Psalm 2
In this second sermon from the Preaching Psalm series, Don Carson focuses his attention on the second Psalm. He aims to “understand the psalm, its flow before reflecting upon it and understanding how its picked up in the New Testament and how it applies to us.” In keeping with this aim, he begins with straightforward exegesis of the Psalm. After that he moves on to making some theological reflections, the most noteworthy being the use of this Psalm in the New Testament. He focuses his entire attention on the use of Psalm 2:7 in the New Testament and tries to make sense of the apostolic hermeneutics. If you have a special interest in the study of the use of Old Testament in New Testament, then this is a recommended resource for you. Even otherwise, all Bible loving Christians will find the insights drawn by Dr. Carson very profitable.
Link : Psalm 2
OUTLINE
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- Preface
- 1. Kings rebel (v1-3)
o Explanation of Messiah
o The transcendental realm of rebelling against the Lord’s anointed King.
- 2. God laughs (v4-6)
o The folly of rebelling against God
o The moral anarchy of rebelling against the Providential reigning Monarch, the ultimate Judge.
o God rebukes them in His anger and terrifies them in His wrath.
o Location of this anointed King makes it clear that it is a Davidic King.
- 3. God decrees (v7-9)
o The change of speaker from God to the Davidic King in the psalm
o The use of Sonship language.
(i) Recognizing it as a functional category
(ii) Illustration of God’s covenant people called Son in Exodus
(iii) More narrowly how the King when he is enthroned is called the Son of God
(iv) Accession to the Davidic throne and being called the Son of God
o How this promised conquering Davidic King cannot be David or Solomon or any historical King
- 4. Kings are warned (v.10-12)
o Warning to kings to recognize that it is the Lord is who is reigning and not to rebel.
o The inclusion between Psalm 1 and Psalm 2
(i) Dividing the righteous from the unrighteous
(ii) Establishing the Kingship of God mediated through a Davidic King
- Reflections
- 1. We must see that this theme of God being a King, indeed a warrior King is a major Old Testament theme.
- 2. How this Psalm is used in the New Testament
o It is first quoted in Acts 4, when the church is persecuted.
(i) The church saw persecution as a fulfillment of this Psalm
(ii) Persecution of God’s people is a mark of rebellion against God and His Messiah
o Psalm 2:7 in New Testament
(i) Hebrews 1:5
a) The argument is Psalm 2:7 proves Jesus is superior to angels.
(ii) Hebrews 5 :5
a) The argument is Psalm 2:7 proves Jesus does not take on the priesthood of Himself, but God appoints Him.
(iii) Acts 13:32
a) The argument is Psalm 2:7 proves that Jesus must be raised from the dead.
o On the face of it, Psalm 2:7 does not seem to be saying any of the above.
o Making sense of the apostolic logic in quoting Psalm 2:7
(i) 2 Samuel 7- promise of an enduring Davidic dynasty
(ii) Isaiah 9, Ezekiel 34- gradually there is built up in Old Testament trajectories, an anticipation of an enduring, eternal Davidic King that outstrips all possible notions of an earthly kingship.
(iii) At what point does Jesus become King in the New Testament –
a) There is a centrality to His coming to the throne that is bound up with his death and resurrection.
b) When He thus becomes the Davidic King, by virtue of His resurrection, He also becomes the great High Priest
c) He then also shows Himself to be the uniquely authoritative One, far above all other voices in heaven or on earth, above the angels or in the realm of necromancies; above the earth or below the earth, it makes no difference He alone is Sovereign.
(iv) Seeing what the author of Hebrews saw
(v) Noting that there is no simple proof texting logic, yet in seed form it is all there in Psalm 2 – God’s appointment, God’s anointed, God’s Messiah for us.
- 3. Our place in this warrior King’s reign
o We too are involved in a war
o Bound up with this Davidic King who under the authority of His Heavenly Father is appointed to go forth to war until all enemies are crushed including death itself
o We are in the same struggle today
