Photo by Daniel Gutko on Unsplash.
I have read the Psalms many times over the years, but I recently was given a whole new perspective on the Psalms when I listened to Vaughan Roberts who led the Bible Reading on Week 3 of the Keswick Convention. Just to put this into context. Our Tuesday evening Bible Study at Dawson Community Church is starting again on 10th September when I am planning to lead the group on a journey through the life of David. We will base our discussion mainly in First and Second Samuel but, of course, it would be surprising if we did not refer to various Psalms (and we intend to adapt our studies for Dayshare blogs). After all, the Psalms are often referred to as the Psalms of David even though they were written over a period of 900 years from Moses who wrote some of early Psalms and the last psalms were written during the exile. In fact, Vaughan Roberts explained that the arrangement of the 150 Psalms which we find in our Bibles dates back to the period of exile. By that stage, what was left of the nation was taken into captivity in Babylon and he got us to imagine the impact on the captives living in a foreign land hearing these Psalms being read out loud. There was no king in Israel or Judah. There was no worship of Yahweh. The magnificent temple which King Solomon had built had been completely destroyed and all its furniture and precious vessels had been plundered.
Vaughan Roberts provided a great outline of the 5 books of the Psalms and he provided an overarching perspective of the Psalter (which was Israel's hymn book or perhaps prayer book). It is not necessary to look into the themes covered in these five collections of Psalms in today's study, but it is maybe helpful to point out that Psalm 1 and Psalm 2 together form the introduction or prologue to the Psalms. Vaughan Roberts provided a very helpful title to the combined first and second Psalms: The Universal King. This is clearly referring to Psalm 2:6.
“As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” [Psalm 2:6 ESV]
Yahweh is the speaker - the One God of the Old Testament. He has installed or anointed His King (the Messiah which means the anointed one) and refers to Jesus Christ. The deity or divinity of the Messiah is highlighted in verse 7: I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. [Psalm 2:7 ESV]
Jesus the Christ or the Messiah is 'the universal king' ruling over all the nations. He has been given the nations as his inheritance. The ends of the earth are His possession. For those who were experiencing the bitterness of exile, these words must have been a great comfort. They knew that there was coming a future day when the Messiah would reign over all the nations.
However, the two introductory psalms present a picture of cosmic conflict between, on the one side, the LORD and His anointed One and, on the other side, the kings and rulers of the nations who are violently opposed to God's rule. They challenge God's rule because they see it as restrictive and oppressive. Liberty and freedom are their objectives and God's rule is restricting their desire to live their life as they please.
The two psalms share this same theme of perennial conflict between God together with His Son and His loyal followers and those who are opposed to God's rule. Psalm 1 sees this conflict from an individual and a personal level. According to Augustine, the human race is divided into 'mockers' and 'praisers.' Those who are righteous (they are those who are praisers of God) have learned to live a life which is separate and distinct from the scoffers and the mockers. They are living spiritually fruitful lives as they find their delight in God's Law (which encompasses far more than the ten commandments) and they meditate on God's Word. They are described as "a tree planted by streams of water" which is powerful Biblical imagery in contrast to the barren landscape of the Middle East. However, those who are described as wicked or mockers are said to be "like chaff that the wind blows away," an image from the agricultural practice of winnowing.
Psalm 2 continues with this conflict but this is no longer from the perspective of an individual person seeking to live a godly, righteous life in a hostile world which is opposed to God. It is now seen as an international conflict and the nations have joined forces against the LORD and His Messiah.
[1] Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? [2] The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, [3] “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” [Psalm 2:1-3 ESV]
Psalm 2 makes it clear that this is an unequal struggle and the LORD is the victor. The imagery is striking. God mocks the futile efforts of the rebellious kings of the earth.
He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. [Psalm 2:4 ESV]
This might seem strange language to use of God but He has the right to deride the pathetic efforts of the earthly rulers to depose Him.
There is good advice given to the powerful politicians, royalty and celebrities - they should humbly submit to divine authority in the face of the inevitable and devastating divine judgement.
[10] Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. [11] Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. [12] Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. [Psalm 2:10-12 ESV
It is helpful to look at these two introductory psalms before we begin our study of the life of the shepherd boy who became Israel's great king. Our study also looks at Israel's first king (Saul) and his downfall. David was indeed a man after God's heart and he achieved great things for God but he was not the Messiah. In other words, Psalm 2 was not referring to the rule of King David. Nor is it referring to David's son, Solomon. It refers to the Son of David who was and is the Son of God. He came to earth in humble guise and he was crucified with an inscription above His head, "King of the Jews." But a day is coming soon when the King will come back in glory and power to set up His kingdom which will never be destroyed.
As we study the life of David who, despite being a great king, was marked by failings and weakness, we are catching a glimpse of the future King on God's Holy Hill of Zion.
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