Tag: Psalm 2

His Anger Kindles in a Flash

On By TimIn Jesus, Psalm 002Leave a comment

Now then, you kings, be wise;
be admonished, you judges of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear;
tremble with trepidation!
Kiss the son, lest He become angry,
and you perish in the way,
for His wrath kindles in a flash.
Blessed are all who seek refuge in Him.

Psalm 2:10–12

I am often fascinated by the idea that the God of the Old Testament is somehow different than Jesus. They are the same God, Jesus testified to the fact that had one known the Father they would have known Him. Here, Psalm 2 provides an interesting glimpse into an intimate conversation between two Persons as God.

I draw your attention to the closing stanza. Specifically to the idea that Jesus’ wrath kindles in a flash. How does that comport to the loving Jesus you know when His anger explodes instantly?

The more important point to weigh… Why would His anger kindle at all?

Could it be that when leaders don’t lead properly, that is pointing people to Jesus, there is trouble afoot?

Clearly, the stanza is addressed to kings and judges, generally the leaders of the people. These are instructed to worship Jesus before He becomes angry. These Psalm implies that there is a limit to the time available. Perhaps it points to when Jesus returns to vanquish His enemies. It is going to be a swift and rather brutal thing. Or it is just a general exhortation that God will not let you ignore Him forever. Nevertheless, it informs us that there is a time limit to His mercy.

Personally, I think there may be a bit more in view. Especially when considering that part of this is quoted in Hebrews.

For to which of the angels did He at any time say:
“You are My Son;
today I have become Your Father”?
Or again,
“I will be a Father to Him,
and He shall be a Son to Me”?

Hebrews 1:5

The Son is Jesus. The text is also speaking of the angels not being like Jesus. When looking back at Psalm 2, those kings and judges may very well include spiritual beings. The next verse in Hebrews 1 seems to point to an indicator of that.

And again, when He brings the firstborn into the world, He says:
“Let all the angels of God worship Him.”

Hebrews 1:6

The desire of God is that all angels worship Him. We know there are some that fell away. The Hebrews passage also cites another Psalm…

All who serve graven images are ashamed,
who boast in worthless idols;
worship Him, all you gods.

Psalm 97:7

In that last line, seeing the word gods, one can assume it is the Hebrew word elohim. Reading it for understanding, “worship Him, all you elohim.”

For some, this may be an introduction to something not considered. That is, the word elohim is not necessarily a name for God. It describes a class of being much like the English word god. When God is capitalized, we know it is the Most High. When not, it is any of the lesser gods. I want you to think elohim are spiritual beings.

There are plenty of resources available on this site and can be found by exploring the tags and categories. But for a deeper explanation, this article serves well enough.

It kind of makes sense that spiritual beings are included and encouraged to remain loyal to the Son. His anger would be kindled to those who do not, and consequently they cannot seek refuge in the Son having no kin relationship to Him.

But, the greater point is that we humans can take refuge in Him. As long as we are breathing, He is a place of safety and comfort no matter what you’ve done and where you are. If you’re running away, the way back to Jesus is easy. Just turn around!

And if you’ve never taken that step to worship Jesus, start now.

The offer will expire.

Which Side Are You On?

On By TimIn Psalm 002, Spiritual WarfareLeave a comment

History provides some poignant lessons… Among those is this one. I know I’ve written about this recently, but here is an important contemporary idea that needs to be considered in light of what the Bible says.

Why do the nations rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord
and against His anointed, saying,
“Let us tear off their bonds
and cast away their ropes from us.”

Psalm 2:1–3

How could this apply today, it’s just poetic literature, right?

Reading it carefully, it is God speaking to the nations and the people of those countries about their policies. God calls their plans self-serving.

The kings of the Earth set themselves. This clearly states that the leaders of the nations set themselves in opposition to God and Jesus. There are also rulers who counsel with these kings. Some of your translations read princes, but I think something a bit more sinister is at play. The Hebrew word translated here as ruler is razan. It means heavy, as in commanding. It is translated as prince or ruler. When we look at the Septuagint, the Hebrew scholars chose the Greek word archon. This adds a spiritual context that may hint at some underlying context.

Archon is used in many forms and places in the New Testament. It is used in the gospels as a descriptor of Beelzebub, ruler of demons (Matthew 12:24; Mark 3:22; Luke 11:15.) It is also used in the Gospel of John to describe the ruler of this world. For the discussion at hand, let’s look at the two ways Paul uses it.

And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, in which you formerly walked according to the age of this world and according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

Ephesians 2:1–2

And again here:

For our fight is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, and against spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Ephesians 6:12

In the first citation, Paul says there is a prince of the power of the air. To understand, think that there is an archon of the exousia of the air. The second instance tells us we wrestle not against principalities, those are the archons. We also wrestle against exousias (powers) and kosmokrators (rulers.) These are dark powers at work in this world.

Considering that, what may be said in Psalm 2 of the kings and rules taking counsel together is that there are dark powers working with human leaders to effect policies in our world. The question then comes, is there evidence for such a thing?

I think there is ample evidence. Step back into recent history:

There is a source called Secret Nazi Plans for Eastern Europe A Study of Lebensraum Policies by Dr. Ihor Kamenetsky. He writes of the German occupation of Poland and the desire to eliminate what the Germans deemed as sub-human. The occupiers desired to weaken Polish society to accept their ideas. Those socialist Germans issued the following decree:

“All measures which have the tendency to limit births are to be tolerated or to be supported. Abortion in the remaining area (of Poland) must be declared free from punishment. The means for abortion and contraceptive means may be offered publicly without any police restriction. Homosexuality is always to be declared legal. The institutions and persons involved professionally in abortion practices are not to be interfered with by police. Racial-hygenic measures are not to be promoted.” — (Page 139, Secret Nazi Plans for eastern Europe)

It is said… Those that do not know history are doomed to repeat it. Looking again at Psalm 2 seems to reveal a prophetic pattern that comes with substantial consequences and an ultimate consummation.

The first point in the socialist’s decree is unrestrictive abortion and contraception. Given modern propensities, these may be perceived as desirable things to have. After all, with global warming, limiting the human population is probably a good practice. But is it?

Except the Lord build the house,
those who build labor in vain;
except the Lord guards the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
It is in vain for you to rise up early,
to stay up late,
and to eat the bread of hard toil,
for He gives sleep to His beloved.
Look, children are a gift of the Lord,
and the fruit of the womb is a reward.
As arrows in the hand of a mighty warrior,
so are the children of one’s youth.
Happy is the man
who has his quiver full of them;
he shall not be ashamed
when he speaks with the enemies at the gate.

Psalm 127:1–5

God commands humans to be fruitful and multiply. He calls children a gift of His, they are a reward. They are even deemed weapons of a mighty warrior. Could that be why the Germans wanted to curtail these things under the lie of freedom?

There is also the unspoken idea present in the decree… Marriage to one person for life is too restrictive.

Look… The enemy doesn’t change tactics at all. He gets people to buy into the idea that the institutions given by God are too restrictive. God gave gender, male and female. That is now declared too binary. God told humans to be fruitful and multiply, but having children binds one to home. God gave marriage as a gift, but the idea of one man and one woman is old-fashioned. The means to be fruitful, that is sex for procreation is also considered too narrow. These things are now declared as too binding, just like ropes used to tie something up. They are considered limitations to human freedom. It is the same proclamation of bondage and a false promise of liberty that the nachash (serpent) spoke to Eve in the garden, “You shall be as gods.”.

The National Socialists in Germany knew how to demoralize humans. We are witnessing the repeat by decree of governments worldwide. It is just as if what Psalm 2 says… Is true now. Yet, history demonstrates that atrocities follow such things.

The War Against Humans

The enemy is at war with humans. There is an all-out battle waging in both the spiritual world and the physical world centered on human procreation. It was declared in Genesis 3:15, and it has God as Victor on one side and dark powers on another. It is like the activities of world governments are telling us Who the real Victor is.

I saw when the Lamb opened one of the seals. Then I heard one of the four living creatures saying, with voice like thunder, “Come and see.” And I looked, and there before me was a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow. And a crown was given to him, and he went forth conquering that he might overcome.
When He opened the second seal, I heard the second living creature say, “Come and see.” Then another horse that was red went forth. Power was given to him who sat on it to take peace from the earth, causing people to kill one another. Then a great sword was given to him.
When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come!” I looked, and there was a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand. Then I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a day’s wages, and three quarts of barley for a day’s wages, and do not harm the oil and the wine.”
When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature say, “Come!” So I looked, and there was a pale horse, and the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed him. Power over a fourth of the earth was given to them, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth.
When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony they had held. They cried out with a loud voice, “How long, O Sovereign Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” Then a white robe was given to each of them, and they were told to rest a little longer, until the number of their fellow servants and brothers should be completed, who would be killed as they were.
I watched as He opened the sixth seal. And suddenly there was a great earthquake. The sun became black, like sackcloth made from goat hair, and the moon became like blood. And the stars of heaven fell to the earth, as a fig tree drops its unripe figs when it is shaken by a strong wind. Then the heavens receded like a scroll when it is rolled up, and every mountain and island was removed from its place.
Then the kings of the earth and the great men and the rich men and the commanding officers and the strong and everyone, slave and free, hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains. They said to the mountains and rocks, “Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb, for the great day of His wrath has come. Who is able to withstand it?”

Revelation 6:1–17

It is just as He said in Psalm 2…

He who sits in the heavens laughs; the LORD ridicules them.
Then He will speak to them in His wrath and terrify them in His burning anger:
“I have installed My king on Zion, My holy hill.”
I will declare the decree of the LORD: He said to me, “You are My son; this day have I begotten you.
Ask of Me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession.
You will break them with a scepter of iron; you will dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
Now then, you kings, be wise; be admonished, you judges of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear; tremble with trepidation!
Kiss the son, lest He become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath kindles in a flash. Blessed are all who seek refuge in Him.

Psalm 2:4–12

Truth is pure. He knows the end from the beginning and has told us in advance.

Children are a heritage. There is no middle ground.

Which side are you on?

He Who Sits in the Heavens Laughs

On By TimIn Last Days, Psalm 0021 Comment

Something that struck me from a text taught the other night. It speaks to the urgency of the time in which we live. Things are quickly coming to the point that God is going to establish His throne on Earth and set His Son on it.

Why do the nations rage,
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord
and against His anointed, saying,
“Let us tear off their bonds
and cast away their ropes from us.”

Psalm 2:1–3

When considering the idea that human culture wants to be free from what they perceive as bondage that God puts on them, what does it mean?

Well, let’s just look at the last 70 or so years in the USA. Christianity, the Bible, prayer and God were removed from the schoolhouse. Those same things were also removed from the halls of the government. The people tend to not want influence from those things to enter the school, the government, nor the culture.

There has also been a movement that politicizes morality. What was once immoral now becomes legalized, so people can think it’s not wrong. This is part of the trickery of the age that ensnares people. It looks like hedonistic libertarianism, but without temperance it’s going to bring destruction. More people attempt to be free from constraints of old-fashioned Christianity.

We know God made man and breathed life into him. Science says man came from rocks, rain, and a zap in that primordial ooze that came from rain falling on rocks. Then from a long series of happenstance, humans evolved from that first life. Thats the laughable story science (so-called) crafts in order to loosen any ties to God. Humans don’t have to be bound to thinking of themselves as a creation (and possession) of God.

What else follows?

God established marriage as one man and one woman. That idea is considered too constraining. Marriage has been expanded by law, and is being pushed to extremes. The basic foundation and establishment of human community given by God is considered too narrow.

The blessings of sexual relations God have to be practiced within those boundaries of covenant marriage are another old-fashioned idea. It is considered wrong to confine sexual relations to just one man and one woman in marriage.

There is the issue of divorce. Because a lifelong commitment to one person is too restrictive. As a result the blessings of motherhood and fatherhood are also easily abandoned. Even more so with the availability of sterilization and abortion procedures.

Even the definition of love as selflessness is too restrictive. People are taught to look out primarily for themselves and their own fleeting pleasures.

There is even the idea that fathers can give birth because the binary basics of gender, male and female as God made them, are to narrow. Society is in the midst of freeing itself from that.

He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord ridicules them. Then He will speak to them in His wrath and terrify them in His burning anger: “I have installed My king on Zion, My holy hill.”

Psalm 2:4–6

Why would God laugh?

Because He watches the vain futility as humans to try to abandon God.

It is clear that this Psalm is giving us a time marker. It is like it is saying, when these things happen, guess what comes next?

These are the very times we live in and those which God laughs at.

If that is so, it seems that He is going to bring His burning anger to those who do these things. Some call this period of time the tribulation. That is when God’s anger comes upon the nations of the earth. What epitomizes that period of time is the return of Jesus as King. He comes back and rules the earth for 1,000 years from a throne in Jerusalem.

I will declare the decree of the Lord: He said to me, “You are My son; this day have I begotten you. Ask of Me,
and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession. You will break them with a scepter of iron; you will dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

Psalm 2:7–9

When Jesus comes again, who will be those broken by the scepter of iron?

Who will be those shattered to pieces like a broken vessel?

It will be the ones who have abandoned the old-fashioned idea of temperance is self-control. Loosing the bonds of God is an exercise in vanity. Christianity and morality, as given by God, are deemed too restrictive.

But there is an admonition to those who would hear it.

Now then, you kings, be wise; be admonished, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear; tremble with trepidation! Kiss the son, lest He become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath kindles in a flash. Blessed are all who seek refuge in Him.

Psalm 2:10–12

My hope and prayer is that you are of those who honor God by honoring His Son. There is no other way to be truly free of the wrath of God other than seeking refuge in Him.