1.2 God’s Reply

Psalm 2:4 “He who sits in the Heavens shall laugh; the LORD shall hold them in derision.” – The picture of God in Psalm 2:4 is an unusual one. He {God} laughs and derides. The laugh seems to be the kind of chuckle a champion gives when his opponent’s defeat is imminent. The derision is probably mixed with the wrath and displeasure described in Psalm 2:5. He {God} laughs at the futility of human actions, but He is angry at the whole idea of man trying to overthrow God

1. God Laugh – Psalm 2:4a “He who sits in the Heavens shall laugh.” –  To begin with, God sits and laughs at the rebellion. Being seated is a sign of His Authority. God’s laughter does not arise from humour. Laugh and derision (root idea, “to stammer”) are anthropomorphisms, meaning that God views puny man’s rebellion as utterly ridiculous and scornful.
   
   It is a terrible portent (omen) when God laughs. The very idea that puny man can defy the Almighty who has the universe with all its potential in the Palm of His hand is supremely ridiculous. Ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons are as children’s toys to Him. He knows all their secret and more.  This tautology (laughs and derision) is a repetition to show that there is not a doubt to be entertained that all these rebellions can succeed.
   
   The Lord (Adonai) signifies “My Stays,” or “My Sustainer – My Pillar.”  Our English word, “Lord” hath much the same force, being contracted of the Old Saxon word “Llaford,” or “Hlafford,” which cometh from “Laef,” to sustain, refresh, cherish (Henry Ainsworth).
   
2. God’s Wrath – Psalm 2:5 “Then He (God) shall speak to them in His Wrath, and distress them in His (God’s) deep displeasure.”  – The word “then” has peculiar force; it signifies the termination of the age of man’s apparent freedom and the establishment in the earth of the Divine Purpose.  Then, in the fullness of time, God intervenes with wrath (literally “blow nostril”) and fury (vex, literally “burning anger”).
   
   Distress them = “Strike terror and dismay into them” (Kay). God, in His sore displeasure of in the heat of His anger. The distressing (vexing) is either by horror of conscience or corporal plagues; one way or the other God will have them.
   
   The “wrath” in the Book of Revelation is a technical term, indicating the final series of judgements in the 3½ Years Great Tribulation. The Seal Judgements are those that men bring on themselves by their own folly, such as the building up of the nuclear arms, which one day will be unleashed, with a large portion of the World’s Population wiped out and material resources destroyed. The Bowls or Vial Judgements are God’s Wrath, the concentrated Anger of the Almighty poured out on the Seat of the Beasts (Antichrist & false Prophet – Revelation 13) and their Followers.
   
   It is easy for God to destroy His Enemies. Of thirty Romans Emperors, Governors of Provinces, and other high in office, who distinguished themselves by their zeal and bitterness in persecuting the early Christian:
   
   • One became speedily deranged after some atrocious cruelty.
   • One was slain by his own son.
   • One became blind.
   • One, whose one of the eyes started out of his head.
   • One was drowned.
   • One was strangled.
   • One died in a miserable captivity.
   • One fell dead in a manner that will not bear recital.
   • One died of so loathsome a disease that several of his Physicians were put to death, because they could not abide the stench that filled his room.
   • Two committed suicides.
   • A third attempted it but had to call for help to finish the work.
   • Five were assassinated by their own People or Servants.
   • Five others died the most miserable and excruciating deaths.
   • Several of them having an untold complication of diseases.
   • Eight were killed in battle, or after being taken prisoners.
     
     Among these was Julian the Apostate. In the days of his prosperity, he was said to have pointed his dagger to heaven, defying the Son of God, whom he commonly called the Galilean. But when he was wounded in battle, he saw that all was over with him, and he gathered up his clotted blood, and threw it into the air, exclaiming, “Thou hast conquered, O Thou Galilean.” (Wm.S.Plumer)
     
3. God’s Purpose – Psalm 2:6 “Yet have I set My King upon My holy hill of Zion.”  – Many Liberal Commentators see Psalm 2:6 as referring to David and David only. They call it the Royal Psalm and say it was probably composed for Enthronement of the Monarch. Such limited application, however, is incompatible (mismatched) with the remainder of the Psalm. It cannot be applied to David but to David’s Greater Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. For this reason, and because the inspired Authors of the New Testament understood it, this Psalm speaks of the Commission and Mission of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Messiah.
   
   The climax, this is God’s unalterable Purpose, and nothing on earth or in hell can thwart it. In the First Section of the Psalm (Psalm 2:1-6), He (Christ) is the Anointed (Psalm 2:2), but here He is the King (Psalm 2:6). This points forward to that day foretold by the Prophets, when, after dealing with God’s Enemies at the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:16), He (Christ) will enter the City at the head of His (Christ’s) Victorious Army and occupy the Hill and the House (Temple). He (Christ) will be the King-Priest on the Throne of His father, David (Psalm 24 and 110; Zechariah 6:13). God regards this in His Purpose as already accomplished – Psalm 2:6 “Yet have I set My King upon My holy hill of Zion.” The Seat of Christ’s Throne is called, “My holy hill of Zion,” in allusion to Zion as the “City of the Living God” (Hebrews 12:22-24).

1.3 The Revelation

Psalm 2:7 “I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto Me, Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee.” Jesus’s Sonship, in eternity, as prophesied in Psalm 2:7, is affirmed in Acts 13:33; Hebrews 1:5; Hebrews 5:5. And the term: “the Only Begotten Son” is used five times in the Gospel of John.  

1.3.1 Sonship

Psalm 2:7 “I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto Me, Thou art My Son; this day have I begotten Thee.” –  The Revelation of the Son (Jesus Christ). This is one of the Decrees of the Godhead in eternity past and revealed for the first time by the Father {the LORD}. This is one of the Greatest Messianic Passages in the Bible (Scripture).

The Eternal Sonship of the Lord Jesus Christ is one of the most vital, basic doctrines of God’s Written Word (Logos). It is denied by many heretical Cults but held and valued by all those who know and love our Lord Jesus Christ. This is the great passage on which the doctrine (teaching) is based. Another term used only by the Apostle John is “the Only Begotten Son,” the monogeneses. John uses the term “the Only Begotten Son,” five times.

Some Theologians teach that the word “Begotten” must not be understood as referring to any act in time but to what they term an “Eternal Generation.” The word “Day” is explained as “Eternity.” Taken in this way, the Eternal Sonship of the Lord Jesus Christ is safely guarded.

But others maintain that the three places in the New Testament where the words are quoted give the explanation. In view of the definiteness of the term “this day,” it would seem difficult to define it as synonymous with Eternity. It must refer to some special act in what we know as “time.” Here we must be on our guard against those who say that the Lord Jesus Christ only became the Son of God at His Incarnation, they (other Theologians) denied Christ’s Eternal Sonship. The statement in Psalm 2:7 is in two parts:

• “Thou art My Son.” (Psalm 2:7a) – The Decree in Eternity Past, that is an Eternal Relationship of God the Father with His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.
• “This day have I begotten Thee.” (Psalm 2:7b) – That is Messianic, quoted in three Contexts in the New Testament. This Statement “This day have I begotten Thee,” is a declaration of the Incarnation and the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.
  

Salutation – At His (Christ’s) birth, He (Christ) was saluted as Son by the Angel (Luke 1:35); by His Father at His baptism (Luke 3:22); and at His Transfiguration (Luke 9:35). In the Synagogue at Pisidian Antioch, Paul applied “You are My Son, today I have begotten You” (Psalm 2:7) to Jesus and His Resurrection (Acts 13:33).

Hebrews 1:5 “For to which of the Angels did He (God the Father) ever say: ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You?’ And again: ‘I (God the Father) will be to Him (Jesus) a Father, and He (Jesus) shall be to Me (Father) a Son?’” Connects Hebrews 1:5 to Psalm 2:7, to Jesus, to show that as the Son of God He is above the Angels. Hebrews 5:5 “So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He (Father) who said to Him (Jesus): ‘You (Jesus) are My (Father’s) Son, today I have begotten You (Jesus).’” Is quoted in connection with Christ’s Exaltation as our High Priest. The Book of Revelation also sees Psalm 2 fulfilled Eschatologically in the Final Triumph of Christ’s Kingdom (Revelation 2:26-27).

Summary: The two Statements of Psalm 2:7 indicate: “Thou art My Son,” and “This day have I begotten Thee,” – reveals a unique Eternal Relation of the Father to the Son (Jesus), both in the acknowledgement and salutation, a term in association of Jesus’ Eternity, Incarnation, Baptism, Transfiguration, Resurrection, High Priesthood, and Second Coming

1.3.2 Inheritance

Psalm 2:8-9“Ask of Me, and I will give Thee the Nations for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” – Father’s threefold Promises to His Son, Jesus:

• The Nations for His (Jesus’) Inheritance.
• The Uttermost Parts of the Earth for His (Jesus’) Possession.
• Rulership and Authority – “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” It is noted that there is a similar warning made by the LORD of Hosts against Jerusalem in the Book of Jeremiah (Jeremiah 19:11), and that under the New Covenant the same Warning in the Book of Revelation (Revelation 2:27; Revelation 12:5; Revelation 19:15). In truth, both Covenants (O.T & N.T.), are alike in announcing God’s Wrath on rebellious People and Nations.

The Nations and the People that do not submit to Christ’s Rulership would be subjected to the iron discipline (“rod”) and the final overthrow (“dash them in pieces”). The Christian’s share in subjugating the Nations to Christ is expressed in Revelation 2:27. In Christ’s Millennial Kingdom the Lord Jesus’ Enemies will be subject to His terrible Power (Job 4:9; 2Thessalonians 2:8), just as His People are to His Profound Grace (Psalm 110:2-3). Christ deals with the Nations as Righteous Judge.

This points forward to the Day when our Lord Jesus shall Return to Reign. The Shepherd’s rod, symbolising Authority, and Rule, but to His (Christ’s) People will be the Golden Sceptre, but to the rebel Nations at Armageddon will be the “Rod of Iron” (Revelation 2:27; Revelation 12:5; Revelation 19:15; Psalm 110:2).

Stay Tuned….. To be continued

• Jesus