Jesus in the Old Testament #33: Jesus' Coronation

Jesus in the Old Testament 033: 

Jesus’ Coronation

Psalm 2

Thesis: This song is an allegory for the mediatorial role of King Jesus between the rebellion of sinful man, here personified as gentile kings, and the righteous and wrathful judgment of Almighty God.  Apart from the sheltering of Christ and the resultant worship of those submitted to Him, destruction is the only outcome for mankind. 

1. Nutshell:

1. Did anybody get wet last night in the rain? Did you have to sleep on the lawn? No? Why not? 

2. What does it mean to have shelter? 

3. Last night, you were sheltered from the rain.  Everything outside got wet.  

4. In the same way, Psalm 2 talks quite a bit about the judgment of God, which will fall on everyone, like rain, unless they are sheltered by Jesus.  

5. Go build a fort in the basement to represent the shelter Jesus provides while I talk to your parents.  We’ll come to see it when we’re done. 

2. Deeper:

1. Background. 

1. Probably at one point unified as one Psalm with Psalm 1.  

1. There is an inclusio of beatitude between Ps 1:1 and Ps 2:12. 

2. There are several words that are repeated between Ps 1 and 2 that are used in contrasting settings, eg “Meditate.” 

3. The Psalter was reorganized after the return from the Babylonian captivity by Ezra the scribe, and it is likely at this time that it was split into two Psalms, dividing the portion that called for our meditation on the word of God (Ps 1) from the portion which calls us to submit to the Lordship of God (Ps 2).  

4. By the time the N.T. was written, it was known as the second psalm (Acts 13:33). 

2. Attested to universally, and in the N.T. as a writing of David (Acts 4:25-26). 

3. Frequently called the Coronation Hymn of the Davidic King, but David is not its subject. 

1. David was Anointed at Hebron, not Zion. 

2. No nation which David ever subdued rebelled in the way described in vs 1-3. 

3. Nations went to war with David, but in an attempt to enslave Israel, not in an attempt to throw off their own slavery. 

4. No Davidic King’s empire ever expands to the uttermost parts of the earth. 

5. To the greater-Davidic Heir, God promises a Father-Son relationship, but David never claims, himself, to be the Son of God. 

6. David, the author, would never have written Vs 11-12 of himself. 

4. The Conclusion, therefore, is that David’s kingship serves as a substrate to a purely prophetic passage about his greater heir, The Messiah. 

2. The voice of sinful mankind (vs 1-3). 

1. The assumed backstory of this psalm is that mankind is aware that they are under the thumb of God.  They are in bondage under God’s judgment. 

2. The kings are not the sources of the rebellion.  They are representatives of “the nations,” all mankind. 

3. Establishment: The kings of the earth “set themselves.”  They are working on establishing their freedom on their own terms.  Human efforts to deal with evading God’s judgment for their sin are always fruitless. 

4. Testimony: The kings of the earth “speak together.”  

1. The phrase here means to quietly mutter to yourself.  

2. Same underlying word as “meditate” in Ps 1:2. 

3. They aren’t openly declaring these plans to God.  They are working out a plan amongst themselves. 

5. Breaking: The kings think that their salvation lies in breaking God’s yoke off of them.  Do away with his judgment by removing him from office or negating his sentence. 

1. Atheism

2. Moral relativism

3. Postmodernism

6. The personified representatives here are Kings and rulers, the same categories of actors who literally conspired together to crucify Jesus. 

1. Kings: Herod & Pilot

2. Rulers: Sanhedrin 

3. Peter interprets it this way as well: Acts 4:23-28

7. Parallel: Luke 19:11-14. 

1. The Davidic King in the psalm is facing a rebellion by subjugated rulers. 

2. The king in Jesus’ parable is facing a rebellion by his future subjects. 

3. In both cases, the King being rejected is Jesus. 

3. The voice of the Father (vs 4-6). 

1. The Father is not concerned in any way.  

1. He does not even “stir himself to action,” as He does in other psalms or prophetic passages.  

2. He is seated in heaven, laughing. 

2. The rebellion of mankind does not alter the plan of God at all.  God has a purpose and a plan (His own glory), and he will carry it out.  He does not negotiate with rebels!

3. Testimony: The nations muttered to each other.  God declares in his wrath and derisive laughter. 

1. God’s words are irrevocable and powerful. 

2. Gen 1:3

3. Ps 33:9

4. Breaking: God’s words have the effect of instilling terror and fear in the kings. 

1. Fear and trembling: stirred up, shaken, broken peace--shalom. 

2. “Panic” used 18 times in the ESV, always points to God weaponizing fear as a judgment against those who have rejected the righteous fear of God. 

3. The same underlying principle is at play here, even though the ESV did not use “panic” in this case. 

5. Establishment: The Lord answers the plan of rebellious kings to establish themselves by restating his plan to establish his Messiah as King forever over all of creation. 

1. 2Sam 7:8-16. 

2. Zech 9:10

3. The establishment of this King is to be centered in “Zion,” originally a Canaanite city conquered by David, then the name for the mountain on which the temple was built, and eventually a figurative name for Jerusalem or even all of Israel. 

4. Zion is used as a metaphor for the church in Heb 12:22-24

6. Parallel: The king receives the kingdom he sought, even over the objection of the delegation who argued against it (Luke 19:15)

4. The Voice of the Son (vs 7-9)

1. Testimony: Jesus receives the Kingdom promised by His Father, clearly referencing the Davidic covenant’s sonship language. 

1. You are My Son: eternal relationship (John 1:1; Matt 3:17; 17:5)

2. Today I have begotten you: recognition of the Son’s coming into His kingdom. 

1. Paul saw this as the moment of his resurrection: Acts 13:32-33

2. So did the author of Hebrews: (Heb 1:3-5; 5:5)

2. Establishment:  The Father has given the Son EVERYTHING! 

1. The nations are his inheritance. Everything initially belongs to the Father, but he has placed all things under the Son’s feet. 

1. Gen 22:18

2. Isa 53:12

3. Col 1:18

4. Eph 1:22

5. 1 Cor 15:27

2. The ends of the earth: Never realized by David or any of his mortal heirs.  Only true of Christ’s future kingdom. 

3. Breaking: A rod of iron, smashed to pieces. 

1. Something thought of us unbreakable vs something easily destroyed and discarded. 

2. Commanded in the law to break earthenware that was unclean (Lev 6:28; 11:33-35; 15:12). 

3. Some historical reference to Pharoah having clay vases in his throne room from every region of his kingdom.  If one rebelled or failed to pay tribute, he would break it to signal his intention to go to war or bring punishment to that region. 

4. This image carried into the eschaton: (Rev 2:27; 12:5; 19:5)

4. Parallel: In the parable of the minas, Those who reject Christ’s rule are killed before him. (Luke 19:27)

5. The voice of the Spirit (vs 10-12)

1. Testimony: The job of the Holy Spirit is to direct people toward Christ (John 15:26).  He does so in this last stanza.  Be wise.  Be warned.  Kiss the Son. 

2. Establishment: The rule of the Son is inevitable.  Serve with fear and rejoice with trembling. 

1. Those who reject the righteous fear of the Lord are given panic as a judgment of God. 

2. Here, the Holy Spirit invites the leaders of mankind to embrace and rejoice in the righteous fear of God--The submission to God’s rule and right to change our lives. 

3. Celebrate the established rule of God’s King, the Messiah. 

3. Kiss the Son.  

1. In Aramaic, which is odd. Aramaic was not the common language or the region at the time of David. 

2. Possibly, using a word that the gentile nations would have known. 

3. Perhaps a later scribal error. 

4. Has led to a diversity of interpretations.  Kiss the feet, etc. 

5. Variety of “kisses” in scripture: 

1. Certainly, not of passionate lovers. 

2. Not the kiss of Judas’ betrayal. 

3. Kiss of reconciliation (Gen 33:4; 45:14-15)

4. Kiss of submission (Ex 18:7; 1Sam 10:1)

5. Kiss of fellowship (2Sam 20:9; Rom 16:16)

4. Breaking: If you don’t submit to the son, you will be destroyed. 

1.  His wrath is quickly kindled. 

2. We don’t often think of the wrath of the Son, but is real and consuming! 

1. Job 4:9

2. 2Thes 2:8

3. Rev 6:16

5. Conclusion: We would expect that the conclusion of this psalm of warning and judgment would be a final statement of wrath and destruction of God’s enemies.  It isn’t! It’s one of hope. 

1. If even the enemies will repent, they will be sheltered by the Son. 

2. Salvation for God’s enemies is part of His nature and the main thrust of the work of the Son in the gospel. 

3. Gal 1:23

4. Rom 5:10

Discussion Questions:

1. Individually, and as a family, are you part of the people represented by rebelling kings or by those found in Jesus’ protection? 

2. On what is your life established? The word of God or what you want? 

3. How do the various voices in this Psalm inform how we are to talk to our unsaved neighbors and friends?

4. What does God need to break in order to draw you closer to himself? 

   
   
   
   

Jesus in the Old Testament #32

Jesus in the Old Testament

032: Jesus the Resurrection

Job 19:23-27

Thesis: Job realizes that suffering in this life can only be answered by the hope of a redeemer and a resurrection.  This theme is echoed in several passages throughout the OT and culminates in Jesus’ own declaration in John 11:25 to be the resurrection and the life. 

1. Nutshell w/Kids

1. Who has some good news? Let’s hear it!

2. Do you know that sharing the story of Jesus with people is called sharing “good news” with them? 

3. What is the good news?

4. What do you think is the best part of that good news? Would it surprise you to learn that it’s not the forgiveness part?  The best news is that we get to live forever in perfect bodies in a perfect creation!  

1. Eden was the plan. 

2. We messed it up with sin. 

3. Jesus came to fix everything, especially all the ways that the physical creation is messed up!   

5. The resurrection into glorified bodies is the good news, and Job figured that out before any scripture had yet been written down. 

2. Deeper w/Adults  

1. Death is the end of all things in this life (Job 14)

1. Vs 1-6  Job desires to have his day in court with God, but he knows that, in this life of sin, he will never be able to look God in the eye and get his answer. 

2. Vs 7-9, the parable of a dead tree.  Stumps can sprout again.  Can man? 

3. Vs 9-12. As long as the heavens endure, death is final.  Job has never seen anyone resurrected. Yet, he doesn’t say that this is impossible, just that it “doesn’t happen” now. 

4. Vs 13-17.  Job longs for a day to speak to God apart from the presence of sin in his life.  He has a testimony in his spirit that this is somehow possible on the other side of the grave, and he speaks hopefully about this. 

5. Vs 18-22. As much as he can see now, though, denies him this hope.  Entropy.  Absence. The dead don’t know what is going on in the world around them.  

6. Job longs for a resurrection and a recreation, but he has no visible corollary to give him a reason to hope for this at this point. 

2. Job 19: 23-27

1. Vs 23-24. Job knows that he has received revelation, and he calls for it to be written down forever. 

1. Iron pen, a chisel

2. Inscribed on stone. 

3. The letters poured with molten lead. 

4. There have been found such permanent markers in the Saudi desert that have been attributed to the wandering Hebrews.  Also, a tablet in modern Iran carrying a decree of King Darius was likewise fashioned. 

2. Vs 25. 

1. My Redeemer: Go’el.  147 times in the OT.  

1. Sometimes, negatively, as the avenger of blood.  

2. Most frequently, positively as one who restores that which has been lost.  Kinsman Redeemer (Boaz). 

3. 42 times with God as the subject and Israel as the object.  This is a function of God as savior. 

2. Lives. In the physical sense.  Of Course, God exists, but the passage here is very physical and goes out of its way to reference the real physical creation.  God, his “arbitrator” and “witness” exists with him in a physical, living sense. 

3. He will stand upon the earth.  In a real place, not “in the sweet by-and-by”

3. Vs 26. After my flesh has been destroyed, yet in my flesh… 

1. Only possible interpretation is that of resurrection. 

2. He will have flesh again after his flesh has decayed. 

3. Job understands that the sinful barrier that he cannot overcome in this life might be undone in a new creation. 

4. “I will see God.”  Job finally understands that the advocate, witness, and redeemer that he has been calling for is God himself. 

4. Vs 27: 

1. My eyes, not another’s. Job won’t be content with someone else getting his explanation.  He wants his day in court himself. 

2. He will see God with his eyes.  Physically. 

3. My heart faints within me.  

1. After all this time, he has his assurance from the HS that he will behold God in a resurrected state.

2. The relief is too much to bear.

5. Notice that the hope of Ch 14 has grown to confident expectation in Ch 19, and that this confidence peaks in the same passage that Job finally has a sense that he has an arbitrator.  

1. In Job 9, I need an arbitrator. 

2. Job 16.  I think I have a witness

3. Job 19.  I have a living Redeemer-God who will stand upon the earth!

3. The Messiah and the Resurrection are linked in the Psalms

1. Psa 9:13-14

1. David is lifted up from the gates of death (resurrection)

2. He rejoices in God’s Yashua (Jesus)

2. Psa 16:10

1. David is confident in his resurrection (my soul)

2. Because of the promised resurrection of Messiah (Your Holy One), 

3. Cf Acts 13:35

3. Psa 17:15

1. David will awake (resurrection)

2. And behold God’s face (Jesus)

4. Psa 21:4-5

1. Length of days forever and ever implies resurrection. 

2. Glory through Yashua (Jesus). 

5. Psa 22:20-29

1. God rescues from death (vs 20-21, 26)

2. Ultimately, this rescuer is the eternal King Jesus (vs 27-28)

3. Even those who have died will worship God (vs 29) in resurrected bodies.

6. Psa 23:6

1. Jesus is the good shepherd (John 10), and it is His house in which we dwell.

2. David will dwell in God’s heavenly house forever (resurrection).  

7. Psa 91:16

1. Long life, Lit. “Multitudes of Days,” implying eternal life.  

2. Show him my Yashua (Jesus). 

8. Psa 103:3-4

1. God forgives and heals (Isa 53), this is Jesus. 

2. Redeems your life from the pit (resurrection). 

4. Dan 12:1-2 Certain details are given here in clearer resolution. 

1. At the end of time (Job agreed). 

2. Everyone will rise, the righteous and the damned. 

3. Resurrection will precede judgment

4. When it is combined with Rev 20, we understand that:

1. There is a gap between the resurrection of the righteous and the resurrection of the damned.  

2. Also, we understand that Jesus is the one on the throne. 

5. John 11:17-27

1. Martha knows about the resurrection at the end of time (vs 24)

2. Jesus identifies himself as Messiah, with whom the resurrection is always identified in the Psalms. 

3. “I am the Resurrection and the Life.” 

1. Claim to divinity.  I AM (Ex 3)

2. John is circling back on his introductory themes (Jn 1:4).

3. Jesus is not only one who will be Resurrected.  He is the power of resurrection incarnated. 

4. Belief in Jesus as God carries with it the promise of resurrection. 

6. Of Course, Jesus himself was resurrected (John 20). 

7. 1Cor 15  As the Psalms promised, his resurrection is the cornerstone of our faith and the hope for our own resurrection. 

1. Vs 1-8, narrative chronological testimony of the resurrection appearances of Christ after his resurrection.  This is real!

2. Vs 12-19.  If this is not real history, then all of Christianity is a hoax and we are above all to be pitied (also vs 29-34).. 

3. Vs 20-22: Jesus is the deposit on our resurrection.  Just as he was raised from an earthly, perishing body to an imperishing one, so will we be!  

4. Vs 23-28.  How does this fit in the overarching eschatological framework?  Resurrection of the righteous comes before the destruction of the world order. 

5. Vs 50-55: This resurrection of Christ’s church (which happens first, before the destruction of the world orders) is the rapture.  Those who are resurrected here are those over whom there is no longer any threat of death. 

6. Vs 42-49: What will our resurrection bodies be like? Like Christ’s. Spiritual, eternal, and yet somehow also related to our present, physical bodies (Thomas saw the stigmata, John 20:25). 

8. What to do with all this? 1 Cor 15:56-58

1. Vs 56-57 Another need to check ourselves and make sure that the guarantee of resurrection, upon which Job staked all his hope, applies to us. 

1. We have inherited death because of sin.  All die. 

2. Have we participated in the victory available through Jesus?  This is the only way.  He is the ONLY resurrection and life. 

2. Vs 58: 

1. Be steadfast, immovable: 

1. Don’t let the frustrations or fears of this life ruin your hope.  

2. This world is broken, and it will kill you!

3. Our treasure and hope is not tied to any experience we have here.  It is in the world to come. 

4. Slight counterpoint: eternal life starts now, and the kingdom is “already and not yet,” but certainly the best is yet to come!

2. Always abounding in the work of the Lord, not in vain.

1. Look back at 15:10-11. 

1. Because Paul was saved from such a hostile posture, he understands the value of his salvation all the more, and he works very hard!

2. His hard work is Christ working through him. 

3. The result of which is the salvation of the Corinthians, which is eternal!

4. Their eternal life and resurrection impart infinite magnitude to Paul’s labors. 

2. 15:58b: We are called to this work as well.  We have been saved from hostility to eternal life and should be about bringing others along with us!

3. Don’t despair when it’s hard (vs 30-32).  This isn't supposed to be easy or fun.  This is massively important and massively hard. 

Discussion Questions: 

1. How does it change your view of the gospel to think that the resurrection is the goal, and forgiveness is a necessary step toward resurrection? 

2. Describe what you thought the “afterlife” was before tonight.  Did it change at all? 

3. Paul encouraged us to remain unshakable because of our faith in the resurrection.  How does understanding the resurrection give you endurance in these crazy times? 

4. We are also told to keep working hard at the work of ministry because of the resurrection.  What work has God given you to do in this season of your life? 

Discussion Questions: 

1. How does it change your view of the gospel to think that the resurrection is the goal, and forgiveness is a necessary step toward resurrection? 

2. Describe what you thought the “afterlife” was before tonight.  Did it change at all? 

3. Paul encouraged us to remain unshakable because of our faith in the resurrection.  How does understanding the resurrection give you endurance in these crazy times? 

4. We are also told to keep working hard at the work of ministry because of the resurrection.  What work has God given you to do in this season of your life? 

Discussion Questions: 

1. How does it change your view of the gospel to think that the resurrection is the goal, and forgiveness is a necessary step toward resurrection? 

2. Describe what you thought the “afterlife” was before tonight.  Did it change at all? 

3. Paul encouraged us to remain unshakable because of our faith in the resurrection.  How does understanding the resurrection give you endurance in these crazy times? 

4. We are also told to keep working hard at the work of ministry because of the resurrection.  What work has God given you to do in this season of your life? 

Discussion Questions: 

1. How does it change your view of the gospel to think that the resurrection is the goal, and forgiveness is a necessary step toward resurrection? 

2. Describe what you thought the “afterlife” was before tonight.  Did it change at all? 

3. Paul encouraged us to remain unshakable because of our faith in the resurrection.  How does understanding the resurrection give you endurance in these crazy times? 

4. We are also told to keep working hard at the work of ministry because of the resurrection.  What work has God given you to do in this season of your life?