The Victory of Jesus - Psalm 2

 

 

We sing about “Victory in Jesus”, but the most important thing is, we have victory in Jesus, because of the “Victory of Jesus”. I want us to see 3 points this morning from Psalm 2 about the Victory of Jesus.

 

 

1. First, I want us to consider “The rage of the heathen”...

 

Psalm 2:1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

 

The Psalm begins with a question... “Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing…”?

 

“The Heathen” Speaks of all the Gentiles and possibly even some of the Jews who act like heathen. Like professing Christians today who act like heathen!

“Rage” means tumult or commotion. It also means to conspire or to plot.

 

The "rage" of the heathen in this verse is speaking of all the events surrounding the crucifixion of Christ. There was a great tumult and commotion that day, and it was the plot of all plots, to destroy Jesus Christ the Son of God, and to defeat God's purpose and plan for sending His Son into the world. This plot no doubt originated with the devil, but it was carried out by the heathen!

 

But in any case, all people of every nation are included in this verse. In fact, whether literally or by representation, all of mankind was there that day. You and I are represented in the rage of the heathen at the crucifixion of Christ.

 

Next we see the phrase “and the people imagine a vain thing” - 

 

“The people”... Are probably the Jews, who considered themselves to be the people of God, being the seed of Abraham.

 

To “imagine a vain thing” means to devise a futile scheme that is incapable of producing the desired result.

 

It was a vain and futile thing because they thought that they could defeat the purpose of God in Christ by crucifying Him! This, beloved, was the ultimate in human futility, because by crucifying Christ they would (and did) actually fulfill God's will for Christ, and helped to accomplish His eternal plan of redemption!

 

Psalm 2:2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, [saying],

 

“The kings of the earth set themselves”...

 

There have been many kings over the years who tried to "set themselves" against God, thinking that they could defeat God and His people. Nimrod, Pharaoh, and Nebuchadnezzar to name a few.

 

But this passage is probably referring specifically to Pilate and Herod, and possibly to Caesar, who was the final authority over the Roman government. Or it might mean the entire Roman kingdom and system, which as the secular world power at the time, set itself against Jesus Christ.

 

Next the verse says… “and the rulers”...

 

The rulers being the Jewish rulers, including the high priest, and the Scribes and Pharisees, and the Sadducees, and especially the Sanhedrin, which was the Jewish high Court and supreme power over the affairs of the Jewish nation.

 

These rulers “take counsel against the Lord and against His anointed”...

 

This was their vain and futile plot to defeat God's purposes and destroy Jesus Christ.

 

Psalm 2:3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

 

By “bands” and “cords” are meant God’s laws, both moral and civil, in which all people are bound by, and obligated to keep perfectly as their solemn duty to their Creator.

 

Especially the Jews to whom the law of God was entrusted being the chosen nation and special people of God.

 

This verse clearly shows the total depravity of all mankind who collectively will not have God to rule over them.

 

Thus the plot of mankind was to defeat God and His purpose and plan for Jesus Christ His Son, and once and for all free themselves from the power and authority of God over them. Their ultimate scheme for the crucifixion of Christ, was to rid themselves of Jesus Christ once and for all!

 

And this answers the question "Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing?" But ironically, none of them could see that by attempting to defeat and destroy Jesus, in reality they were aiding in His victory!

 

Praise be to God, He was using the evil schemes and violence of wicked men to accomplish His own eternal purpose in Jesus Christ by His death on the cross. And that purpose was the salvation of sinners!

 

 

2. Secondly, God will punish the guilty (verses 4-5).

 

Psalm 2:4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

 

Here we see that God in heaven will laugh at them…

 

The laughter of God is not what we might think. The laughter of God is laughter of disdain and scorn. It is laughter of contempt for sinful men who think in their proud hearts that they can defeat the Almighty God of Heaven!

 

Perhaps God's laughter does suggest a sense of humor, considering that all man's scheming and plotting was only to fulfill God's sovereign plan of redemption right down to the very letter! The all-wise God used the foolishness of man's wisdom to accomplish the predeterminate counsel of His own will! And that was all unbeknownst to mankind who thinks he is so wise. It's no wonder that the Almighty laughed at man's foolishness!

 

But, beloved, when God laughs men need to beware of what will come next from the Throne of Heaven!

 

Psalm 2:5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

 

In other words, God will punish the guilty sinners who put His beloved Son to death. They were accomplishing God's will, but they were still guilty of crucifying the Lord of glory!

 

Exactly how and when God punished these particular sinners, is a matter of conjecture. God's judgment might be immediate, or it might be prolonged. But one thing is for sure, it is certain!

 

Nahum 1:3a The Lord [is] slow to anger, and great in power, and will not at all acquit [the wicked]:

 

We read in Isaiah…

 

Isaiah 13:11a And I will punish the world for [their] evil, and the wicked for their iniquity;

 

Isaiah 26:21a For, behold, the Lord cometh out of his place to punish the inhabitants of the earth for their iniquity:

 

What became of all those kings and rulers, and the people who were guilty of crucifying Jesus, the Lord only knows. We do know that Jerusalem and Israel as a nation, were utterly destroyed in 70 AD by Titus the Roman general, just as Jesus had foretold. And the Roman Empire fell in 476 AD. So one way or another those people and nations were eventually destroyed. But that's not even taking into consideration the unimaginable horrors of eternal hell that every lost rebellious soul will meet with on their judgment day when Jesus comes again!

 

On the other hand, I am equally confident that many of those guilty sinners were saved by God’s grace, who were brought by the Holy Spirit to see their wicked sins against God and His Son Jesus, and were brought to repent and believe in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour!

 

Where there is judgment, there is also God's mercy and grace to be found by needy sinners! While on the cross Jesus did say “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do”. To what extent the Lord’s prayer was answered we don't know, but I am certain some were brought to repent and believe in Jesus.

 

 

3. Thirdly and finally, we want to see  “the victory of Jesus” (verses 6-9)...

 

Psalm 2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

 

God's King is King Jesus! And His holy hill of Zion is His Throne in heaven itself. Yes, beloved, we crucified Jesus, but God raised Him from the dead, and set Him at His right hand on His throne in glory!

 

Psalm 2:7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou [art] my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

 

This verse is not speaking of the incarnation of Jesus, but here David is speaking of the resurrection of Jesus from the dead…

 

Paul referred to this verse in Acts 13 when he preached to the Jews at Antioch…

 

Acts 13:33 God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee. 

 

Beloved, the resurrection and ascension of Jesus was a total and absolute victory for Jesus!

 

Psalm 2:8 Ask of me, and I shall give [thee] the heathen [for] thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth [for] thy possession.

 

This verse is speaking of the salvation of God’s elect from among the Gentile nations of the world. This is still being fulfilled today. Every soul that repents and believes in Jesus as their Lord and Saviour is another victory for Jesus!

 

Psalm 2:9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

 

This verse is speaking of the rebellious sinners who will not submit to Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. When He comes again He is going to break them with a rod of iron, and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel! Woe unto all those who continue in their rebellion against the Lord Jesus Christ!

 

Jesus will have the victory over all His enemies! Either by saving their souls in this life, or by destroying them at His second coming, and later at the Great White Throne judgment when He will have them cast into the lake of fire!

 

 

Conclusion

 

In conclusion, I want to consider some advice from God to the nations of the world…

 

First, be wise and be instructed

 

Psalm 2:10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

 

Be instructed by God and His Word. That is true wisdom! The wise men of this world will tell you that God's Word is foolishness. But the truly wise man will hear it, and believe it, and take instruction from it unto life eternal.

 

Psalm 2:11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

 

“Serve the Lord with fear”… Fall down before Him in reverential fear, and whatever He says unto you do it! He commands everyone to “repent and believe the gospel, and you shall be saved”!

 

And then “rejoice with trembling”… as a newly converted soul by saving faith in Jesus Christ.

 

When we consider where we were headed without Jesus, and how narrowly we escaped the wrath to come. And then consider the marvelous grace of Jesus that was so freely bestowed upon unworthy souls like you and me! These are all good reasons to rejoice in the Lord with trembling!

 

And a final word of warning…

 

Psalm 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish [from] the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed [are] all they that put their trust in him.

 

“Kiss the Son”... Embrace Jesus as your Lord and Saviour now while He may be found in His grace.

 

“lest He be angry and you perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little”... Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords. He is not One to be trifled with, but He is to be feared, loved, believed, trusted, and obeyed with all our hearts and souls. Don't take the mercy and longsuffering of God for granted. It will quickly flee away, and then all you will see is the wrath of the Lamb!

 

And a final word of encouragement…

 

“Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him”...

 

If you desire to be blessed of God, put your trust in Jesus!

 

Yes, beloved, Jesus has won the victory. Victory over men, victory over sin, victory over Satan, victory over death, victory over hell, and victory over the grave.

 

And because Jesus has won the victory, we can have victory in Jesus, if we will put our trust in Him and His work on the cross for our sins!