Browsing through a small bookstore in Portland, Maine, I found an old book about the ministry of Jesus and asked the clerk, James, how much it cost. That started us on a conversation about the Bible and he said that he believed it was a book full of errors and inconsistencies. I maintained that the Bible was the Word of God without error or apparent contradictions when properly interpreted.
Background
The second Psalm shows the Messiah’s victory over a rebellious enemy. This goes back to Genesis 3:15 where the seed of the serpent would fight the seed of the woman. The seed of the serpent would bruise the Messiah’s heel—a temporary wound (for Christ was raised from the dead). The seed of the woman would crush the serpent’s head—total destruction (in the lake of fire in the future).
Structure
The Psalm is structured as follows:
(Verses 1 – 3) The rebellious and their plans against the Lord and His Messiah
(Verses 4 – 9) God’s response to them—the authority of His Son, the Messiah
(Verses 10 – 12) Man’s proper conduct toward the Lord and His Messiah
Key Scriptures
Verse 7—“I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.” Think of how Jesus Christ would have marveled with rejoicing when he read this verse. This scripture is quoted in Acts 13:33 by Paul in Antioch of Pisidia. Paul said this was “glad tidings” and a promise that God made to the “fathers” of Israel. It is also quoted in Hebrews 1:5 and 5:5, regarding Christ being greater than any angel; and that he was a new kind of high priest (not under the Levitical law). As God’s Son, Jesus Christ had that stature.
Verse 8—”Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” This is quoted in the Book of Revelation three times (2:27; 12:5; 19:15). All three places show Jesus Christ’s future power and authority in action. He truly will rule with an iron rod.
Verses 11 and 12—“Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son….” This mighty Psalm concludes with advice on how to be “blessed.” Serve the Lord God with respect, and show obedience and honor to His Son, the Messiah. The words “Kiss the Son,” can also be translated “kiss the ground,” showing obedience and respect to a superior and lord. I Corinthians 8:6 explains this truth beautifully: “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of [from] whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by [means of] whom are all things, and we by him.”
FOR FURTHER STUDY
All 150 of The Psalms in Poetic Form are available from Amazon in a book, either Large Print or a smaller Bedside Reader. Also available for free with a Kindle Unlimited membership. Enjoy!
The entire blog series is now available in the publication The Psalms: Background & Structure with Key Scriptures Explained.
As a boy, I loved to listen to my parent’s old radio/phonograph player. It was set in a beautiful wooden cabinet, and I was often fascinated by the glowing tubes that warmed up to receive radio signals or the stack of records that dropped one at a time so the arm could gently place the needle on that record.
One of my favorite songs of the day was called “I’m My Own Grandpa.” It was a humorous ballad about a man who, through a variety of marriages and family relations, became his own grandfather.
As Jacob sat on the low stone wall
Sharing his evening bread
With Matthew, his fellow shepherdsman,
He savored God’s goodness and said:
Our heavenly Father called us in Christ. We can answer that call and walk each day in God’s Word.
Ephesians 4:1: I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called.
Here is a poem about our calling:
In Part 1, I told you about serving in my church and seeing the paintings of the Father, His Son, and the “Holy Ghost” above the altar. And we looked at what the scriptures say about the Father. The gospels, the Book of Acts, and the epistles written to the Church show that “the Father” is Almighty God, the Creator of the heavens and earth—Who loves us and wants to know us intimately as His children. Now we will look at what the Bible has to say about His Son, our lord and savior, Jesus Christ.