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? 

   
   
   
   

Hebrews 1:5-14

Hebrews 1:5-14

In the second session of our study of Hebrews, the preacher of Hebrews is building a case for Jesus being superior to the Angels.  He quotes from several OT passages is demonstrating that the second person of the Trinity, the Eternal Word, has always been and will always be, God.  My notes follow the video

Hebrews 1:5-14

1. Thesis of this section: Jesus is better than the angels.
2. Why does this matter (David Guzik’s study guide to Hebrews)?
1. Because we often best understand things when they are set in contrast to other things.
2. Because the Old Covenant came by the hands of angels to Moses, but a better covenant came by a better being, Jesus. It might have been easy for first century Jews to dismiss the gospel thinking it came at the hands of mere men - the apostles. But here we see the Divine (superior to angelic) coming of the gospel.
3. Because there was a dangerous tendency to worship angels developing in the early Church (Colossians 2:18, Galatians 1:8), and Hebrews shows that Jesus is high above any angel.
4. Because there was the heretical idea that Jesus Himself was an angel, a concept which degrades His glory and majesty.
5. Because understanding how Jesus is better than the angels helps us to understand how He is better than any of the "competitors" to Him in our lives.
3. Vs. 5 “You are my son.  Today I have begotten you.”
1. Ps. 2:7
2. Not origin.  The son was already living to have heard the phrase from the Father.  
3. One possibility.  Some event marked the beginning of the “Father-Son” relationship.
1. Incarnation? Phil 2:6-8; John 5:19
2. Baptism? Mark 1:11; Luke 3:22; Matt 3:17
3. Resurrection? Romans 1:4
4. Another: The context in Psalm 2 is the eternal decree of God centering around the triumph Messiah in Rev 19, and the language that seems temporal is figurative.  Jesus is eternally in a father-son relationship that has always meant submission of his will and equality of his character.
1. “Only Begotten” G. Monogenes, One of a kind.  Unique.
2. Always used an illustration of equality of substance with God the Father
1. John 1:14,18
2. John 3:16, 18
3. Hebrews 11:17
3. In God’s creation, something is always begotten “after its kind,”
1. Gen 1
2. Jesus, begotten of the Father, is of the same kind as the Father. That’s the point.
4. VS 5. I will be to him a Father, and he will be to me a son
1. 2 Sam 7:16.  Davidic covenant
2. One level of interpretation is that it applies to Solomon, but Solomon does not fulfill the all of the passage.
3. Christ alone is the final fulfillment of Messianic Kingship.
5. Vs. 6
1. “Again” modifies “brings,” not an introduction as in vs 5.
1. “And when he again brings the firstborn into the world”
2. Messianic Kingdom is in view here. Eschatological.
2. “Firstborn” again, does not talk about origin.
1. Positional title. One who will inherit
2. Gen 43:3; E. 4:22;
3. Some people not born first are given the title as a position (David in Ps 89:27; Ephriam in Jer 31:9.
4. God himself is called by the rabbis “Firstborn of the World” in that he has rights to all things.
5. Jesus is uncreated (John 1:1; Col 1:15)
3. “World” is “inhabited earth,” not kosmos or even gar.
1. Used most frequently of the roman empire.
2. The renewed Roman empire of antichrist will be invaded by Messiah, and in that invasion, he will be worshiped.
3. Rev 19:1-10
4. Let all God’s angels worship him
1. Not a direct quote from the manuscripts which make up any modern version.
2. Quoted from the LXX in Ps 97:7 and Deut 32:43.  The Septuagint was scripture to the author of Hebrews.
6. Vs 7: Of angels..
1. Quote from Psalm 104:4
2. Transient nature of angels believed by Jews.  Sent in whatever form is necessary for their assignment.
3. Wind=spirit.  Here, “Wind” is better, Of course they are spirits.
4. Flames of fire:
1. With Manoa (Judges 13)
2. Seraphim=flaming ones.
7. Vs 8: of the Son…
1. Quote is of Ps 45:6-7.
2. One of a few places where the Father calls the Son “God.” If He does, why shouldn't we?
3. Also of Messianic importance.  Kingdom of Jesus on earth in Millennium.
4. Uprightness, holiness in contrast to lawlessness.
5. Anointing in general, and the oil of gladness in particular, represent the Holy Spirit.  Trinity present in this picture.
6. Preposition should be “with your companions,” not “beyond.”
1. Supremacy of Jesus is well-demonstrated, but this is speaking of his communion with all the saints.  
2. The H.S. is poured out on him and also on us, members of His Kingdom.
8. Vs 10-12:
1. Creation and eschatone bookends to the power and activity of Jesus.
2. 2nd law of thermodynamics present in these verses.  All the verbs for degredation are ongoing present participles.  
1. perish→ are being destroyed
2. are wearing out
3. The universe is running down and needs to be replaced with an eternal version. (Rev 21-22)
3. Jesus is eternal, in juxtaposition to a universe that is running down.
1. But you are! the same
2. your years will have no fading out or growing dim. Similar sense as to what the universe does, but God (Jesus) will not.
9. Vs 13
1. Psalm 110:1
2. He has never elevated an angel to co-regent. Nor can any other being share his throne.
3. Sit out of my right [hand].  Jesus and the Father are of the same substance. His place of honor is because he is one with the Father.
4. Not “beside him”
1. Deut 4:35-39
2. Deut6:4
3. Deut 32:39
4. 2 Sam 7:22
5. 1 Chor 17:20
6. Isa 43:10-11
7. Isa 44:6-8
8. Isa 45:21
5. All of Christ’s enemies will be destroyed 1Cor 15:24-28
6. Then, Jesus will give the universe back to the Father, restored.  
7. Then, the end will come.
10. Vs 14:
1. Service is so emphasized in the Greek, “For are they not all spirits in holy service, being sent out in service of those who are inheriting salvation?”
2. They are active in the work of the kingdom on behalf of the saints.