WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:29.980 Amen, amen. You may be seated. Children, we are ready for Children's Church at this time. You may make your way to the back with Miss Savannah, Mr. Justin back there. And again, I am so grateful that you are here today. I know that many of you had inconveniences with loss of power, difficulty getting home, getting out, different things going on. And like Clay said, he was out of power. And I don't know if he got a cold shower or no shower this morning. I haven't been close enough to him to find out. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:59.439 But I am grateful. He said shower. Okay. And so I am grateful that we were all able to be here and just singing these praises to God because he's worthy no matter our circumstances. And so what a joy it is to be here. I want to start off with a question. Does anybody in here like to bake? Anybody like to bake? Okay. Several of you like to bake. I like to do some baking. I like to dabble a little bit there with baking, you know, making pound cakes and different things like that. 00:00:59.439 --> 00:01:15.879 But it's always interesting to me that baking is so specific with everything. I mean, you have a recipe that you want to follow. And the recipe is very specific when it comes to the measurements that are going in there, the ingredients that are going in there. 00:01:15.879 --> 00:01:25.819 And some of it I just don't completely understand. When it says a quarter of a teaspoon of something in this large cake, I'm thinking, how can that actually make a difference? 00:01:26.340 --> 00:01:31.140 You know, how can a quarter of a teaspoon of something or especially when it says a pinch of salt? 00:01:31.699 --> 00:01:37.560 I put more than a pinch of salt on a French fry, much less than a whole cake is needing a pinch of salt. 00:01:37.560 --> 00:01:45.019 I don't understand those things, but they're they're very specific. And it's also very specific with the ingredients that go into a cake. 00:01:45.359 --> 00:01:51.719 For example, just because something looks the same doesn't mean that it's going to taste the same when you put it in there. 00:01:51.780 --> 00:02:01.359 If you run if it's if your cake is calling for two cups of sugar and you only have one cup of sugar, but you have something that looks just like sugar called salt. 00:02:01.359 --> 00:02:06.120 That's not a good substitute there. That's not going you don't just put another cup of that in there. 00:02:06.120 --> 00:02:16.439 And so when we bake, it's very specific. I can remember the first time that I cooked a pound cake and it didn't turn out exactly like I had planned. 00:02:16.520 --> 00:02:24.379 It was actually with Clint here. He was helping me bake this pound cake and he had all of one semester of home ec under his belt. 00:02:24.539 --> 00:02:27.340 And he thought he was an expert on baking pound cakes. 00:02:27.340 --> 00:02:30.920 And so we decided to get everything out to make this pound cake. 00:02:31.340 --> 00:02:35.300 And we were very precise in our measurements, put everything together. 00:02:35.500 --> 00:02:40.020 We're feeling very confident about this pound cake as it goes into the oven. 00:02:40.539 --> 00:02:42.480 And, you know, with a cake, you don't want to check it early. 00:02:42.580 --> 00:02:45.560 You don't want to open the door because it might fall and all of these things. 00:02:45.620 --> 00:02:52.920 And so we were very patient. And then we opened the oven door and immediately we realized something's not right. 00:02:52.919 --> 00:02:57.879 Something is wrong with this cake. It doesn't look like it should look. 00:02:57.959 --> 00:03:01.259 It was far smaller than it should should appear. 00:03:01.379 --> 00:03:03.919 And so maybe we're thinking, OK, maybe we put the wrong flour in there. 00:03:03.959 --> 00:03:07.500 Maybe we didn't put something else in there. And so let's see what it tastes like. 00:03:07.560 --> 00:03:11.279 And so we cut a slice of this cake and and start eating it. 00:03:11.359 --> 00:03:15.560 And again, immediately we realized something's not right with this cake. 00:03:15.560 --> 00:03:20.000 It's far grittier than it should be for a pound cake. 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:22.360 And and so we couldn't figure out what we did wrong. 00:03:22.479 --> 00:03:26.920 And so we brought in the expert mom to to see what we did wrong. 00:03:27.000 --> 00:03:29.659 We should have brought her in far earlier than at this point. 00:03:29.860 --> 00:03:32.240 But we brought her in. We're like, what is wrong with this? 00:03:32.259 --> 00:03:36.740 And she quickly realized that instead of using flour, we used cornmeal. 00:03:37.300 --> 00:03:41.879 Now, it was the sweetest cornbread you have ever put in your mouth. 00:03:42.219 --> 00:03:44.319 But it was not a pound cake. 00:03:44.319 --> 00:03:48.299 And so when it comes to baking things, when it comes to these things in our life, 00:03:48.359 --> 00:03:51.759 it's important that we follow the right ingredients. 00:03:51.759 --> 00:03:56.979 It's important that we follow the directions if you want the desired outcome. 00:03:57.280 --> 00:04:01.719 In a similar way, if we want a deep, intimate relationship with God, 00:04:02.219 --> 00:04:08.299 a life that produces joy, that gives our life meaning, then how we live matters. 00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:12.299 Then what we give our lives to matter. 00:04:12.300 --> 00:04:15.380 What we give our life to is going to make a difference. 00:04:15.500 --> 00:04:18.660 Oftentimes we want all the benefits of knowing Jesus. 00:04:19.180 --> 00:04:21.520 Heaven sounds great. Who doesn't want heaven forever? 00:04:22.160 --> 00:04:24.939 We want this joy in our lives each and every day. 00:04:25.120 --> 00:04:27.040 We want our lives to have meaning. 00:04:27.160 --> 00:04:29.000 We want all of these things. 00:04:29.100 --> 00:04:30.420 We want joy in our lives. 00:04:30.500 --> 00:04:32.139 All those things sound great. 00:04:32.540 --> 00:04:37.180 But then we want to live in a way that is no different than the rest of the world. 00:04:37.180 --> 00:04:43.540 But if we want Jesus to be our strength, if we want Jesus to be our security, 00:04:44.280 --> 00:04:50.379 if we want Jesus to be our joy, then we must stop trying to find those things in this world. 00:04:51.220 --> 00:04:55.340 We must stop trying to look to other things to be the source of our strength. 00:04:55.540 --> 00:04:58.740 We must stop looking to other things to be the source of our joy. 00:04:58.740 --> 00:05:08.759 We must stop looking at other things to be the source of our security and look at the only one who always delivers on what he promises. 00:05:09.199 --> 00:05:13.319 What we give our lives to makes a difference. 00:05:13.319 --> 00:05:18.379 Last week we began our study of the Psalms by looking at Psalm 1. 00:05:18.500 --> 00:05:28.139 Now Psalm 1, we were able to see that is a deeply personal Psalm that reminds us of the importance of focusing on what draws us closer to God. 00:05:28.259 --> 00:05:30.360 Giving our lives to the things of God. 00:05:30.800 --> 00:05:37.860 The blessed person is the one who doesn't walk with the wicked but sets his heart, sets his mind on God. 00:05:38.000 --> 00:05:40.459 That delights in the law of the Lord. 00:05:40.459 --> 00:05:47.299 Psalm 2 this week, as we're about to see, is linked so closely with Psalm 1. 00:05:47.959 --> 00:05:51.239 That sometimes they're even referred to as twin Psalms. 00:05:51.739 --> 00:05:58.899 Psalm 1 begins with blessed is the man and Psalm 2 ends with blessed are all those who take refuge in him. 00:05:59.339 --> 00:06:03.259 Psalm 1 begins with blessing, Psalm 2 ends with blessing. 00:06:03.259 --> 00:06:10.680 Michael Wilcox notes, he says, the private world of the first Psalm opens into the public world of the second. 00:06:11.420 --> 00:06:14.339 The personal is followed by the cosmic. 00:06:14.740 --> 00:06:17.699 One is domestic and the other is international. 00:06:18.240 --> 00:06:20.539 The two Psalms are deeply connected. 00:06:20.980 --> 00:06:24.800 In fact, they're so connected that we can't really separate them like we often do. 00:06:24.800 --> 00:06:29.800 In fact, when I was preparing this, Evan asked me several times, he says, are you going to do Psalm 1 and Psalm 2 at the same time? 00:06:30.220 --> 00:06:32.560 I was like, no, you've seen how fast I go through a passage. 00:06:32.660 --> 00:06:33.920 We're going to split them up. 00:06:34.139 --> 00:06:38.040 But these two are deeply connected to one another. 00:06:38.139 --> 00:06:41.900 They're deeply intentional of being put side by side. 00:06:42.019 --> 00:06:47.280 In fact, the connection is so strong that I love how James Hamilton, he notes this. 00:06:47.279 --> 00:06:56.719 He says, Psalm 1 is strategically linked with Psalm 2 and together these two Psalms introduce the whole Psalter. 00:06:57.379 --> 00:07:07.219 Last week we talked about how Psalm 1 is really an exposition of what is together or the remaining Psalms are an exposition of Psalm 1 and how it's the perfect introduction. 00:07:07.219 --> 00:07:17.179 But really when you look at these two together, both of these Psalms introduce the remaining Psalms that we find in this great book. 00:07:17.279 --> 00:07:24.219 As you look throughout the Psalms, there are many Psalms, as you will see, that are clearly messianic in their structure. 00:07:24.799 --> 00:07:27.099 Meaning they clearly point us to Jesus. 00:07:27.579 --> 00:07:30.119 They clearly point us to the coming Messiah. 00:07:30.119 --> 00:07:35.239 And in fact, if you think about it, all of these Psalms, all the Psalms do this to an extent. 00:07:35.639 --> 00:07:40.559 But there's some Psalms that we get to that are very specific with this. 00:07:40.959 --> 00:07:46.799 There's some Psalms that we find ourselves looking at and our minds immediately go to Jesus. 00:07:47.279 --> 00:07:51.059 This is one of those Psalms that we're going to see today. 00:07:51.619 --> 00:08:03.439 When Psalm 2 was sung, the people of God were reminded of how God made a covenant with David and his descendants to be kings in order to enable them to fulfill the promise that was made to Abraham. 00:08:04.039 --> 00:08:06.699 And that was to be a blessing to all nations. 00:08:07.779 --> 00:08:08.839 One commentator noted, 00:08:08.839 --> 00:08:34.860 We know from Acts that David is the author of this Psalm and that it is a royal Psalm, a Psalm of coronation. 00:08:34.860 --> 00:08:47.340 But the weight of this Psalm points us far beyond strictly a earthly king and far beyond that to the ultimate king, the king of kings, the king who reigns over everything. 00:08:48.180 --> 00:08:54.259 And so with that in mind today, with this understanding that Psalm 2 is pointing us to Jesus, 00:08:54.379 --> 00:09:00.159 I want to invite you to open up God's word with me and listen as we read these words. 00:09:00.159 --> 00:09:02.480 It says this, starting in verse 1, 00:09:02.480 --> 00:09:07.100 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 00:09:08.139 --> 00:09:17.019 The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, 00:09:17.559 --> 00:09:22.459 Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their courts from us. 00:09:22.460 --> 00:09:26.200 He who sits on the throne laughs. 00:09:26.540 --> 00:09:28.780 He who sits in the heavens laughs. 00:09:28.780 --> 00:09:31.280 The Lord holds them in derision. 00:09:31.720 --> 00:09:36.200 Then he will speak to them in his wrath and terrify them in his fury, saying, 00:09:36.540 --> 00:09:41.740 As for me, I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill. 00:09:42.320 --> 00:09:43.600 I will tell of the decree. 00:09:43.720 --> 00:09:44.680 The Lord said to me, 00:09:44.840 --> 00:09:46.240 You are my son. 00:09:46.400 --> 00:09:48.680 Today I have begotten you. 00:09:48.679 --> 00:09:53.319 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage. 00:09:53.739 --> 00:09:55.559 In the ends of the earth your possession. 00:09:55.719 --> 00:10:01.079 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them into pieces like a potter's vessel. 00:10:01.819 --> 00:10:04.639 Now, therefore, O kings, be wise. 00:10:05.199 --> 00:10:07.659 Be warned, O rulers of the earth. 00:10:08.079 --> 00:10:12.279 Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. 00:10:13.159 --> 00:10:16.659 Kiss the son lest he be angry and you perish in the way. 00:10:16.659 --> 00:10:19.899 For his wrath is quickly kindled. 00:10:20.360 --> 00:10:24.620 Blessed are all who take refuge in him. 00:10:25.419 --> 00:10:27.459 Blessed are all who take refuge in him. 00:10:27.480 --> 00:10:31.259 This passage is clearly pointing us to Jesus. 00:10:31.959 --> 00:10:34.000 That he is the anointed one. 00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:36.219 That he is the Messiah. 00:10:36.659 --> 00:10:37.539 That's talked about here. 00:10:37.679 --> 00:10:40.600 With this messianic understanding in mind. 00:10:40.679 --> 00:10:44.360 That this is ultimately pointing us towards Jesus. 00:10:44.360 --> 00:10:47.820 There is a question that I hope we will be able to answer today. 00:10:48.220 --> 00:10:51.720 It's a question that I hope that if you have never asked yourself before. 00:10:51.840 --> 00:10:53.100 That you will ask it today. 00:10:53.500 --> 00:10:56.000 But it's also a question that if you have asked this. 00:10:56.080 --> 00:10:57.379 And if you have given an answer. 00:10:57.680 --> 00:10:59.580 And if you have come to faith in Christ. 00:10:59.960 --> 00:11:03.919 It's a question that I think we must always continue to ask ourselves. 00:11:04.600 --> 00:11:05.639 Each and every day. 00:11:06.000 --> 00:11:06.940 And that it is this. 00:11:07.259 --> 00:11:10.180 What are we placing our hope in? 00:11:11.079 --> 00:11:12.759 What are we placing our hope in? 00:11:13.399 --> 00:11:17.259 This is a question we must all ask ourselves at some point in our lives. 00:11:17.379 --> 00:11:21.739 But it's also this question that we must keep coming back to. 00:11:22.099 --> 00:11:26.699 That we must keep coming back to as a foundation for living our lives. 00:11:26.839 --> 00:11:30.879 What is it that we're placing our hope in? 00:11:31.239 --> 00:11:34.699 And there are a few observations that I want to bring our attention to today. 00:11:34.819 --> 00:11:39.139 That I think will give us some clarity in answering this question. 00:11:39.139 --> 00:11:43.279 And one of the things that we clearly see in this passage is this. 00:11:44.139 --> 00:11:49.480 The foolishness of placing our hope in the things or people of this world. 00:11:50.199 --> 00:11:57.059 The foolishness of placing our hope in the things or in the people of this world. 00:11:57.580 --> 00:12:00.500 You see the purpose of this psalm is to convince us. 00:12:00.799 --> 00:12:04.519 That it is foolish and futile to fight against Christ. 00:12:04.519 --> 00:12:12.220 This purpose of this psalm is reminding us of the foolishness and the futility of fighting against Christ. 00:12:12.679 --> 00:12:18.419 In the first few verses we see this attempt to turn from Christ to the kings of this world. 00:12:18.799 --> 00:12:20.079 And we read this. 00:12:20.559 --> 00:12:25.519 And I want you to hear the confusion in David's mind as he writes these words. 00:12:25.579 --> 00:12:25.879 He says, 00:12:25.879 --> 00:12:51.720 Here in this psalm, David is amazed that anyone would be so foolish as to try to set their minds against God. 00:12:51.720 --> 00:12:53.220 It's like he's saying, 00:12:53.700 --> 00:12:55.379 Do they know they can't win? 00:12:55.860 --> 00:12:58.500 Don't they realize that it is vain to do this? 00:12:58.879 --> 00:13:00.680 Why are they raging? 00:13:01.120 --> 00:13:03.139 Why are they plotting against God? 00:13:03.379 --> 00:13:05.200 Don't they know that it's pointless? 00:13:06.040 --> 00:13:11.060 Don't they know that one day every knee will bow in heaven, on earth, and under the earth, 00:13:11.279 --> 00:13:14.779 and declare that Jesus is Lord to the glory of God the Father? 00:13:14.779 --> 00:13:18.220 Don't they know this is the direction that everything is heading? 00:13:19.120 --> 00:13:19.699 And so he's saying, 00:13:20.039 --> 00:13:22.600 Don't they realize that it's pointless to do this? 00:13:23.139 --> 00:13:27.699 Don't they realize that it's foolish to turn from God? 00:13:28.059 --> 00:13:35.439 The word translated as plot here in verse 1 is the same word that's translated as meditate in chapter 1 verse 2 00:13:35.439 --> 00:13:38.819 where it says, where it talks about the wise meditate. 00:13:39.059 --> 00:13:42.199 They utter, they speak about God's word. 00:13:42.200 --> 00:13:48.600 And then here, while the wicked, they meditate, they utter, they speak about rebellion. 00:13:49.300 --> 00:13:51.620 One meditates on God's law. 00:13:51.780 --> 00:13:55.259 One constantly thinks about rebelling against God. 00:13:56.320 --> 00:13:59.400 This psalm was written at a specific time and place, 00:13:59.800 --> 00:14:03.920 but the scope of this psalm is far bigger than in its reach. 00:14:04.360 --> 00:14:10.379 It doesn't take long to realize that the rebellion is not limited here to a specific country or a continent, 00:14:10.379 --> 00:14:14.659 but that all nations and all peoples are in this together. 00:14:15.360 --> 00:14:17.820 James Johnson, he speaks of it this way. 00:14:17.939 --> 00:14:24.980 He says, this rebellion is worldwide because it is rooted in the sin nature we all inherited from Adam. 00:14:25.639 --> 00:14:31.340 He says, if you trek five days into the jungle, you will meet people who are set against God. 00:14:31.340 --> 00:14:38.259 If you ride the crowded subways of New York City, the people pushing by you are set against God. 00:14:38.360 --> 00:14:46.940 No matter where you go, no matter where you are, there are people who will find themselves in this category set against God. 00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:51.019 And so what we see is the foolishness of this. 00:14:51.019 --> 00:14:56.039 But who specifically does this passage say that they are fighting against? 00:14:56.720 --> 00:15:07.139 It says, the kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed. 00:15:07.860 --> 00:15:12.759 The word translated here as anointed in Hebrew is Messiah. 00:15:13.199 --> 00:15:15.639 And the Greek translation is Christ. 00:15:15.639 --> 00:15:24.860 And so what you begin to see is that those who are foolish are setting themselves against God and against Jesus. 00:15:25.799 --> 00:15:27.500 They're setting themselves against that. 00:15:27.580 --> 00:15:29.279 And this is a battle that they can't win. 00:15:29.659 --> 00:15:32.080 It's foolish to think that we can do this on our own. 00:15:32.159 --> 00:15:35.019 It's foolish to think that we can live this life without God. 00:15:35.080 --> 00:15:39.379 It's foolish that we don't think that we think that we don't need God for our eternity. 00:15:40.419 --> 00:15:42.899 And so it's important that we see the wisdom here. 00:15:42.899 --> 00:15:52.980 Taking all of this into consideration, it is clear that the context of this psalm is far greater than the coordination of a single Jewish king. 00:15:53.480 --> 00:15:58.919 To apply this psalm strictly to an earthly king, even if you were to apply it to King David himself, 00:15:59.000 --> 00:16:06.019 would be like trying to put shoulder pads from an NFL lineman onto a newborn baby. 00:16:06.500 --> 00:16:07.539 It doesn't fit. 00:16:07.639 --> 00:16:09.019 It's far too big. 00:16:09.240 --> 00:16:11.879 It's far too great than this would allow. 00:16:11.879 --> 00:16:17.580 And so this psalm is far greater than simply being just for an earthly king. 00:16:17.700 --> 00:16:20.960 This psalm has a much greater reach than that. 00:16:21.320 --> 00:16:25.600 What we have here is a psalm fitting of a king who rules the world. 00:16:26.299 --> 00:16:28.679 And there is only one who fits that description. 00:16:29.179 --> 00:16:31.639 And that is King Jesus himself. 00:16:31.639 --> 00:16:38.139 And so when we say that it is foolish to place our hope in the things or people of this world, 00:16:38.340 --> 00:16:42.299 what we are saying, it is foolish to turn from Jesus. 00:16:43.179 --> 00:16:45.299 It's foolish to take our eyes off of him. 00:16:45.379 --> 00:16:49.299 So how does God respond to this affront to who he is? 00:16:49.340 --> 00:16:51.559 How does he respond to this foolish rebellion? 00:16:52.220 --> 00:16:54.000 Does he begin to gather his troops? 00:16:54.080 --> 00:16:56.000 Does he begin to count the cost and say, you know what? 00:16:56.000 --> 00:17:00.480 Let's see, they have this many people and I've got this many, many angels here. 00:17:01.179 --> 00:17:02.320 It's going to be close. 00:17:02.460 --> 00:17:04.200 It's going to be, I'm going to have to count the cost. 00:17:04.400 --> 00:17:09.920 Is that, is he worried that all of these people are speaking against him, that they're rebelling against him? 00:17:10.400 --> 00:17:10.859 No. 00:17:11.759 --> 00:17:15.240 It's said, this is the only place in scripture where it says that God laughs. 00:17:16.200 --> 00:17:17.819 He laughs at this. 00:17:17.819 --> 00:17:24.359 And we, I mean, obviously we know throughout scripture and we obviously know in our lives that, that God has a sense of humor. 00:17:24.480 --> 00:17:29.000 Some of you remind me of that quite often when you talk about me as pastor of this church. 00:17:29.179 --> 00:17:32.759 And to that, I just say, thank you, mom, for reminding me of my childhood. 00:17:33.359 --> 00:17:36.679 But, but we all understand this and we all see it throughout scripture. 00:17:36.779 --> 00:17:41.899 But this laughter here is, it's not a, a ha ha, this is funny laughter. 00:17:41.899 --> 00:17:45.059 This is a, this is a different kind of laughter. 00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:48.019 This is a different kind of laughter. 00:17:48.319 --> 00:17:50.740 This is, this is not a humorous laughter. 00:17:51.419 --> 00:17:53.980 Boyce notes how God responds to this rebellion. 00:17:54.119 --> 00:17:58.279 He says this, he says, he does not even rise from where he is sitting. 00:17:58.859 --> 00:18:02.759 He simply laughs at these great imbeciles. 00:18:03.359 --> 00:18:06.059 He laughs at these great imbeciles. 00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:08.480 It's a laugh of disdain. 00:18:08.919 --> 00:18:12.399 In this next verse, it says, the Lord holds them in derision. 00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:24.840 Then he will speak to them in his wrath and terrify them in his fury saying, as for me, I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill. 00:18:25.440 --> 00:18:30.640 He's saying, you can do all that you want, but I've already set my king in place. 00:18:31.019 --> 00:18:36.340 All the kings and the kingdoms of this world pale in comparison to Jesus. 00:18:36.339 --> 00:18:47.039 Now, hopefully we can now clearly see that God, see the foolishness of trying to rebel against God and follow whatever they desire. 00:18:47.339 --> 00:18:50.939 But now I want us to turn our attention to what we should be following. 00:18:51.519 --> 00:19:01.339 We've seen the foolishness of turning against God, but now we see the wisdom and the blessing of placing our hope in Jesus. 00:19:01.339 --> 00:19:06.980 The wisdom and the blessing of placing our hope in Jesus. 00:19:06.980 --> 00:19:09.619 It says this in verses 7 through 12. 00:19:09.699 --> 00:19:12.139 It says, I will tell of the decree. 00:19:12.319 --> 00:19:15.500 The Lord said to me, you are my son. 00:19:15.859 --> 00:19:17.699 And today I have begotten you. 00:19:17.819 --> 00:19:23.039 Ask of me and I will make the nations your heritage and the ends of the earth your possession. 00:19:23.699 --> 00:19:28.339 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them into pieces like a potter's vessel. 00:19:28.339 --> 00:19:34.399 Now, therefore, O kings, be wise, be warned, O rulers of the earth. 00:19:34.819 --> 00:19:37.939 Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. 00:19:38.619 --> 00:19:45.019 Kiss the son lest he be angry and you will perish in the way for his wrath is quickly kindled. 00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:49.839 Blessed are all who take refuge in him. 00:19:51.379 --> 00:19:55.000 Blessed are all who take refuge in him. 00:19:55.000 --> 00:20:01.759 Just as the blessed man of Psalm 1 prospers despite the multitude of wicked who surround him. 00:20:02.160 --> 00:20:09.759 So the anointed king of Psalm 2 conquers no matter how many kings foolishly oppose him. 00:20:10.700 --> 00:20:14.359 Verses 7 through 9 contain the words of God's anointed. 00:20:14.839 --> 00:20:17.059 He says, I will tell you a decree. 00:20:17.740 --> 00:20:20.940 He's saying what I'm about to tell you is unchangeable. 00:20:21.220 --> 00:20:22.019 This is a decree. 00:20:22.019 --> 00:20:27.799 There's nothing that is going to change us because this is a decree and it carries weight with it. 00:20:28.039 --> 00:20:31.240 What I'm about to tell you is a decree from God. 00:20:31.339 --> 00:20:34.500 He is saying what I'm about to tell you is unchangeable. 00:20:34.819 --> 00:20:41.139 And the unchangeable truth declared is that this Messiah is God's son. 00:20:41.460 --> 00:20:44.879 If there was ever any doubt that this psalm is about Jesus, 00:20:45.039 --> 00:20:49.319 then these next few verses put to rest any doubts that we might have. 00:20:49.319 --> 00:20:54.359 It says, ask of me and I will make the nations your heritage. 00:20:55.099 --> 00:21:02.679 Spurgeon, he knows that the asking nature of this king highlights the priestly nature of him as well. 00:21:03.079 --> 00:21:07.919 Not only is he a king who rules, but he's a king who intercedes. 00:21:08.559 --> 00:21:09.740 He's asking God. 00:21:09.740 --> 00:21:14.859 And so this shows that this king is not just a king, but it's a priestly king. 00:21:15.660 --> 00:21:18.319 Namely, Jesus Christ, who is Lord over everything. 00:21:18.440 --> 00:21:22.720 And he is our great high priest who makes that intercession on our behalf. 00:21:23.620 --> 00:21:24.819 And so this is what we see. 00:21:24.900 --> 00:21:28.339 We see this is clearly pointing us to Jesus. 00:21:28.660 --> 00:21:31.539 And there's beauty that comes from this. 00:21:31.539 --> 00:21:36.440 And it also reminds us as the nations are his inheritance. 00:21:37.180 --> 00:21:45.059 Revelation 7 reminds us that one day there will be people from every tribe, tongue, and nation around the throne saying, 00:21:45.440 --> 00:21:50.940 salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb. 00:21:51.539 --> 00:21:55.480 And so what we see is this is clearly pointing us to Jesus. 00:21:55.480 --> 00:22:04.500 And in the final three verses, we're reminded that the wise and the blessed take their refuge in God. 00:22:05.079 --> 00:22:10.200 We're reminded over and over again in scripture that God is our refuge. 00:22:10.940 --> 00:22:16.099 The chaos of verse 1 is contrasted with the refuge in verse 12. 00:22:16.599 --> 00:22:19.140 In verse 1, it says the nations rage. 00:22:19.440 --> 00:22:21.559 The peoples are plotting against God. 00:22:21.559 --> 00:22:24.740 You see the chaos that is taking place at the beginning. 00:22:25.220 --> 00:22:30.000 And that stands in stark contrast to the final phrase in this passage where it says, 00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:34.220 blessed are all who take refuge in him. 00:22:35.139 --> 00:22:39.740 The chaos of this world falls at the refuge of God. 00:22:40.299 --> 00:22:46.259 The chaos of this world pales in comparison to the peace that comes from God. 00:22:46.259 --> 00:22:53.259 One of the most beautiful passages in scripture dealing with God being our refuge is found in Psalm 46. 00:22:54.039 --> 00:22:55.920 Where it opens with these words. 00:22:56.420 --> 00:23:00.619 And some of you will be able to finish this phrase before I even get to the end of it. 00:23:00.640 --> 00:23:04.039 Where it says, God is our refuge and strength. 00:23:04.619 --> 00:23:06.980 A very present help in trouble. 00:23:06.980 --> 00:23:11.319 Therefore, we will not fear though the earth gives way. 00:23:11.460 --> 00:23:13.920 Though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea. 00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:16.500 Though its waters roar and fall. 00:23:16.620 --> 00:23:19.960 Though the mountains tremble at its swelling. 00:23:20.440 --> 00:23:24.420 We are reminded that God is our refuge and strength. 00:23:24.720 --> 00:23:27.519 A very present help in times of trouble. 00:23:28.380 --> 00:23:35.180 You see, it was these words that led Martin Luther to pen the words of one of his greatest hymns that he's ever written. 00:23:35.180 --> 00:23:37.100 A mighty fortress is our God. 00:23:37.519 --> 00:23:39.500 A bulwark never failing. 00:23:40.120 --> 00:23:42.320 And so many of us remember that song. 00:23:42.400 --> 00:23:43.799 When many of us remember those words. 00:23:43.880 --> 00:23:45.539 A mighty fortress is our God. 00:23:45.840 --> 00:23:47.320 A bulwark never failing. 00:23:47.320 --> 00:23:50.420 And I'm afraid as powerful as those words are. 00:23:50.519 --> 00:23:55.160 That they don't carry the same weight that they did several hundred years ago for us. 00:23:55.299 --> 00:23:57.400 Because who in here, if you're honest. 00:23:57.680 --> 00:24:01.680 Has ever once in your life used bulwark in a sentence. 00:24:02.920 --> 00:24:04.299 Not many of us have. 00:24:04.299 --> 00:24:06.639 And many of us don't understand what this is. 00:24:06.700 --> 00:24:09.619 But this bulwark is a strong defense. 00:24:10.200 --> 00:24:12.019 It's a strong defense against something. 00:24:12.419 --> 00:24:15.919 And many times it could be defending a castle or something like that. 00:24:15.960 --> 00:24:22.779 But it's also given, it's used in the context of a strong defense against the waves that are coming into a port. 00:24:23.359 --> 00:24:28.039 Many times you'll see pictures of a large port where these ships are docking. 00:24:28.039 --> 00:24:31.420 And as these ships dock, they need a calm place to dock. 00:24:31.420 --> 00:24:37.659 They don't need the raging sea to be bumping against them and pushing them back and forth as they seek to dock. 00:24:37.940 --> 00:24:40.039 They need something that is blocking that. 00:24:40.180 --> 00:24:46.200 And so that's a lot of times where this term is used as a bulwark that is blocking the sea that is coming in. 00:24:46.200 --> 00:24:53.380 And I have heard this many times, but it wasn't until just a few months ago that I got to see this on a small scale. 00:24:53.380 --> 00:24:57.220 My whole family went down to Jamaica for a wedding. 00:24:57.420 --> 00:25:03.100 And the place of the venue for the wedding had this beautiful beach that was in front of it. 00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:07.500 And it was beautiful because it was just incredibly calm right here. 00:25:08.040 --> 00:25:13.380 Everywhere else that you went along this coast, the waves were just crashing into the coast. 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:14.900 They were just crashing. 00:25:15.000 --> 00:25:16.140 There was no beach anywhere. 00:25:16.420 --> 00:25:17.920 It was just crashing into a cliff. 00:25:18.000 --> 00:25:20.760 And these big waves are coming in where you couldn't even swim. 00:25:20.759 --> 00:25:28.759 You were afraid to go out there in it very far or even get in it at all if you had little kids because of the crashing waves that were coming in. 00:25:29.160 --> 00:25:31.319 Except for this one location. 00:25:31.960 --> 00:25:36.000 Because they had these rock walls that were built up that overlapped. 00:25:36.339 --> 00:25:37.960 And it allowed water to come in. 00:25:38.039 --> 00:25:42.440 But it protected it against all of the raging sea that was coming in. 00:25:42.599 --> 00:25:46.019 So much so that it was almost like a pool that was right here. 00:25:46.240 --> 00:25:49.359 Where you weren't afraid at all to let the kids go down and play in it. 00:25:49.359 --> 00:25:53.839 And so this bulwark was preventing the sea from coming in. 00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:57.679 And all of a sudden you had this nice calm spot where you could relax. 00:25:57.799 --> 00:25:59.079 Where you could take comfort. 00:25:59.219 --> 00:26:02.099 Where you could have this refuge in. 00:26:02.919 --> 00:26:07.679 The passage is reminding us that God is our refuge. 00:26:08.500 --> 00:26:12.019 And it is foolish to find it in anything else. 00:26:12.779 --> 00:26:14.899 A choice must be made in our lives. 00:26:14.900 --> 00:26:17.759 Are we going to give our lives to Jesus? 00:26:18.480 --> 00:26:25.940 Or are we going to rebel against Him by giving our lives to other things that never deliver on what they promise? 00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:29.600 And so the question we must all answer now is this. 00:26:30.259 --> 00:26:32.000 Am I going all in for Jesus? 00:26:32.980 --> 00:26:35.480 Am I giving my life? 00:26:35.540 --> 00:26:38.280 Am I going all in to follow Jesus? 00:26:38.279 --> 00:26:40.019 Am I wholly committing my life? 00:26:40.259 --> 00:26:41.639 Not straddling the fence. 00:26:41.740 --> 00:26:45.720 But wholly commit to following Jesus and no one else. 00:26:46.259 --> 00:26:48.539 And you may say, Brent, that's asking a lot. 00:26:48.980 --> 00:26:54.299 If you really are asking me to give up everything to follow Jesus, that's a lot. 00:26:55.240 --> 00:26:56.259 And it is. 00:26:57.259 --> 00:27:01.879 Until you realize how foolish it is to give your life to anything else. 00:27:01.880 --> 00:27:04.500 It is a lot. 00:27:05.340 --> 00:27:09.100 Until you realize what you're giving your life to. 00:27:10.040 --> 00:27:14.620 It's like asking a man dying of thirst in the middle of the desert to take a sip of water. 00:27:15.260 --> 00:27:18.260 Sure, he cannot take a sip, but it would be foolish not to. 00:27:19.360 --> 00:27:23.760 Jesus says it this way in a parable. 00:27:23.880 --> 00:27:24.140 He says, 00:27:24.140 --> 00:27:31.100 The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. 00:27:31.099 --> 00:27:38.199 Then in his joy, he goes and sells all that he has and buys the field. 00:27:39.259 --> 00:27:41.339 He sells all that he has to buy this field. 00:27:41.699 --> 00:27:42.039 Why? 00:27:42.359 --> 00:27:46.859 Because the treasure in the field was far greater than all of the treasure that he had. 00:27:47.919 --> 00:27:53.519 Following Jesus, yes, it costs us everything, but he gives us so much more. 00:27:54.339 --> 00:27:56.980 Now, it may not be in the form of money. 00:27:57.079 --> 00:27:59.399 It may not be in the form of an easy life. 00:27:59.400 --> 00:28:08.840 But what he gives us, eternal life with him, what he gives us with the satisfaction and the purpose of doing what we were called to do, 00:28:09.120 --> 00:28:13.040 is a far greater treasure than anything this world has to offer. 00:28:13.400 --> 00:28:15.600 Jesus again says it this way right after that. 00:28:15.660 --> 00:28:15.800 He says, 00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:30.519 He realizes that this has the value. 00:28:30.859 --> 00:28:32.319 There's greater value in this. 00:28:32.319 --> 00:28:38.259 If you were to ask me to give up everything I own in exchange for a million dollars, I would gladly say, 00:28:38.419 --> 00:28:39.460 Yes, show me where to sign. 00:28:39.519 --> 00:28:40.200 You can have my house. 00:28:40.259 --> 00:28:40.919 You can have my car. 00:28:41.179 --> 00:28:42.379 You can have everything else. 00:28:42.639 --> 00:28:44.099 You can have it for a million dollars. 00:28:44.200 --> 00:28:48.679 In fact, you could probably go far less than that, and I would sign it all over to you. 00:28:49.059 --> 00:28:49.379 Why? 00:28:49.839 --> 00:28:53.439 Because the value of that is far greater than the value of everything that I have. 00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:59.680 And what we are reminded of when Jesus calls us to follow him, to go all in for him. 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:03.700 Yes, it is costly, but it's worth it. 00:29:03.820 --> 00:29:06.000 Because Jesus is worth it. 00:29:06.000 --> 00:29:14.819 Jim Elliott, one of the famous missionaries to Ecuador, who was speared to death by the very people he was seeking to minister to, 00:29:15.619 --> 00:29:18.740 was sharing with someone about his desire to go on the mission field. 00:29:19.420 --> 00:29:25.200 And the person, meaning well, commenting on Jim's great intellect, that he was incredibly smart, 00:29:25.200 --> 00:29:27.740 and he said, You could die on the mission field. 00:29:27.839 --> 00:29:30.480 You could go there and die, and ultimately know that he would. 00:29:30.480 --> 00:29:36.059 And he says, How much greater would it be for you to use that wisdom, your communication skills, your intellect, 00:29:36.279 --> 00:29:41.200 in a far greater way here to tell people to go, to share with people, to expound God's word? 00:29:41.400 --> 00:29:45.640 How much greater would it be to use it for that than to possibly go and die? 00:29:46.500 --> 00:29:48.160 And this is what Jim Elliott said. 00:29:48.160 --> 00:29:55.599 He said, He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. 00:29:57.700 --> 00:29:59.640 Think of the weight of those words. 00:30:00.480 --> 00:30:06.700 He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose. 00:30:07.220 --> 00:30:12.839 Church, it is no foolish thing to place your hope and your trust in Jesus. 00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:16.940 The things of this world never deliver on what they promise. 00:30:17.380 --> 00:30:20.140 And sometimes we have to find that out the hard way. 00:30:20.539 --> 00:30:26.720 The loneliest moment in this life is when you finally attain what it is that you believed would bring you ultimate fulfillment. 00:30:26.720 --> 00:30:34.240 It is a lonely moment when you attain what it is that you thought would give your life meaning and purpose greater than anything else, 00:30:34.240 --> 00:30:37.140 only to realize that it doesn't. 00:30:37.880 --> 00:30:42.620 The only one that always delivers on what he promises is Jesus Christ. 00:30:42.619 --> 00:30:47.419 And so ask yourself today, what are you placing your hope in? 00:30:47.879 --> 00:30:49.839 What are you giving your life to? 00:30:50.500 --> 00:30:55.000 For some of you, it may be today that you need to ask that for the very first time. 00:30:55.439 --> 00:30:56.759 You've come to church a long time. 00:30:56.819 --> 00:30:59.000 Maybe this is the first time you've ever been to church. 00:30:59.059 --> 00:30:59.779 I don't know. 00:31:00.299 --> 00:31:02.779 But you may need to ask that for the first time. 00:31:02.959 --> 00:31:04.899 What is it that I'm giving my life to? 00:31:04.900 --> 00:31:11.380 And for some of you, it may be that you need to give your life to Jesus as the source of your hope for your salvation today. 00:31:12.280 --> 00:31:16.180 But for many of us, we still need to ask that question. 00:31:17.160 --> 00:31:19.000 What am I placing my hope in? 00:31:19.380 --> 00:31:26.440 What am I looking to in this world to give my life meaning, purpose, security, joy, whatever the case may be? 00:31:26.620 --> 00:31:29.080 What is it that I'm giving my life to today? 00:31:29.420 --> 00:31:32.640 So I want to ask you to genuinely ask that question today. 00:31:32.640 --> 00:31:37.800 And if God is speaking to you this morning, won't you respond as we pray? 00:31:37.920 --> 00:31:39.020 Father, we love you. 00:31:39.440 --> 00:31:40.700 We thank you for Jesus. 00:31:40.940 --> 00:31:45.860 We thank you for the hope that we have in you because of what you accomplished on the cross. 00:31:45.980 --> 00:31:54.440 And so, Lord, when we look at passages like this, that remind us, that give us a little glimpse of who you are and all that you've done for us. 00:31:54.740 --> 00:31:59.160 Lord, help these passages point us to you as the source of our hope. 00:31:59.160 --> 00:32:11.920 God, help us to not look to things or people in this world to give our life meaning and purpose, but help us to look to you, to place our trust in you as a source of our hope. 00:32:12.519 --> 00:32:21.660 And so, Lord, I pray today that if there's somebody here that has never placed their hope and their trust in you, that today would be the day they do that. 00:32:21.660 --> 00:32:26.519 That today would be the day they genuinely ask that question. 00:32:26.820 --> 00:32:28.560 What am I putting my hope in? 00:32:28.860 --> 00:32:42.540 And if we're putting our hope in anything other than the finished work of Jesus on the cross, then, Lord, open our eyes and help us to see that it's pointless until we give our life to you. 00:32:42.539 --> 00:32:50.420 And so, Lord, if there's somebody here today that needs to accept you as their Lord and Savior, let today be the day they do that. 00:32:50.879 --> 00:32:56.680 But, God, I also pray that for all of us, that we would genuinely ask that question in our life. 00:32:56.740 --> 00:32:58.579 What is it that I'm giving my life to? 00:32:58.819 --> 00:33:02.819 What is it that I'm looking to to have hope in this life? 00:33:02.879 --> 00:33:05.200 What am I placing my hope in in this world? 00:33:06.059 --> 00:33:08.240 And so, Lord, help us to ask that each and every day. 00:33:08.240 --> 00:33:16.700 And each and every day, make that conscious decision to realize that you and you alone are the only one that delivers on what you promise. 00:33:17.359 --> 00:33:18.819 And so, Lord, we thank you for that. 00:33:18.839 --> 00:33:21.259 And we ask all these things in Jesus' precious name. 00:33:21.680 --> 00:33:22.019 Amen. 00:33:23.019 --> 00:33:24.440 I want to invite you to stand with me. 00:33:24.500 --> 00:33:26.660 We're going to sing the song of invitation this morning. 00:33:27.000 --> 00:33:30.500 And if God is speaking to you, won't you respond as we stand together and sing?