Psalm 2 - Digging Into the Psalms

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Psalm 2 begins with the question, actually two questions, why do the heathen rage, and why do the people imagine a vain thing? The Psalm concludes with the promise, "Blessed are all they that put their trust in him." The actual authorship of the Psalm isn't given, but it's ascribed to David by the apostles: "Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things (Acts 4:25 KJV)."


Psalm 1 was moral in nature by showing us our moral duty to not walk in the counsel of the ungodly, to not stand in the way of sinners, and to not sit in the seat of the scornful. Psalm 2 is more evangelical in nature by showing us a clear prophetic picture of our Savior. Though the Psalm could be a reference to the kingdom of David, it is without doubt prophesying of the kingdom of Christ. The main subject of this Psalm is the Anointed One, the Son, the Lord Jesus Christ.


Psalm 2 can be divided into four sections:

1. The first section presents the raging nations who oppose the kingdom of Christ (verses 1-3).
2. Section two speaks of God's baffling the opposition and of his chastening of them (verses 4-5). The section concludes with the ultimate victory of Christ in the setting up of his kingdom (verse 6).
3. The third section begins with a declaration of Christ (verse 7). The kingdom is confirmed and established. A promise of enlargement and success is given (verses 8-9).
4. The final section advises the kings and nations of the earth to yield in obedience to Christ (verses 10-11). It proceeds with a warning, then concludes with a promise of blessing to all who place their trust in Christ (verse 12).

Psalm 1 presented us with the Law and the blessing associated with delighting in the Law and being obedient to it by subjecting to it. The apostle Paul wrote that no man could be justified by the works of the law (Galatians 2:16). Thus it's appropriate that the prophecy of the Messiah is immediately brought to light with Psalm 2. We're now blessed to be subject to the grace of God through Jesus Christ.

We'll dig a little deeper into the raging of the nations next time. As usual, any comments, thoughts, and ideas are welcome. God bless...

God Knows Me

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"The LORD knows and is fully acquainted with the way of the righteous (Psalm 1:6 AMP)."


Such a powerful promise from God though exciting, also causes me to search deeper into the though that God could know me. Out of all the billions of people who have walked this planet, God could know even me!


I wrote of how God knows the course of life the righteous take in my last post, Road Walked On - Digging Into the Psalms. I wrote of how God will appoint the course of life for the righteous. Yet as I was thinking about it later, I was led to this passage of scripture:


"Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.
Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?
And then I will profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity (Matthew 7:21-23 KJV)."


The words of Jesus, "I never knew you" are an attention grabber! It's obvious from this passage of scripture these people knew the name of Jesus. It's obvious they professed to know who he was. It's obvious they had accomplished many great works through the name of Jesus. By all appearances these people should be considered righteous; right? Yet Jesus said, "I never knew you."


We call him Lord. We know his name; Jesus. We build magnificent buildings in his name. We write, play, and sing many wonderful songs in his name. We make profession after profession of faith in his name. We prophesy in his name. We pray for healing and deliverance in his name. Yet does he know us?


Who is it whom God knows? He knows those who do the will of the Father. What is the will of the Father? Bearing fruit. "When you bear (produce) much fruit, my Father is honored and glorified, and you show and prove yourselves to be true followers of Mine (John 15:8 AMP)." Jesus spoke of bearing fruit again and again during his ministry. He spoke of sending reapers into the harvest to gather fruit unto eternal life (John 4:36). The fruit we are to bear is the souls we harvest for the kingdom of God.


We possess the power to be witnesses for Christ (Acts 1:8). We are commissioned to go and make disciples (Matthew 28:19). The course of world events has sparked an intense interest in eschatology. The fruit is ripe. The harvest is ready. Are there reapers willing to work to bring in the fruit of the harvest?


God give me a burden, a passion to share Christ with all. Lord, help me to be a branch which bears fruit. I want to be known of God. I don't want to stand before him and hear him say, "I don't know you."


God bless...

A Road Walked On - Digging Into the Psalms

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"For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish. (Psalm 1:6 KJV)."


This verse sums up man's life from beginning to end. God knows. God sees how we live out the time he's granted us. Job, a man who suffered profusely during his time of life, says this, "For his (God's) eyes are upon the ways of man, and he (God) seeth all his (man's) goings (Job 34:21 KJV)."


Take note of the word way (Psalm 1:6) and the word ways (Job 34:21). They are the same Hebrew word meaning a road trodden, or in our case, a course of life. The word used here is a derivative of a Hebrew primitive root meaning to tread or walk. The psalmist is telling us God knows the course of life the righteous take, and the course the ungodly follow will lead them to destruction.


Psalm 1 is a chapter which is loaded with positives and negatives. I find it interesting to note the balance between them. This final verse also offers us a positive and a negative in perfect balance.


The positive comes in the use of the word knoweth. The modern definition of know is to recognize, discern, or understand. The Hebrew definition of the word knoweth, or know, isn't much different. Yet it is richer. Yes, God sees the way, or the course of life we all travel.  But God recognizes, he acquaints himself with, he accepts, and he appoints the course of life of the righteous. The Apostle Paul wrote, "The Lord knoweth them that are his (2Timothy 2:19 KJV)."


The final negative statement of Psalm 1 is, "the way of the ungodly shall perish." An ungodly person is anyone who does what is morally wrong. The ungodly person is one who willfully chooses to reject God and to disobey God's commandments. So how is it the course of life taken by the ungodly will come to destruction?


Let's look at the word perish. It's a Hebrew primitive root meaning to wander away or to lose oneself. The psalmist is saying the course of life taken by the ungodly will cause them to wander away losing oneself to certain destruction. God doesn't want anyone to perish.


Man's destruction was never God's intent. God patiently endures the course of life humanity chooses to take. God does this because he desires that nobody perish, but all come to repentance in changing their hearts and lives. Doing so will place one on the course of life which God not only approves of but will appoint one to.


Your feedback and comments are welcome. We'll start digging into Psalm 2 next time. Till then, God bless...