This terrifying Christmas

Psalm 2 (above, in part) is extremely ancient. Maybe 3,000 years old. It is part of the national archives of Israel and has been preserved (including in their Jerusalem Bible) from centuries before Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea. Through all those centuries, this Psalm has been venerated as being a God-inspired telling forth of the coming Jewish Messiah.

But, ever since the birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus (0 to 30 AD), Christians have recognized that the children of Israel were correct in their understanding that Psalm 2 spoke of the Messiah (Hebrew word), the Christ (Greek translation). Christians are convinced that it spoke of the one to be born in Bethlehem and to be crucified at Calvary on Zion’s hill, Jerusalem.

Thinking about the words in red bold above, they could have been written today.  “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 …?” Today the nations and the peoples have no time at all for the LORD or for Jesus Crist, His Anointed. 

 

If that seems to be rather a sweeping statement, please ask yourself these questions. When the G7 and the G20 meet, is there any mention at all of the LORD God or of His Anointed? And in the increasingly dire global situation regarding Climate Change, was thee any suggestion of prayer towards the Creator of life and breath and all things?

But are the nations and peoples actually saying “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” In other words, do they regard the LORD God, and Jesus, as being the forgers of “bonds” and “cords” from which they all wish to be free? There is a prevailing feeling – and it is true and correct – that the LORD God and His anointed are totally opposed to evil, no mater how small. That, of course, is unacceptable to people and nations.

In that case, what does the LORD God think about the present position on earth this Christmas? He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. How so? Well, after all is said and done, the Lord created them – and the whole earth and universe – out of nothing. Why should He be concerned about such rebellion? Will it overcome Him?

The LORD, at the time when Psalm 2 was written, saw a future “Then” (the original ancient Hebrew word simply means “at that time”). What time was that? Is it now or later? 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.” 

All that is in me cries out: this was speaking of Jesus to come, the Anointed of the LORD God, the one crucified on Zion’s hill, who was raised from the dead after three days in the grave. This babe of Bethlehem is now the LORDs King.

I want to make that known because that God-man on the cross – crucified as a criminal so as to take the punishment of even the worst of criminals - is more powerful to redeem and change human beings than all the raging nations and plotting peoples combined. And to do that in the “Then” which is now.

The nations and peoples only have force of their side – weapons, lies, money. This man of Calvary has shown to all, is showing to all today, the power of his giving and forgiving love. He, alone, changes people within. People may have their thinking and behavior changed through propaganda or bribery or demonstrations or incarceration. When love responds to the LORD’s love there is real change because the LORD and His Anointed send His promised holy spirit to live within all those who follow Jesus to their own similar cross.

 

No wonder the writer of Psalm 2 closed the Psalm (after some additional intervening words) with an instruction: 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.