God has chosen His King—Jesus, His Son. And resistance is totally futile. But… we do resist His rule and oppose His authority. How can His enemies ever know His blessing?
Who is the Son?
Read Psalms 2:1
In the Old Testament, the title “son of God” was given to all of Israel (see Exodus 4 v 22-23), but very specifically to the king, who is the head—the ruler and the representative—of God’s chosen people. This psalm was probably sung at coronations—on the days when a man became a king, a “son” of God (v 7).
• What does God give to the king (v 8-9)?
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TIME OUT… Read Acts 13:32; Romans 1:3.
• How is Psalm 2 v 7 applied to Jesus?
• When was His “coronation”?
Jesus is not “meek and mild”. He is the eternal King with authority to rule in kindness and blessing, and authority to judge and destroy. But which will He do?
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How to be blessed
Read Psalms 2:10
• What is so generous about the appeal that is made here (see v 1-2)?
• What conflicting emotions should a true servant of the King feel (v 11)? Why?
• How do we find blessing?
“Kiss the Son” (v 12) means to submit to Him. And it is a truly remarkable offer. Look back to v 1-2. They—we—deserve to be smashed (v 9). They—we—are offered mercy, refuge and blessing instead (v 12).
• If we refuse, what do we face (v 12)?
• Why is this fair (v 1-3)?
If we want to avoid the wrath of Jesus the Christ, we must take refuge—in Jesus the Christ.
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APPLY
Is this the Jesus you know? Not some dreamed-up, sentimental version of Him, a comfortable, made-up Jesus who you can control and redefine whenever you want—but the real Jesus, the Jesus of absolute power, of wrath and destruction—and of refuge and blessing, of mercy and forgiveness and new life?
• Have you truly submitted to Jesus the Christ as your Lord?
Look again at verse 11. We’re called to serve, fear, rejoice in and tremble at Jesus—all at the same time.
• Which aspect of your relationship with the Christ have you been most forgetful of? How will you change that this week?
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PRAY
Use your answers to the questions in the apply box to fuel your prayers to the Lord today.
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This devotional is taken from Explore—a daily Bible-reading devotional from the good book company which enables you to engage with Scripture and which will encourage, equip and inspire you to live for Christ. Explore features contributions from pastors such as Dr Timothy Keller, Mike McKinley and Tim Chester.
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