The Anointed King

Psalm of the Day
Psalm 2
The Anointed King

The theme of Psalm 2 is God’s use of “His Anointed” to defeat and control a rebellious people. This Psalm is a picture of the future Messiah, Jesus Christ, God’s anointed King. Through this Psalm we see the selfish nature of one’s sin and the horrible results of it if it were allowed to reign. Psalm 2 is cited more frequently in the New Testament than any other Psalm. To better help in our study of this Psalm, we are going to break it down into four sections:
I. Man’s Rebellion- verses 1-3
II. God’s Reaction- verses 4-6
III. God’s Rule- verses 7-9
VI. Man’s Responsibility- verses 10-12

* Read Psalm 2 through three times. Record your thoughts and questions in your journal. If a verse stands out to you, record it on an index card and begin committing it to memory.

I. Man’s Rebellion- verses 1-3

“1) Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? 2)The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, 3)‘Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.’” Psalm 2:1-3

In these three verses we see that the people have come together to corporately oppose the Lord and His Anointed One. Verse 1 describes the people in a rage. It’s important for us to understand that this rage the people are in isn't an inward, blooding boiling rage. This rage is an outward rage; a rage that involves shaking one’s fists at God; a snorting, biting, anger beyond anger kind a rage. They are outwardly expressing their hatred toward God and making a spectacle of themselves. Why do you think the people are in such a rage? Verse 3 gives us the answer. These kings, judges, and nations view God and His anointed One as wanting to place on them a yoke of slavery and bondage. To them, the coming Kingdom of God is nothing but slavery tying them down with bonds and thick cords. Bonds and thick cords were used to tie around the neck of one who belonged to another indicating that he was a servant (Jeremiah 27:2, 6 & 7). The nations absolutely do not want to be a servant to anyone and are plotting against the Lord to over take Him and His Anointed One. These bonds and cords were not and are not at all slavery bonds but love- bonds, “I drew them with gentle cords with bands of love, and I was to them as those who take the yoke from their neck. I stooped and fed them” (Hosea 11:4).

*Who is the LORD’S Anointed One? Read Acts 4:26.

*The nations view the bonds and cords as slavery bonds. What does Christ tell us about His yoke, or bond? Read Matthew 11:30.

*Read John 8:36. True or False. Christ enslaves us.

*How do you view the bond of Christ? Do you delight in it or do you shake your fist at God every time He calls you to do something?

II. God’s Reaction- verses 4-6

“4) He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the LORD shall hold them in derision. 5) Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: 6) ‘Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.’” Psalm 2:4-6

God’s feelings and purposes toward the rebellious nations are described in these verses. Before the foundation of the world, He already had a plan or decree in place for Christ to be enthroned on the holy hill of Zion and rule over this disobedient people. God smiles at what man is scheming to do against Him and knows that it is all in vain, because He is far above all the evilness of mankind. Man can do nothing to God. God is all-powerful and will do with His enemies what He desires (Psalm 115:3). What is God going to do to His enemies? “Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.” God is going to enthrone His King, Jesus Christ, on Jerusalem’s most prominent hill, Zion. The temple, the place God’s people knew Him to dwell, was built on Mt. Zion, thus making it a “holy hill”. Christ’s throne, spiritually speaking, is in the heart’s of His people. We are His dwelling place.

*Read Jeremiah 31:31-34. God is going to establish a New Covenant with His people. This people will be not only the Israelites, God’s chosen ones, but Gentiles as well. Unlike the Mosaic Covenant that was written on stone, where will this New Covenant be written?

From Acts 4:26, we saw that the Anointed One, is Jesus Christ. In verse 6, we can conclude that God’s King is Jesus Christ. Christ is a threefold King.
I. Jesus Christ is King over all
He is King above all kings- read Isaiah 40:15
He is King above the angels- read Hebrews 1:6
He is King above all kingdoms- read Daniel 7:14
He is King above all the nations and the ends of the earth- read Psalm 2:8

II. Jesus Christ is King to His saints and to the wicked
He is King of the saints, those belonging to Him through salvation, and He rules them in spirit and grace. He rules them in their hearts. Christ is King of the wicked and rules over them by His power and might.

III. Jesus Christ is the Father’s King
He is the Father’s King because He rules for the Father.

We’re going to stop here for the day. We’ve covered a lot and I want you to sit and meditate over it all. You’ll notice I’ve included questions and thoughts throughout the study today. If you haven’t already done so, go back and answer those questions and read the additional verses that were given.

Father, I thank You that Your yoke is easy and Your burden is light. And, I praise You that You have set me free from the bondage of sin. Help me not to be one who balks at Your commands but who whole heartedly serves You with joy. Thank You for writing on my heart Your New Covenant and taking up residency within me. Continue to work in me, molding and making me into the woman You desire me to be.