let's bear that in mind as we go through it. 00:05:50.320 --> 00:05:51.640 Now Psalm divides up very easily. 00:05:51.639 --> 00:05:56.419 There are four paragraphs of three verses each, or perhaps four verses because it's a song, 00:05:56.740 --> 00:06:01.899 four sections of three verses each that we can look at. 00:06:02.699 --> 00:06:07.479 And to make things easy to remember, I've got a heading for each that begins with R. 00:06:08.279 --> 00:06:11.459 So the first three verses are about rebellion. 00:06:12.379 --> 00:06:16.620 There's a picture here of nations rising up against God's king 00:06:16.620 --> 00:06:20.959 and of trying to overthrow him and to win their freedom. 00:06:22.199 --> 00:06:25.620 Now some people think Psalm 2 originally was a coronation psalm. 00:06:25.939 --> 00:06:28.780 That it was one that would have been sung when a new king, perhaps Solomon, 00:06:28.920 --> 00:06:31.879 or perhaps one of the later kings, when a new king was crowned. 00:06:32.180 --> 00:06:35.220 And as there's always lots of pomp and ceremony to coronation, 00:06:35.579 --> 00:06:38.920 this might have been one of the songs that was sung. 00:06:38.920 --> 00:06:43.020 And that might be quite relevant as we think about these verses. 00:06:43.800 --> 00:06:48.879 One thing that sometimes happens when there's a new king in one of the powers of the world 00:06:48.879 --> 00:06:52.600 is that those who are under that power and perhaps resent it think, 00:06:52.900 --> 00:06:56.080 here might be an opportunity for us to win our freedom. 00:06:56.620 --> 00:06:59.840 The old king has been very powerful and has trodden us down, 00:07:00.060 --> 00:07:02.319 but this new king might not be as strong. 00:07:02.319 --> 00:07:08.120 We can take our chance and see if we can defeat him and win our freedom. 00:07:08.920 --> 00:07:11.360 In a slightly more everyday context, 00:07:11.780 --> 00:07:14.240 sometimes when children at school get a new teacher, 00:07:14.660 --> 00:07:18.000 they think, let's just test them out and see how far they'll go. 00:07:18.080 --> 00:07:21.240 Let's be a little bit naughty and see if they clamp down on it 00:07:21.240 --> 00:07:24.319 or see if they're a bit more lax than our previous teacher 00:07:24.319 --> 00:07:26.960 and we can take advantage of that. 00:07:27.139 --> 00:07:29.660 That's possibly the kind of thought that's here. 00:07:29.660 --> 00:07:33.379 New king, new opportunities for those who oppose him 00:07:33.379 --> 00:07:37.259 to rebel and to take their stand against him. 00:07:37.259 --> 00:07:39.699 But the psalmist says, 00:07:40.180 --> 00:07:41.439 why do they do that? 00:07:41.879 --> 00:07:43.599 Because it's pointless. 00:07:44.480 --> 00:07:50.659 They're never going to be victorious against the great king who God has appointed. 00:07:51.980 --> 00:07:53.599 There's a big difference between this anthem, 00:07:53.699 --> 00:07:54.480 we teach us that, 00:07:54.579 --> 00:07:55.719 and most national anthems. 00:07:55.800 --> 00:07:56.860 Most national anthems, 00:07:57.139 --> 00:07:58.519 we hope God is on our side 00:07:58.519 --> 00:08:01.439 and we sing in some assurance that God's on our side. 00:08:02.060 --> 00:08:03.819 When it came to the Jewish nation, 00:08:03.819 --> 00:08:05.959 they knew that they were God's special people 00:08:05.959 --> 00:08:07.819 and that if they were obedient, 00:08:08.339 --> 00:08:10.040 they would be triumphant. 00:08:10.519 --> 00:08:11.800 When we come to the Lord Jesus, 00:08:12.120 --> 00:08:14.000 we know that he is God's son 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:17.519 and that God will put everything under his feet. 00:08:17.620 --> 00:08:21.659 So standing against him ultimately is futile. 00:08:22.779 --> 00:08:23.860 In the New Testament, 00:08:24.039 --> 00:08:25.779 right at the beginning of the book of Acts, 00:08:25.959 --> 00:08:27.399 there was a time of persecution. 00:08:28.439 --> 00:08:30.519 And Peter and John were thrown into prison 00:08:30.519 --> 00:08:32.879 and were eventually released. 00:08:32.980 --> 00:08:34.319 And the disciples got together 00:08:34.319 --> 00:08:35.919 and they had a big prayer meeting. 00:08:35.980 --> 00:08:36.879 It was a wonderful prayer meeting. 00:08:36.980 --> 00:08:37.519 At the end of it, 00:08:37.819 --> 00:08:39.079 the whole building shook. 00:08:39.480 --> 00:08:41.059 But as part of that prayer meeting, 00:08:41.179 --> 00:08:44.259 they quoted these words from Psalm 2. 00:08:44.399 --> 00:08:46.139 Why do the nations conspire 00:08:46.139 --> 00:08:48.939 and the people plot in vain? 00:08:49.939 --> 00:08:50.779 And they said this, 00:08:50.840 --> 00:08:52.179 Herod and Pontius Pilate 00:08:52.179 --> 00:08:53.759 met together with the Gentiles 00:08:53.759 --> 00:08:55.519 and the people of Israel in this city 00:08:55.519 --> 00:08:58.139 to conspire against your holy servant, 00:08:58.340 --> 00:09:00.579 Jesus, whom you anointed. 00:09:01.279 --> 00:09:02.720 So they looked at Psalm 2 00:09:02.720 --> 00:09:03.639 and they said, 00:09:03.779 --> 00:09:05.579 Ultimately, it's about people 00:09:05.579 --> 00:09:08.500 who are conspiring against Jesus. 00:09:09.179 --> 00:09:10.500 And they knew that ultimately 00:09:10.500 --> 00:09:12.860 they wouldn't be successful. 00:09:13.919 --> 00:09:16.220 So how can we translate that to our day? 00:09:16.279 --> 00:09:18.299 Well, there are many places in the world today 00:09:18.299 --> 00:09:19.740 where if you're a Christian, 00:09:19.980 --> 00:09:21.579 you're in great danger. 00:09:22.199 --> 00:09:23.379 And our brothers and sisters 00:09:23.379 --> 00:09:24.939 in many foreign lands 00:09:24.939 --> 00:09:26.779 could probably take these verses 00:09:26.779 --> 00:09:29.139 and they would be very real to them 00:09:29.139 --> 00:09:31.220 because they see their rulers 00:09:31.220 --> 00:09:34.679 conspiring against the Christian faith 00:09:34.679 --> 00:09:36.340 and against the Lord Jesus. 00:09:36.519 --> 00:09:37.659 Countries like North Korea, 00:09:38.279 --> 00:09:39.679 China still to some extent, 00:09:40.039 --> 00:09:41.080 countries in the Middle East, 00:09:41.179 --> 00:09:42.820 a lot of places where Christians, 00:09:43.240 --> 00:09:44.580 if they take a stand for Jesus, 00:09:45.059 --> 00:09:47.580 feel that they're in real danger. 00:09:48.039 --> 00:09:49.240 Now, we probably don't feel that. 00:09:49.659 --> 00:09:51.759 I don't think any of us worries too much 00:09:51.759 --> 00:09:53.519 about physical violence against us 00:09:53.519 --> 00:09:56.120 if we take a stand for the Lord Jesus. 00:09:56.960 --> 00:09:58.159 But yet in our country, 00:09:58.159 --> 00:09:59.759 there is still an undercurrent 00:09:59.759 --> 00:10:01.659 against Christian things. 00:10:01.720 --> 00:10:02.299 I was really encouraged 00:10:02.299 --> 00:10:03.580 by what Scott said earlier 00:10:03.580 --> 00:10:07.000 about that atheism hasn't got the same hold 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:09.700 that it used to among many students. 00:10:10.200 --> 00:10:11.100 But there's no doubt 00:10:11.100 --> 00:10:12.720 that there is still, 00:10:13.600 --> 00:10:15.220 among particular people, 00:10:15.460 --> 00:10:17.139 what they call the new atheists, 00:10:17.139 --> 00:10:19.360 there is a real hostility to Christianity 00:10:19.360 --> 00:10:22.439 and a tendency to mock it 00:10:22.439 --> 00:10:23.819 and to say it's irrelevant 00:10:23.819 --> 00:10:26.419 and we should do away with it 00:10:26.419 --> 00:10:28.659 and have nothing to do with it. 00:10:29.199 --> 00:10:30.679 It's not persecution in the sense 00:10:30.679 --> 00:10:31.620 that our brothers and sisters 00:10:31.620 --> 00:10:33.559 in other countries experience, 00:10:34.220 --> 00:10:35.059 but nevertheless, 00:10:35.419 --> 00:10:37.679 it is people conspiring against Jesus 00:10:37.679 --> 00:10:39.379 and against the gospel 00:10:39.379 --> 00:10:41.840 and seeking to bring it down. 00:10:42.220 --> 00:10:43.259 It's really good to know 00:10:43.259 --> 00:10:44.379 in these circumstances 00:10:44.379 --> 00:10:45.919 that we have a God 00:10:45.919 --> 00:10:47.139 who is all-powerful 00:10:47.139 --> 00:10:48.379 and that ultimately 00:10:48.379 --> 00:10:49.419 he will prevail 00:10:49.419 --> 00:10:52.419 and that Jesus is the only one 00:10:52.419 --> 00:10:54.059 who can bring real peace 00:10:54.059 --> 00:10:57.200 and real satisfaction in life. 00:10:57.620 --> 00:10:59.439 So there's a rebellion 00:10:59.439 --> 00:11:00.860 to begin with. 00:11:02.799 --> 00:11:05.299 I've got verses 3 to 4 to 6, 00:11:05.539 --> 00:11:06.080 reaction. 00:11:07.059 --> 00:11:08.460 So God sees this rebellion 00:11:08.460 --> 00:11:10.220 and he reacts against it 00:11:10.220 --> 00:11:11.820 perhaps in a surprising way. 00:11:12.200 --> 00:11:12.879 He laughs. 00:11:12.879 --> 00:11:14.399 I don't often think, 00:11:14.480 --> 00:11:14.899 I suspect, 00:11:15.120 --> 00:11:16.399 of God laughing, 00:11:17.059 --> 00:11:18.679 but it is, I think, 00:11:18.799 --> 00:11:19.779 the thought here 00:11:19.779 --> 00:11:21.139 that the suggestion 00:11:21.139 --> 00:11:22.200 these people are making 00:11:22.200 --> 00:11:23.500 is laughable. 00:11:23.620 --> 00:11:25.259 That would be quite a good expression 00:11:25.259 --> 00:11:28.039 we would use in our land today. 00:11:28.620 --> 00:11:29.480 It is laughable 00:11:29.480 --> 00:11:30.519 that they should think 00:11:30.519 --> 00:11:32.539 that they could stand against God 00:11:32.539 --> 00:11:34.100 and against his chosen people 00:11:34.100 --> 00:11:37.519 and that they could emerge victorious. 00:11:38.919 --> 00:11:40.519 There's a good Scots expression 00:11:40.519 --> 00:11:41.779 that might slightly describe 00:11:41.779 --> 00:11:42.980 what God's reaction would be. 00:11:43.100 --> 00:11:44.079 You and whose army? 00:11:44.399 --> 00:11:45.539 Someone tries to come against you. 00:11:45.539 --> 00:11:46.379 You and whose army 00:11:46.379 --> 00:11:48.019 is going to beat me? 00:11:48.600 --> 00:11:49.139 Or this evening 00:11:49.139 --> 00:11:50.059 we'll be looking at the story 00:11:50.059 --> 00:11:51.000 of David and Goliath. 00:11:51.100 --> 00:11:52.439 Nilo will be taking us through that. 00:11:52.919 --> 00:11:54.000 You remember when David 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:55.220 came up against Goliath? 00:11:55.379 --> 00:11:57.139 Goliath's reaction was, 00:11:57.299 --> 00:11:58.179 am I a dog 00:11:58.179 --> 00:11:59.639 that you come to be with sticks? 00:12:00.259 --> 00:12:01.500 He thought there was no chance 00:12:01.500 --> 00:12:02.339 that David could beat him. 00:12:02.399 --> 00:12:03.360 Now Goliath was wrong. 00:12:04.039 --> 00:12:05.779 But God is absolutely right. 00:12:05.779 --> 00:12:08.059 As he sees the people coming 00:12:08.059 --> 00:12:09.559 and opposing him, 00:12:09.759 --> 00:12:11.419 he knows that ultimately 00:12:11.419 --> 00:12:13.819 he will be triumphant. 00:12:14.839 --> 00:12:16.879 But it goes beyond laughter 00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:18.480 and scoffing. 00:12:19.259 --> 00:12:20.639 And God then rebukes them. 00:12:21.199 --> 00:12:22.159 He terrifies them, 00:12:22.399 --> 00:12:23.579 says the psalmist. 00:12:24.120 --> 00:12:26.039 And then he installs his king 00:12:26.039 --> 00:12:27.259 on Zion. 00:12:28.079 --> 00:12:29.860 So God says to these people, 00:12:30.279 --> 00:12:31.039 my reaction, 00:12:31.860 --> 00:12:33.059 there's no way you're going 00:12:33.059 --> 00:12:34.579 to end up victorious. 00:12:35.479 --> 00:12:36.859 And you're going to have 00:12:36.859 --> 00:12:38.500 to consider the consequences 00:12:38.500 --> 00:12:40.579 of what you're doing. 00:12:40.719 --> 00:12:42.159 I have installed my king 00:12:42.159 --> 00:12:44.039 and he is going to be the one 00:12:44.039 --> 00:12:46.059 who is my judge. 00:12:46.779 --> 00:12:47.579 Now for these three headings, 00:12:47.659 --> 00:12:48.839 I've got a verse 00:12:48.839 --> 00:12:49.719 from the book of Acts 00:12:49.719 --> 00:12:50.619 that we're going to look at. 00:12:50.919 --> 00:12:52.039 And the next verse 00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:53.859 is something that Paul said. 00:12:54.479 --> 00:12:55.939 Paul, when he went to Athens 00:12:55.939 --> 00:12:57.719 and he saw everything 00:12:57.719 --> 00:12:58.479 was happening there, 00:12:58.599 --> 00:12:59.699 preached a great sermon 00:12:59.699 --> 00:13:01.019 up on Mars Hill 00:13:01.019 --> 00:13:02.719 talking about the greatness of God. 00:13:02.720 --> 00:13:04.540 but his nearness to us. 00:13:04.980 --> 00:13:05.879 And then he talks about 00:13:05.879 --> 00:13:06.720 the Lord Jesus. 00:13:07.440 --> 00:13:08.399 And he says of God, 00:13:08.519 --> 00:13:09.460 he has set a day 00:13:09.460 --> 00:13:11.120 when he will judge the world 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:12.040 with justice 00:13:12.040 --> 00:13:15.100 by the man he has appointed. 00:13:16.040 --> 00:13:16.960 That if we're looking forward 00:13:16.960 --> 00:13:18.200 is not explicitly there, 00:13:18.540 --> 00:13:19.899 but that is what this means 00:13:19.899 --> 00:13:20.680 when it says, 00:13:20.800 --> 00:13:21.879 I've installed my king 00:13:21.879 --> 00:13:22.460 on Zion, 00:13:22.960 --> 00:13:24.300 my holy hill. 00:13:24.820 --> 00:13:25.779 God has set a day 00:13:25.779 --> 00:13:26.860 when we will all have to give 00:13:26.860 --> 00:13:27.899 account of ourselves 00:13:27.899 --> 00:13:29.040 before Jesus. 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:30.659 And he is the one 00:13:30.659 --> 00:13:31.539 who will be 00:13:31.539 --> 00:13:33.399 the ultimate judge. 00:13:34.059 --> 00:13:35.500 And how we will be judged 00:13:35.500 --> 00:13:36.839 will be on our response 00:13:36.839 --> 00:13:37.459 to him 00:13:37.459 --> 00:13:39.099 and whether our trust 00:13:39.099 --> 00:13:40.379 is in him 00:13:40.379 --> 00:13:40.879 as we'll see 00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:41.679 as we go down 00:13:41.679 --> 00:13:43.259 through the psalm. 00:13:43.599 --> 00:13:45.139 So there is reaction. 00:13:47.379 --> 00:13:48.459 Our third R 00:13:48.459 --> 00:13:49.639 is recognition. 00:13:51.019 --> 00:13:51.179 Now, 00:13:51.399 --> 00:13:52.019 important to note 00:13:52.019 --> 00:13:52.719 at this point 00:13:52.719 --> 00:13:53.559 in the psalm, 00:13:53.860 --> 00:13:54.719 the speaker changes. 00:13:54.720 --> 00:13:57.779 So there's been a bit 00:13:57.779 --> 00:13:58.980 of God speaking 00:13:58.980 --> 00:13:59.960 in verse 6, 00:14:00.040 --> 00:14:00.820 but mostly it's been 00:14:00.820 --> 00:14:02.060 the narrator up to now. 00:14:02.759 --> 00:14:03.860 In verse 7, 00:14:04.080 --> 00:14:05.820 it changes to the king speaking. 00:14:05.980 --> 00:14:06.940 So we might like to think 00:14:06.940 --> 00:14:08.420 of it as Jesus speaking, 00:14:08.519 --> 00:14:09.040 but only speaking 00:14:09.040 --> 00:14:09.740 very briefly 00:14:09.740 --> 00:14:10.920 and then quoting 00:14:10.920 --> 00:14:12.540 the words of God 00:14:12.540 --> 00:14:13.440 to him. 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:15.000 So these verses, 00:14:15.160 --> 00:14:16.340 verses 7 to 9, 00:14:16.620 --> 00:14:18.000 are about the recognition 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:19.480 that God gives 00:14:19.480 --> 00:14:21.019 to the king. 00:14:22.060 --> 00:14:22.639 To the king 00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:24.879 in Old Testament times 00:14:24.879 --> 00:14:26.019 to the king, 00:14:26.460 --> 00:14:27.000 Jesus. 00:14:28.279 --> 00:14:29.120 In the book of 00:14:29.120 --> 00:14:30.139 2 Samuel, 00:14:30.840 --> 00:14:32.480 David is the king 00:14:32.480 --> 00:14:33.240 and he wants to build 00:14:33.240 --> 00:14:34.279 a temple for God 00:14:34.279 --> 00:14:34.860 and God says, 00:14:35.000 --> 00:14:36.259 no, it's not your job 00:14:36.259 --> 00:14:36.960 because you've been 00:14:36.960 --> 00:14:37.860 a man of war. 00:14:38.139 --> 00:14:38.879 It's your son 00:14:38.879 --> 00:14:40.080 who will become the king. 00:14:40.519 --> 00:14:41.659 But he also says, 00:14:41.759 --> 00:14:43.080 I will be his father 00:14:43.080 --> 00:14:44.679 and he will be 00:14:44.679 --> 00:14:46.179 my son. 00:14:46.799 --> 00:14:47.419 And that's very much 00:14:47.419 --> 00:14:48.340 the thought that's here 00:14:48.340 --> 00:14:48.819 if we look in 00:14:48.819 --> 00:14:50.279 the Old Testament context 00:14:50.279 --> 00:14:51.899 that God has 00:14:51.899 --> 00:14:52.799 used the king 00:14:52.799 --> 00:14:54.600 almost as an adopted son 00:14:54.600 --> 00:14:56.199 as his representative 00:14:56.199 --> 00:14:58.220 here on earth. 00:14:58.959 --> 00:14:59.720 But of course, 00:14:59.919 --> 00:15:01.000 as we look forward, 00:15:01.120 --> 00:15:02.000 as we think about 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:03.039 the New Testament, 00:15:03.199 --> 00:15:04.419 the Christian context, 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:06.039 we think of Jesus 00:15:06.039 --> 00:15:08.340 as the son of God. 00:15:08.799 --> 00:15:09.759 Many times 00:15:09.759 --> 00:15:11.240 through the Gospels, 00:15:11.779 --> 00:15:12.879 Jesus is referred to 00:15:12.879 --> 00:15:13.840 as the son of God 00:15:13.840 --> 00:15:15.079 or God indeed 00:15:15.079 --> 00:15:16.279 speaks from heaven 00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:17.259 and says, 00:15:17.460 --> 00:15:18.319 this is my son 00:15:18.319 --> 00:15:20.539 with whom I am pleased. 00:15:20.539 --> 00:15:22.099 And so these verses 00:15:22.099 --> 00:15:23.939 very much point forward 00:15:23.939 --> 00:15:25.000 to Jesus. 00:15:25.500 --> 00:15:26.480 These three verses 00:15:26.480 --> 00:15:26.860 are quoted, 00:15:27.000 --> 00:15:27.179 I think, 00:15:27.259 --> 00:15:27.939 six times 00:15:27.939 --> 00:15:29.699 in the New Testament. 00:15:30.159 --> 00:15:30.740 One of them 00:15:30.740 --> 00:15:31.620 we read earlier, 00:15:32.099 --> 00:15:33.120 what Kat read to us, 00:15:33.139 --> 00:15:33.639 and here's a few 00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:34.259 couple of verses 00:15:34.259 --> 00:15:35.360 from that passage, 00:15:35.659 --> 00:15:36.319 following when 00:15:36.319 --> 00:15:37.719 it says that God 00:15:37.719 --> 00:15:38.939 has called Jesus' son, 00:15:39.439 --> 00:15:40.099 or before that, 00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:40.379 rather, 00:15:40.599 --> 00:15:41.839 we tell you the good news 00:15:41.839 --> 00:15:42.799 what God has promised 00:15:42.799 --> 00:15:43.500 our ancestors 00:15:43.500 --> 00:15:44.559 he has fulfilled 00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:45.459 for us, 00:15:45.799 --> 00:15:46.539 their children, 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:48.079 by raising up 00:15:48.080 --> 00:15:48.920 Jesus. 00:15:50.540 --> 00:15:51.660 And then he quotes 00:15:51.660 --> 00:15:53.259 from Psalm 2. 00:15:53.680 --> 00:15:54.500 In the book of Hebrews 00:15:54.500 --> 00:15:55.660 there are two quotations 00:15:55.660 --> 00:15:57.460 of the reference 00:15:57.460 --> 00:15:58.220 to Psalm 2 00:15:58.220 --> 00:15:59.900 of God's son, 00:16:00.300 --> 00:16:01.520 and one is presenting 00:16:01.520 --> 00:16:02.139 him as being 00:16:02.139 --> 00:16:03.500 so much more powerful 00:16:03.500 --> 00:16:04.920 than the angels, 00:16:05.139 --> 00:16:05.960 that none of the angels 00:16:05.960 --> 00:16:06.660 were ever called 00:16:06.660 --> 00:16:07.639 God's son, 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:08.920 and the other is 00:16:08.920 --> 00:16:09.780 in connection with him 00:16:09.780 --> 00:16:10.900 being the great high priest, 00:16:11.240 --> 00:16:12.000 the one appointed 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:13.040 by God 00:16:13.040 --> 00:16:14.360 for the priestly function, 00:16:14.800 --> 00:16:16.040 and the writer quotes 00:16:16.039 --> 00:16:17.039 from Psalm 2 00:16:17.039 --> 00:16:18.399 there as well. 00:16:19.379 --> 00:16:20.360 So we come today 00:16:20.360 --> 00:16:21.759 and we have a God 00:16:21.759 --> 00:16:23.199 who has very clearly 00:16:23.199 --> 00:16:24.459 identified for us 00:16:24.459 --> 00:16:25.439 and recognized 00:16:25.439 --> 00:16:26.539 the Lord Jesus 00:16:26.539 --> 00:16:28.699 as his son, 00:16:29.259 --> 00:16:29.860 as the one 00:16:29.860 --> 00:16:31.360 who is his representative 00:16:31.360 --> 00:16:33.439 and who always does 00:16:33.439 --> 00:16:35.699 what he wills, 00:16:36.259 --> 00:16:37.039 and the one 00:16:37.039 --> 00:16:37.419 to whom, 00:16:37.519 --> 00:16:38.419 as it says here, 00:16:38.699 --> 00:16:39.179 he has made 00:16:39.179 --> 00:16:39.740 the nations 00:16:39.740 --> 00:16:40.459 his inheritance, 00:16:41.059 --> 00:16:42.219 the end of his earth, 00:16:42.579 --> 00:16:43.299 your possession. 00:16:44.079 --> 00:16:45.120 Or as Jesus put it, 00:16:45.120 --> 00:16:45.879 all authority 00:16:45.879 --> 00:16:47.039 has been given to me 00:16:47.039 --> 00:16:47.980 in heaven 00:16:47.980 --> 00:16:50.039 and on earth. 00:16:50.720 --> 00:16:51.340 And then at the end 00:16:51.340 --> 00:16:52.179 in verse 9, 00:16:52.580 --> 00:16:53.419 there's the bit 00:16:53.419 --> 00:16:54.620 about the rule, 00:16:54.759 --> 00:16:55.600 the authority, 00:16:55.879 --> 00:16:56.860 the judgment 00:16:56.860 --> 00:16:58.080 of Jesus. 00:16:58.820 --> 00:16:59.580 You will rule them 00:16:59.580 --> 00:17:00.779 with an iron scepter, 00:17:01.120 --> 00:17:02.019 you will dash them 00:17:02.019 --> 00:17:03.700 to pieces like pottery. 00:17:04.099 --> 00:17:04.779 This picture 00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:05.140 of ruling 00:17:05.140 --> 00:17:06.059 with an iron scepter 00:17:06.059 --> 00:17:06.920 is referred to 00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:07.519 three times 00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:08.559 in the book of Revelation, 00:17:09.140 --> 00:17:09.759 all of them 00:17:09.759 --> 00:17:10.880 arguably about Jesus, 00:17:10.980 --> 00:17:11.519 one or two of them 00:17:11.519 --> 00:17:12.200 may not be, 00:17:12.619 --> 00:17:13.420 but certainly 00:17:13.420 --> 00:17:14.700 it is relevant here. 00:17:15.799 --> 00:17:16.699 Now it's quite interesting 00:17:16.699 --> 00:17:17.539 if you look 00:17:17.539 --> 00:17:19.279 at the root meaning 00:17:19.279 --> 00:17:20.079 of the words here, 00:17:20.139 --> 00:17:20.879 the word that is 00:17:20.879 --> 00:17:21.899 translated rule 00:17:21.899 --> 00:17:23.219 can also mean 00:17:23.219 --> 00:17:23.859 shepherd. 00:17:24.859 --> 00:17:25.619 And the word 00:17:25.619 --> 00:17:26.219 that's translated 00:17:26.219 --> 00:17:27.299 iron scepter, 00:17:27.639 --> 00:17:28.579 some people think 00:17:28.579 --> 00:17:29.759 has the picture 00:17:29.759 --> 00:17:30.579 not of a kind of 00:17:30.579 --> 00:17:31.559 big iron rod, 00:17:31.719 --> 00:17:32.419 but actually 00:17:32.419 --> 00:17:33.959 of a shepherd's crook. 00:17:34.719 --> 00:17:35.439 So although there's 00:17:35.439 --> 00:17:36.599 an element of judgment 00:17:36.599 --> 00:17:37.139 here, 00:17:37.500 --> 00:17:38.339 and of God 00:17:38.339 --> 00:17:39.119 standing against 00:17:39.119 --> 00:17:39.699 his enemies 00:17:39.699 --> 00:17:41.359 and condemning them, 00:17:41.959 --> 00:17:42.719 there's also 00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:43.259 an element 00:17:43.259 --> 00:17:44.100 of Jesus 00:17:44.100 --> 00:17:45.839 as the shepherd, 00:17:46.640 --> 00:17:47.579 as the one 00:17:47.579 --> 00:17:48.900 who lovingly 00:17:48.900 --> 00:17:50.079 looks after 00:17:50.079 --> 00:17:51.480 and disciplines 00:17:51.480 --> 00:17:52.700 his sheep. 00:17:53.420 --> 00:17:54.100 And for those 00:17:54.100 --> 00:17:54.440 of us 00:17:54.440 --> 00:17:55.460 who know Jesus, 00:17:55.600 --> 00:17:56.200 that discipline 00:17:56.200 --> 00:17:56.960 is an important 00:17:56.960 --> 00:17:58.720 part of our lives 00:17:58.720 --> 00:17:59.160 and the way 00:17:59.160 --> 00:18:00.279 that he shepherds us. 00:18:00.640 --> 00:18:01.279 But for those 00:18:01.279 --> 00:18:02.279 who don't know him, 00:18:02.539 --> 00:18:02.900 again, 00:18:02.980 --> 00:18:03.420 it's something 00:18:03.420 --> 00:18:03.920 that should, 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:04.660 the psalmist says, 00:18:04.740 --> 00:18:05.819 strike fear into them 00:18:05.819 --> 00:18:06.880 because he is 00:18:06.880 --> 00:18:07.400 the ruler, 00:18:07.400 --> 00:18:08.580 he is the one 00:18:08.580 --> 00:18:10.259 who will judge. 00:18:13.300 --> 00:18:13.860 And then finally, 00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:14.580 let's look briefly 00:18:14.580 --> 00:18:16.820 at verses 10 to 12. 00:18:17.540 --> 00:18:18.480 And in these verses, 00:18:18.940 --> 00:18:19.500 the psalmist 00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:21.060 urges reflection. 00:18:22.160 --> 00:18:22.759 Think about 00:18:22.759 --> 00:18:23.600 everything that's 00:18:23.600 --> 00:18:24.320 been said up 00:18:24.320 --> 00:18:24.940 till now, 00:18:25.480 --> 00:18:26.519 reflect on it, 00:18:26.800 --> 00:18:27.640 and you're not 00:18:27.640 --> 00:18:28.360 going to want 00:18:28.360 --> 00:18:28.900 to rebel 00:18:28.900 --> 00:18:29.540 if you really 00:18:29.540 --> 00:18:30.480 think about it 00:18:30.480 --> 00:18:31.380 seriously. 00:18:32.100 --> 00:18:33.620 The only wise 00:18:33.620 --> 00:18:34.480 thing to do 00:18:34.480 --> 00:18:35.720 is to recognize 00:18:35.720 --> 00:18:36.300 the Son 00:18:36.299 --> 00:18:37.559 and to pay 00:18:37.559 --> 00:18:38.379 allegiance 00:18:38.379 --> 00:18:39.579 to him. 00:18:40.500 --> 00:18:40.899 Therefore, 00:18:41.079 --> 00:18:41.559 you kings, 00:18:41.680 --> 00:18:42.440 be wise, 00:18:42.799 --> 00:18:43.339 be warned, 00:18:43.440 --> 00:18:44.419 you rulers of the earth, 00:18:44.579 --> 00:18:45.379 serve the Lord 00:18:45.379 --> 00:18:46.159 with fear, 00:18:46.799 --> 00:18:48.059 rejoice with trembling, 00:18:48.799 --> 00:18:49.859 kiss the Son. 00:18:49.919 --> 00:18:50.619 The idea of kissing 00:18:50.619 --> 00:18:50.960 the Son 00:18:50.960 --> 00:18:52.000 is really of submission, 00:18:52.480 --> 00:18:53.139 of submitting 00:18:53.139 --> 00:18:53.940 to the will 00:18:53.940 --> 00:18:55.460 of the Son. 00:18:56.359 --> 00:18:56.859 Let's look at 00:18:56.859 --> 00:18:57.419 another verse 00:18:57.419 --> 00:18:59.019 from the book 00:18:59.019 --> 00:18:59.579 of Acts. 00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:01.240 Sorry, 00:19:01.319 --> 00:19:01.759 that's come a bit 00:19:01.759 --> 00:19:02.200 off the screen 00:19:02.200 --> 00:19:02.859 at the bottom there, 00:19:02.919 --> 00:19:03.259 but hopefully 00:19:03.259 --> 00:19:03.940 you can see it. 00:19:05.019 --> 00:19:06.259 Paul is in Philippi, 00:19:06.659 --> 00:19:07.480 he's been in prison 00:19:07.480 --> 00:19:08.200 with Silas, 00:19:08.240 --> 00:19:08.919 his companion, 00:19:09.059 --> 00:19:09.740 the prison doors 00:19:09.740 --> 00:19:10.740 have burst open, 00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:11.839 the prisoners 00:19:11.839 --> 00:19:12.579 are all in theory 00:19:12.579 --> 00:19:12.960 free, 00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:13.639 although all of them 00:19:13.639 --> 00:19:14.099 stay, 00:19:14.500 --> 00:19:15.680 the jailer comes in 00:19:15.680 --> 00:19:16.859 and he's about 00:19:16.859 --> 00:19:17.440 to kill himself, 00:19:17.559 --> 00:19:17.899 Paul says, 00:19:17.960 --> 00:19:18.480 don't do that, 00:19:18.539 --> 00:19:19.220 we're all here, 00:19:19.539 --> 00:19:20.240 and he says, 00:19:20.299 --> 00:19:21.299 what must I do 00:19:21.299 --> 00:19:22.220 to be saved? 00:19:22.720 --> 00:19:23.759 And Paul says, 00:19:24.220 --> 00:19:25.440 believe in the Lord 00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:25.859 Jesus 00:19:25.859 --> 00:19:27.299 and you 00:19:27.299 --> 00:19:28.059 will 00:19:28.059 --> 00:19:29.299 be saved. 00:19:30.159 --> 00:19:30.639 And that is 00:19:30.639 --> 00:19:31.220 the New Testament 00:19:31.220 --> 00:19:31.559 equivalent, 00:19:31.639 --> 00:19:31.899 I think, 00:19:31.960 --> 00:19:32.720 of verse 12, 00:19:33.099 --> 00:19:34.079 blessed are all 00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:35.579 who take refuge 00:19:35.579 --> 00:19:37.059 in him. 00:19:37.740 --> 00:19:38.539 So the psalmist 00:19:38.539 --> 00:19:39.059 says, 00:19:39.399 --> 00:19:40.240 there's a judgment 00:19:40.240 --> 00:19:41.460 to come, 00:19:41.919 --> 00:19:42.720 but if we take 00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:44.039 refuge in the Son, 00:19:44.359 --> 00:19:45.220 in the King, 00:19:45.619 --> 00:19:46.579 as we think of it, 00:19:46.759 --> 00:19:47.439 in Jesus, 00:19:48.220 --> 00:19:49.019 then there will be 00:19:49.019 --> 00:19:49.519 salvation, 00:19:49.720 --> 00:19:50.199 there will be 00:19:50.199 --> 00:19:50.639 forgiveness, 00:19:51.019 --> 00:19:52.099 we won't face 00:19:52.099 --> 00:19:53.019 the wrath 00:19:53.019 --> 00:19:54.019 of God. 00:19:54.539 --> 00:19:54.939 And that's the 00:19:54.939 --> 00:19:55.619 ultimate message, 00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:56.079 I think, 00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:57.639 of Psalm 2. 00:19:58.259 --> 00:19:58.740 It's a psalm 00:19:58.740 --> 00:19:59.240 that presents 00:19:59.240 --> 00:20:00.420 the power of God, 00:20:00.779 --> 00:20:02.279 how futile it is 00:20:02.279 --> 00:20:03.400 to rebel against 00:20:03.400 --> 00:20:04.720 God ultimately. 00:20:05.440 --> 00:20:06.240 It presents to us 00:20:06.240 --> 00:20:07.539 the judgment of God, 00:20:07.859 --> 00:20:09.180 that God has to 00:20:09.180 --> 00:20:10.099 punish those 00:20:10.099 --> 00:20:11.000 who rebel against 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:11.299 him, 00:20:11.559 --> 00:20:12.440 and will 00:20:12.440 --> 00:20:13.279 ultimately 00:20:13.279 --> 00:20:14.339 crush them. 00:20:14.940 --> 00:20:15.599 But it's a psalm 00:20:15.599 --> 00:20:16.799 about the love of God, 00:20:17.220 --> 00:20:18.120 and the way in which 00:20:18.120 --> 00:20:19.000 God has prepared 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:20.460 a way for us 00:20:20.460 --> 00:20:21.400 to have peace 00:20:21.400 --> 00:20:21.920 with him, 00:20:22.220 --> 00:20:23.180 and to be forgiven. 00:20:23.299 --> 00:20:23.720 And that is 00:20:23.720 --> 00:20:24.680 through the Lord Jesus, 00:20:25.160 --> 00:20:25.839 particularly through 00:20:25.839 --> 00:20:26.640 his death for us 00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:27.380 on the cross, 00:20:27.680 --> 00:20:28.839 as he went there, 00:20:28.839 --> 00:20:30.099 and as he took 00:20:30.099 --> 00:20:30.779 the punishment 00:20:30.779 --> 00:20:32.839 for our sins. 00:20:33.459 --> 00:20:34.299 As we read again, 00:20:34.359 --> 00:20:35.559 it was in Acts chapter 13, 00:20:35.659 --> 00:20:36.259 was it the one 00:20:36.259 --> 00:20:37.059 who has died, 00:20:37.379 --> 00:20:37.899 and the one 00:20:37.899 --> 00:20:39.059 who has risen again, 00:20:39.399 --> 00:20:40.099 and the one 00:20:40.099 --> 00:20:40.899 whom the God 00:20:40.899 --> 00:20:41.959 has pronounced 00:20:41.959 --> 00:20:43.879 as his son. 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:45.859 So let's finish 00:20:45.859 --> 00:20:47.359 by returning 00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:48.459 to anthems. 00:20:48.559 --> 00:20:49.839 Not national anthems 00:20:49.839 --> 00:20:50.299 this time, 00:20:50.339 --> 00:20:51.079 but let's think about 00:20:51.079 --> 00:20:52.379 heaven's anthem. 00:20:52.559 --> 00:20:52.980 Now I'm sure 00:20:52.980 --> 00:20:53.779 there are many 00:20:53.779 --> 00:20:54.539 psalms, 00:20:54.659 --> 00:20:55.539 songs in the Bible 00:20:55.539 --> 00:20:56.339 that we could think of 00:20:56.339 --> 00:20:57.839 as suitable anthems 00:20:57.839 --> 00:20:58.740 for us as Christians, 00:20:58.839 --> 00:20:59.679 are many of the songs 00:20:59.679 --> 00:21:00.279 we sing 00:21:00.279 --> 00:21:01.119 that have been written 00:21:01.119 --> 00:21:02.199 by godly people 00:21:02.199 --> 00:21:03.500 that present 00:21:03.500 --> 00:21:05.419 the truths 00:21:05.419 --> 00:21:06.059 of the gospel 00:21:06.059 --> 00:21:07.079 and of the Lord Jesus 00:21:07.079 --> 00:21:08.419 in wonderful 00:21:08.419 --> 00:21:10.599 and stirring ways. 00:21:11.199 --> 00:21:11.699 Let me just talk 00:21:11.699 --> 00:21:12.559 about three things 00:21:12.559 --> 00:21:13.059 that perhaps 00:21:13.059 --> 00:21:13.799 we should have 00:21:13.799 --> 00:21:14.579 if we have 00:21:14.579 --> 00:21:16.059 heaven's anthem. 00:21:17.419 --> 00:21:18.319 And the first thing 00:21:18.319 --> 00:21:19.500 is allegiance 00:21:19.500 --> 00:21:21.339 to the sun. 00:21:22.379 --> 00:21:23.000 That is what 00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:24.000 the psalm is about, 00:21:24.339 --> 00:21:25.399 and that is what 00:21:25.399 --> 00:21:26.339 we are about 00:21:26.339 --> 00:21:27.519 as a church. 00:21:27.519 --> 00:21:28.799 It is about 00:21:28.799 --> 00:21:29.379 Jesus. 00:21:30.039 --> 00:21:30.579 It is about 00:21:30.579 --> 00:21:31.400 knowing Jesus. 00:21:31.619 --> 00:21:32.079 It is about 00:21:32.079 --> 00:21:32.819 loving him. 00:21:33.039 --> 00:21:33.559 It is about 00:21:33.559 --> 00:21:34.579 trusting in him. 00:21:34.879 --> 00:21:35.740 It is about 00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:37.359 following him. 00:21:38.359 --> 00:21:39.039 And we, 00:21:39.139 --> 00:21:39.819 I'm sure all of us, 00:21:39.879 --> 00:21:40.779 if we know Jesus, 00:21:41.139 --> 00:21:42.379 would wish to express 00:21:42.379 --> 00:21:43.039 that allegiance 00:21:43.039 --> 00:21:43.720 to him 00:21:43.720 --> 00:21:44.940 and to demonstrate 00:21:44.940 --> 00:21:46.359 it to others. 00:21:46.460 --> 00:21:47.059 And there's a challenge 00:21:47.059 --> 00:21:47.980 if you don't know 00:21:47.980 --> 00:21:48.319 Jesus, 00:21:48.500 --> 00:21:49.200 if you don't feel 00:21:49.200 --> 00:21:49.940 your allegiances 00:21:49.940 --> 00:21:51.700 to him this morning, 00:21:52.160 --> 00:21:52.819 to recognize 00:21:52.819 --> 00:21:53.519 that you need 00:21:53.519 --> 00:21:54.339 to put your trust 00:21:54.339 --> 00:21:54.900 in him 00:21:54.900 --> 00:21:56.019 and to come 00:21:56.019 --> 00:21:56.340 to him 00:21:56.340 --> 00:21:57.040 for forgiveness 00:21:57.040 --> 00:21:58.180 and to know 00:21:58.180 --> 00:21:58.900 that his death 00:21:58.900 --> 00:21:59.560 on the cross 00:21:59.560 --> 00:22:00.400 is enough 00:22:00.400 --> 00:22:01.240 to cover over 00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:02.840 all your failure. 00:22:03.120 --> 00:22:03.640 So allegiance 00:22:03.640 --> 00:22:04.380 to the sun 00:22:04.380 --> 00:22:05.660 is a key part 00:22:05.660 --> 00:22:07.600 of heaven's anthem. 00:22:09.120 --> 00:22:09.800 Second thing 00:22:09.800 --> 00:22:10.480 which is a key part, 00:22:10.540 --> 00:22:11.420 key part of Psalm 2 00:22:11.420 --> 00:22:12.040 and of many 00:22:12.040 --> 00:22:13.580 other passages of Scripture 00:22:13.580 --> 00:22:14.840 is the warning 00:22:14.840 --> 00:22:16.100 of judgment. 00:22:16.840 --> 00:22:17.400 We need, 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:18.259 if we're believers 00:22:18.259 --> 00:22:19.120 in the Lord Jesus, 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:20.280 to be aware 00:22:20.280 --> 00:22:21.340 that there is a judgment. 00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:22.420 It's something 00:22:22.420 --> 00:22:23.420 that will happen 00:22:23.420 --> 00:22:24.240 and we need 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:25.060 to be telling people 00:22:25.060 --> 00:22:25.759 about it 00:22:25.759 --> 00:22:26.660 but telling them 00:22:26.660 --> 00:22:27.019 about it 00:22:27.019 --> 00:22:27.620 in the context 00:22:27.620 --> 00:22:28.080 that we have 00:22:28.080 --> 00:22:28.820 a loving God 00:22:28.820 --> 00:22:29.800 who sent his son 00:22:29.800 --> 00:22:31.100 to die on the cross 00:22:31.100 --> 00:22:32.259 and we can have 00:22:32.259 --> 00:22:32.960 forgiveness 00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:34.120 through him. 00:22:34.460 --> 00:22:34.920 We can have 00:22:34.920 --> 00:22:35.420 the knowledge 00:22:35.420 --> 00:22:36.320 that we have 00:22:36.320 --> 00:22:37.060 eternal life, 00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:37.820 that we're going 00:22:37.820 --> 00:22:38.960 to be with Jesus, 00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:40.620 that ultimately 00:22:40.620 --> 00:22:42.039 we have been saved 00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:42.980 from the punishment 00:22:42.980 --> 00:22:44.500 for all the wrong 00:22:44.500 --> 00:22:45.420 we've done. 00:22:45.519 --> 00:22:46.420 The warning of judgment 00:22:46.420 --> 00:22:48.039 is a very important part 00:22:48.039 --> 00:22:49.539 of what we want 00:22:49.539 --> 00:22:50.659 in an anthem 00:22:50.659 --> 00:22:52.680 about our faith. 00:22:54.180 --> 00:22:55.299 And then the final thing 00:22:55.299 --> 00:22:56.079 is the confidence 00:22:56.079 --> 00:22:57.339 in victory. 00:22:57.920 --> 00:22:58.659 We should look 00:22:58.659 --> 00:22:59.740 at a Psalm like this 00:22:59.740 --> 00:23:00.899 and we should give thanks 00:23:00.899 --> 00:23:01.940 that we have a God 00:23:01.940 --> 00:23:03.319 who is all-powerful, 00:23:03.740 --> 00:23:05.379 who is in control 00:23:05.379 --> 00:23:06.220 of the universe, 00:23:06.720 --> 00:23:07.680 who is holy 00:23:07.680 --> 00:23:09.420 but who is loving as well 00:23:09.420 --> 00:23:11.039 and who will give us 00:23:11.039 --> 00:23:11.940 the victory 00:23:11.940 --> 00:23:13.839 through the Lord Jesus. 00:23:14.579 --> 00:23:15.279 And let's go away 00:23:15.279 --> 00:23:16.420 rejoicing in that 00:23:16.420 --> 00:23:17.399 this morning. 00:23:17.859 --> 00:23:19.039 That as we face 00:23:19.039 --> 00:23:20.539 difficulties in life, 00:23:20.940 --> 00:23:21.960 perhaps as we face 00:23:21.960 --> 00:23:22.819 in some measure 00:23:22.819 --> 00:23:24.759 opposition to our position 00:23:24.759 --> 00:23:26.059 as Christians, 00:23:26.659 --> 00:23:28.059 that we are on the side 00:23:28.059 --> 00:23:28.680 of victory. 00:23:29.240 --> 00:23:30.480 We know the Son, 00:23:30.839 --> 00:23:31.700 we love him 00:23:31.700 --> 00:23:32.819 and we know that 00:23:32.819 --> 00:23:33.440 ultimately 00:23:33.440 --> 00:23:35.180 he will triumph. 00:23:35.779 --> 00:23:36.500 And let's go away 00:23:36.500 --> 00:23:37.599 rejoicing in him 00:23:37.599 --> 00:23:38.659 and confident 00:23:38.659 --> 00:23:39.559 that through him 00:23:39.559 --> 00:23:41.480 we will emerge 00:23:41.480 --> 00:23:42.339 victorious. 00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:44.539 Let's pray together. 00:23:44.539 --> 00:23:48.759 Father, we thank you 00:23:48.759 --> 00:23:50.059 for this wonderful Psalm. 00:23:50.639 --> 00:23:51.279 We thank you 00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:51.879 for the way 00:23:51.879 --> 00:23:52.819 in which it presents 00:23:52.819 --> 00:23:53.399 to us 00:23:53.399 --> 00:23:54.420 your greatness, 00:23:55.139 --> 00:23:55.619 that you are 00:23:55.619 --> 00:23:56.759 the Almighty One, 00:23:57.119 --> 00:23:57.940 that you are the one 00:23:57.940 --> 00:23:59.359 who is all-powerful. 00:24:00.139 --> 00:24:00.759 We thank you too 00:24:00.759 --> 00:24:01.759 as it presents to us 00:24:01.759 --> 00:24:02.619 our failure 00:24:02.619 --> 00:24:03.259 and the failure 00:24:03.259 --> 00:24:04.920 of many, many people 00:24:04.920 --> 00:24:05.639 down the years, 00:24:05.700 --> 00:24:06.079 that we, 00:24:06.460 --> 00:24:07.379 in a real sense, 00:24:07.460 --> 00:24:08.359 are or have been 00:24:08.359 --> 00:24:09.480 the rebels 00:24:09.480 --> 00:24:10.740 that the Psalmist 00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:11.639 talks about. 00:24:11.640 --> 00:24:13.259 But we thank you 00:24:13.259 --> 00:24:14.300 that it tells us too 00:24:14.300 --> 00:24:15.400 that through the Son 00:24:15.400 --> 00:24:16.660 there is peace, 00:24:17.180 --> 00:24:18.020 there is forgiveness, 00:24:18.800 --> 00:24:19.880 there is a relationship 00:24:19.880 --> 00:24:21.580 with the great God 00:24:21.580 --> 00:24:22.500 of heaven. 00:24:23.280 --> 00:24:24.180 Help us all 00:24:24.180 --> 00:24:25.920 to put our trust 00:24:25.920 --> 00:24:26.460 in Jesus, 00:24:26.700 --> 00:24:27.400 to come to know 00:24:27.400 --> 00:24:28.280 him for ourselves 00:24:28.280 --> 00:24:30.180 and then to go on 00:24:30.180 --> 00:24:30.780 victorious, 00:24:31.280 --> 00:24:32.100 to serve him, 00:24:32.540 --> 00:24:33.280 to tell others 00:24:33.280 --> 00:24:33.980 about him 00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:35.480 and to live for him 00:24:35.480 --> 00:24:36.740 in every aspect 00:24:36.740 --> 00:24:37.500 of our lives. 00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:38.360 We thank you 00:24:38.360 --> 00:24:38.880 for your word 00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:39.680 to us this morning. 00:24:40.080 --> 00:24:40.640 We thank you 00:24:40.640 --> 00:24:41.200 for what we thought 00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:42.299 about earlier on too. 00:24:42.380 --> 00:24:43.380 We pray again 00:24:43.380 --> 00:24:44.120 for the students 00:24:44.120 --> 00:24:44.980 at the universities 00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:45.799 around our city 00:24:45.799 --> 00:24:47.120 that you will help them 00:24:47.120 --> 00:24:48.059 to be good witnesses 00:24:48.059 --> 00:24:49.380 and to know 00:24:49.380 --> 00:24:50.920 the power of the Lord Jesus 00:24:50.920 --> 00:24:52.240 and the victory 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:53.740 that comes through him. 00:24:54.200 --> 00:24:55.059 We give you our thanks 00:24:55.059 --> 00:24:55.779 and commit ourselves 00:24:55.779 --> 00:24:56.400 to you now 00:24:56.400 --> 00:24:57.620 in Jesus' name. 00:24:58.340 --> 00:24:58.660 Amen.