What Is Psalm 2 Saying? | Apologia Radio Highlight

Psalm 2 is addressing the kings of the earth who have set themselves against the

Lord and against his anointed, who are bursting, or attempting, I should say, to burst his bonds apart and cast away his cords from them to throw off all restraint, essentially.

And the response of the Father in heaven is to laugh at that rebellion.

Upon what basis? Because the Father has installed a king on Zion.

And we know that the installation of that king began with the cross in the sense that Jesus' mediatorial work in salvation and then his resurrection from the dead and the vindication of that sacrifice by the

Father gave him that title of resurrected Lord.

The Bible speaks to this in a number of different places in the New Testament. And I just lay that foundation to say

James quoted from Mark 14, where Jesus attributes the

Daniel son of man passage to himself, which then causes the religious leaders to tear their clothes and pronounce the sentence of death upon him, because they knew what he was claiming.

He's the son of man. He's the one that comes up to the ancient of days and is presented before him, and to him is given dominion and glory and a kingdom, and men of every tribe, language, and nation are going to serve him.

His dominion is an everlasting dominion that shall not pass away, and his kingdom is one that shall not be destroyed.

Very important language there. I just, I find it interesting that the question that Scott asked, again, posits this sort of dichotomy that I wouldn't draw.

When he asked the question, is the call for the kings to kiss the sun in a salvific sense, or is it a call for them to do something else?

Whereas I would say, yes. The call is universal in scope and application, because I think the problem, and again,

I think there's a mechanism in their system that forces them into this position, where it's either grace, salvation, or it's law over here, and we have to, those two can't meet.

You saw that in Owen's talk, that's what he was trying to do. I think you're just seeing the application of it coming out in a question form, because when the call goes forward for the kings of the earth to kiss the sun, to pay homage to the sun, yes, that is religious, but because it is religious doesn't mean it's disconnected from the call for them to do justice, and to rule in such a way as upholding of God's judicial standards in the earth.

Because, and as the last thing I'll say, I think on this point for now, we can talk and say so much more about it, is that God wants men to have faith, but he also wants justice in the earth.

And his answer for both of those problems, right, because men don't have faith in him, and there is a great deal of injustice in the earth, in the public square, which the prophets speak to over and over again.

What's God's answer for both of those? Well, it tells us in the scriptures, it's God himself bearing his own arm of salvation, and clothing himself in vengeance to do what?

To ensure that justice and the wrongs of man are righted in the public square, so that there is human harmony, and healing among social relationships, and the way that men exercise their authoritative role of government, and the way that the church works together with that to hold the rulers and the kings in authority accountable to the king of kings, and to his law.

There's a symmetrical, harmonious relationship with that, and the proclamation of the gospel of grace in the world that the church is responsible for.

And again, I just don't see the reason for driving this artificial wedge between grace and the kings needing to obey

Christ. Well, what if they're not believers? Is that what you're saying? That they still have to honor the son?

Yes. Yes, because we're not two kingdom. They must honor the son. Does that mean that they'll have faith in him?

Religious saving faith that results in them taking refuge in him, and them being saved of their sins?

Well, the call is encompassing of that, but not necessarily. But here's the question.

Is that bad news? Is it bad news that God not only wants men to have faith, but he also wants there to be justice in the earth, and there's going to be unbelieving judges that need to have their feet put to the fire by God's people to point them to the reality that there will be a judgment for them in the way that they exercise their office?