20. “Seek Refuge in God’s Kingdom” (Psalm 2)

Psalm 2

INTRO  – Ok so can we talk a bit about world cup – those of you who know me well know I wouldn’t be able to get through the summer without mentioning world cup in some way – I was sad to see the Dutch get knocked out this past week – (That Cape Verde Game against Argentina – amazing  – England v. Mexico – awesome!) – one of the small things I’ve enjoyed has been Norway’s fans and their chant  – have you seen it? – it’s called the Viking row – 10s of thousands of fans – rowing – the whole team along with the fans did this on Tuesday after Norway won their game with a late goal from their start center forward Erling Haaland – —

It reminded me of July 2022, 4 years ago when our family went to see Erling Haaland’s first game he ever played for Premier league team Man City.  It was Manchester City v. Bayer Munich – at Lambeau Field – Greenbay Packer’s stadium in Wisconsin – It was the first Game Erling Haaland played for City and he would end up scoring his first goal and and the game winning goal.

It was wicked hot – very humid – like this past week – it was the kind of day when it felt like a bad storm could come at any moment  – As we were entering into the stadium it just looked like it wanted to storm – you could see the dark menacing clouds in the distance – the game had an initial delay in starting because of the weather and then after the first 15- 20 mins of the game bad lightning storms came through and so all the people, about 80 thousand people – Lambeau Field is a huge stadium – pretty much fully packed out for that game – we were all told to leave our seats and go into the covered concourse area for shelter.

So there we are – thousands upon thousands of people packed into a tight space in this covered concrete area, it was so crowded, almost deafening loud – this was 4 years ago, so Liam was 6 and Abby was 4 –  it was all just too much for little Abby – all the noise was just overwhelming –  she started to cry – she was crying and saying – I want to go home, can we just go home?  – but of course we couldn’t leave, we were stuck we didn’t know whether it would be 10 mins or 2 hours – but it didn’t seem like it was going to be short – the storm was big and loud and intense and I held her as she cried – stuck in a hot, loud, crowded area surrounded by concrete – no where to go – no telling how long this would last……

So many of the Psalms are written by and for people in this sort of experience – we feel stuck – we are suffering in someway, or experiencing deep hurt (perhaps cruelty) from others, maybe some injustice has or is being done to us or even just the weight of our own brokenness and struggle  …… it’s like being stuck in that concrete concourse – we don’t have peace; we wish we could get to a place that feels like home; we wish the suffering could end…..like my daughter we’re crying out with longing – “I just want to go home….” And yet we don’t know how or when or if we’ll ever be able to leave and experience relief.

Last week we looked at Psalm 1 – where we read of this way of wisdom of a life rooted in the love of God and his word.  And as I mentioned last week – Psalms 1 and 2 form the introduction to this book – this is what we need to read and pray the Psalms.  If we are going to hold on to God in this life that is difficult, hard, and often confusing, if we are going to stand firm and hold on in prayer we need Psalms 1 and 2 to orient us to this way of wisdom and to the promise and hope of God’s king.  Psalm 2, that we’ll consider this morning is all about God’s promised king.

And just like last week Psalm 1 began by saying “The blessed life” meaning – “The good life,” the “truly flourishing life” belongs to those who live rooted in God’s love, this Psalm ends saying – The blessed like, the good life, the flourishing life – belongs to those who receive this king and take refuge in him.

If you have your Bible or bulletin out, let’s look at Psalm 2.  If you look at the text of Psalm 2 you can see 4 paragraphs, 4 speakers – first v. 1-3 the nations, rulers, and peoples are speaking, then v. 4-6 God responds, then v. 7-9 God’s King speaks, and finally v. 10-12 the writer of the Psalm speaks…..  I’m going to take those two middle paragraphs together – so let’s consider this Psalm in 3 parts – first – The Rebellion, second – God’s response, and third – the invitation.

First – The rebellion – 

If you look at these opening verses – we see a world-wide rebellion.  We think of events that bring the world together – the World Cup, the Olympics – here we see something else that brings people together – here we see humanity – and especially her leaders – the powerful, the kings, the rulers – coming together in their rebellion against God.

This passage always make me think of this scene in The Lord of the Rings.  In The Return of the King –

Gandalf the wizard comes to the great city of Gondor and to Denethor the Steward of Gondor.  Now this is very important – Denethor, he is not the king…….. he’s is the Steward of Gondor…. he’s a caretaker of the throne, his job is to carry out the role of the king, on behalf of the true king, until that King comes to take his throne.

So Gandalf comes in and says to Denethor, “Hail Denethor,….. Lord and Steward  of Gondor…”  And at the mention of this title of Steward, this reminder from Gandalf, that Denethor is a Steward and not true king, Denethor begins to speak with anger and hostility toward Gandalf….

Immediately perceiving this threat to his own rule and reign Denethor says to Gandalf…. “Do you think I’m blind – I see what you’re up to – you are seeking to get rid of me.  I know this supposed king is coming – riding toward the city at this moment – but I tell you – I will not bow to him, I will not.”

To which Gandalf responds – “You don’t have the authority to deny the return of the king….. Steward!” 

And at this Denethor jumps up shouting – THE RULE OF GONDOR IS MINE…..AND NO OTHERS!

Denethor has no interest in being a steward – he wants to be king – And the presence of the true king is a threat to him.  The true king is a threat to all who will not bow, who refuse to submit.

And this is a picture of the story that that Bible tells about all humanity…..We were created in God’s image and given dominion, called to rule, like little kings – like stewards under God the great king (Gen 1-2)- but we turned from God – wanting autonomy – wanting freedom and independence – and through that sin – deep pain and misery has come into the whole world – and we ourselves are left with the ripple effects of that sin touching our lives where that breach of relationship with God is experienced by us – and where our natural posture toward God is one of mistrust, suspicion, even hatred.  As those who have rebelled – The real God is a threat to us.

And this a sad and confusing state of existence.

Look at how the Psalm starts – v. 1  – WHY?  It starts with a question – Why do the nations rage……. Why do people do this…..why do we do this…. it makes no sense….. Why would we turn from the God who loves us, who made us for himself, who dignified us to share in his kingdom?  WHY?????  It’s wicked…. it’s incredibly stupid… It makes no sense….. it is doomed to fail….it is futile….

If you remember last week and Psalm 1 we read about how happy and flourishing is the person who lives rooted in God’s love and meditating on God’s instruction.  This is the good life – the story of this God who he is, what he has done, what he says and promises – all that running around in your mind, thinking about it, dwelling on it, loving it, delighting in it!!!

In Psalm 2 v. 1 – that same verb – “meditate” from Psalm 1 is used – but it’s twisted – Look at v. 1 – “Why do …. The peoples plot (there it is – you could translate – “why do…. The peoples meditate in vain?)

This meditation is the opposite of the good life from Psalm 1 – instead of a person flourishing as they meditate on God’s instruction – humanity in Psalm 2 is raging and meditating against the LORD and against God’s king.

And this is the mindset, the meditation, the thought life, the story that naturally occupies the life of humanity apart from God – it’s a story that has no place for the real God – It is a mind that is hostile to the real God.  It won’t receive God’s instruction – it is allergic to God’s reign and rule – because God is a threat to the fundamental principle – the main thread that runs through this other story, the thing above all else that is our starting place – My life, My rules.  I determine what is good; I determine what is true.  I rule my life.

And it is terribly, terribly sad.  Psalm 2 captures a quote from humanity in this place, in this mindset – this is what we say about God and God’s king – v. 3

“Let us burst their bonds apart

and cast away their cords from us.”

When we think of God, being connected to God and accountable to God it is viewed as chains and shackles –

But that’s not the only way to look at it. God himself uses very similar language in Hosea 11, narrating Isarel’s story – God says – Isarel is my beloved child, I took my son… I took him in my arms …..  I who taught him to walk …. And then God says Hosea 11:4 “I led them with chords of kindness, with the bands of love….”  That’s a very different way of interpreting what these chords and bands are –

God says they are chords of kindness and bands of love – the way a loving parent is connected to their child and instructs and helps their child to grow and flourish.

But Humanity in our rebellion says – they are shackles, chains – we don’t want your rule, we don’t want your instruction,  we don’t want your love…..  We hate the real God.

I keep saying “the real God” because humanity is generally fine with religion or spirituality – as long as we get to be in the driver’s seat. As long as we get veto power or we can pick and choose the parts we’re going to believe and ignore the parts that seem outdated, or don’t fit what we want to be true.  Humanity is in rebellion against the real God. 

All of this is incredibly destructive and devastating – because we see in the Bible and in history – that when sinful humanity rejects God and refuses to live as stewards, as those accountable to him, all sorts of evil become inevitable.   To live as those called to love God and love your neighbor and to live like you are accountable to God – is incredibly good for the world.  But if I live like I’m accountable to no one – and if I determine for myself what is good and true – then the world is really just about power.

In the Bible, after Genesis 3 and the fall of humanity into sin, we see violence, brutal violence, a world run by power – where might makes right.

In the history of the world, how frequent has unchecked power been used to spread death and destruction and sadness. We’ve seen it in communist regimes – that have sought to control people. We see it in nations and leaders that rule like they are accountable to no one.

We’ve seen it more recently in people like Jeffery Epstein and the Epstein files – the way numerous people in positions of power were caught up in that unspeakable evil.

Closer to home –  perhaps you’ve experienced this in a toxic work environment or in some relationship where you have experienced abuse.  The world is a mess, in large part because of the way people misuse power – not using power to serve, power to love God and love others, but power for the kingdom of self.

All of this is a sad confusing mess – because on the one hand there are the powers out there in the world that feel big and threatening and destructive – and so many of the Psalms speak and cry out in these situations.

And yet there is also, if we’re honest, the corruption in our own hearts – the ways we resist the king, the way we use power to control, the ways we refuse to live as stewards…. The way we live into that same story….

So ……. What’s God’s Response – How does God respond to this rebellion? v. 4-9   

The one v. 4 – enthroned, who is the sovereign king….. looks down at the plotting and plans for rebellion and laughs…  – not because it’s funny – but because it’s pitiful.

The most powerful people in the world cannot compare to the God who holds the oceans in the palm of his hand….

The world leaders, the powers, the nations that stand against God and his anointed one, his king…… are nothing before him….

But God not only laughs at this ridiculous rebellion  – he is determined to act. – v. 5  “He speaks to them in his wrath, and terrifies them in his fury”

1. 6  – God Acts…. And he acts decisively by establishing his king.  He says,  “As for me, I have set my king on Zion, on my holy hill.”    God’s response to the rebellion – is to install his king.

This king who speaks In v. 7-9 telling us what God has said to him.  v. 7

Psa. 2:7    I will tell of the decree:

The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;

today I have begotten you.

8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,

and the ends of the earth your possession.

9 You shall break them with a rod of iron

and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

God responds to the rebellion by installing his king – by giving His King rule of the whole earth – to bring about God’s reign and to defeat the powers that stand against him. 

But when did that happen?  Has God done this? The Bible attributes this Psalm to king David – but David never did this…. And none of David’s sons and the line of the kings from David ever did this….

For centuries, God’s people in the OT, read this Psalm, looking forward in hope to the day when God’s King would bring God’s kingdom as God’s answer to all the chaos of the powers of this world, of evil and sin and brokenness.

They read, they prayed, they hoped……

So….. where are we in this story, has God done this? 

Well… as we turn to the writings of the NT – we read of Jesus.  Jesus, the Son of God, who comes saying that the kingdom of God is drawing near through him.

At the beginning of the gospel accounts – when Jesus is baptized, God declares – using these very words from Psalm 2 – “You are my Son….. This is my Son”

And if you keep reading through the gospels you see Jesus, God’s king, spreading the news of God’s kingdom and showing what God’s reign and rule look like – it looks like restoration, it looks like evil has finally met it’s match, it looks like healing, it looks like forgiveness – it’s like everywhere Jesus goes – there is this wake of wholeness left in his path –  life the way it’s supposed to be finally coming through him.

And yet this Son, God’s king, faces hostility and enemies who hate him without cause and want nothing to do with God’s Rule…. the powerful in Israel – the rulers plot against him and come together saying – we have to get rid of him – we have to find a way to kill him – And in the end the leaders and people of power in Israel along with the rulers of Rome – they come together showing what humanity in our sin does to the real God – we kill him.

But this was all part of God’s plan – this is how God was installing his king.  God’s king was enthroned on a cross.  On the cross it looked like the powers of evil and sin had won.  But this is precisely how Jesus triumphed over them.  Because on the cross Jesus deals with the sin that plagues humanity – he deals with the way our sins stood against us; he deals with the power sin had over us.  He takes the consequences of our cosmic treason that we might be forgiven and set free to belong to him.   Jesus dies in our place and in his resurrection triumphs over death and the grave.  If you belong to Jesus – Sin and death and the powers no longer have hold on you.

God raised Jesus up – and in his resurrection we’re meant to hear God saying these words to Jesus – You are my Son, You are my king.  I’m giving you the nations and the whole earth!”

The resurrection means the king has come and the king has won – the powers have been dealt the death blow – it is only a matter of time – they can rage on – but they will come to nothing.

All people are called to turn to this king and receive this king – the church is meant to go to all places proclaiming that God has established his king – and he is Jesus.

And this is why the Psalm ends with a call – an invitation.

3) The invitation –

1. 10-12 – all are summoned to come…. to come to this king… in the only way appropriate to such a king as Jesus….

We are to come v. 12 and Kiss the son – meaning – sincere, wholehearted devotion….

We are to come v. 11 and serve him with a reverent fear.  We are to come rejoicing and celebrating the amazing love he has shown us – and yet with a trembling that recognizes who it is we are talking about – we come to serve and give our lives to God – the eternal God, the Creator and sustainer of all that is, the all powerful holy God – The Son who entered this world, died and rose again for us – What love, what grace?!

You see, how we approach God – the way we do or don’t – really says a lot about what our relationship with God is really like – There are all sorts of people who have some kind of general belief in God, maybe they would identify as Christian…. or maybe they are a person who says ….. yeah, you know, God or some kind of supernatural being probably does exist…that makes sense…

• But they are not coming to Jesus, God’s king wholeheartedly…..
• they don’t come with posture of serving him – Jesus all I am is yours to command,
• they don’t come with reverence and trembling in awe and wonder at his majesty, his greatness, his glory… just overwhelmed by his person……. …
• they don’t come full of joy, rejoicing in his grace which welcomes them so freely

The Psalm ends with an image, which sums up the way we are meant to come to Jesus, God’s king.  The final line of this Psalm says – The Blessed life, the truly good life, the life that flourishes – belongs to the one who takes refuge in him. 

Going back to that day 4 years ago, when we were stuck in the concourse at Lambeau Field – Hot, loud, crowded…..my little daughter Abby upset and crying – I picked her up and held her in my arms and began to sing to her – as we sometimes did at bedtime – I sang “Jesus loves me.”  Over and over again, I sang, until she fell asleep in my arms.  In the midst of the chaos she found refuge in me – in my arms, in my voice.

You know, the very next Psalm – Psalm 3 – king David is in a situation where he is surrounded by 10s of thousands of people who want to kill him – and yet – he says he is able to lie down and sleep…. He has peace – the unique kind of piece that comes through taking refuge in God

Jesus calls you to himself – he calls you seek refuge in him, to make him your shelter – 

Shelter from what?  You name it – Shelter from the storms of life.  Shelter in the midst of chaotic powers in the world, rulers and people in positions of power who do evil – looking to him who will one day set all things right;  shelter for all the ways you have been hurt – trusting him to heal you and help you;  shelter from your own sin and failure.

There is one place – in all the world, with all it’s chaos, with all it’s evil, with all the threats that cause us to fear – there is one place that’s safe – and it’s in Jesus. 

Derek Kidner – a writer on this passage sums it up so well with these words about Jesus – God’s King  – “There is no refuge from him….[there is] only [refuge] in Him.”

You cannot and you will not escape this God.  All the plots will fail…..the counsel will come to nothing……. ……

You will not in the end be able to deny him or his existence……

 You cannot run from him…. you have to run to him…..  

 And the amazing grace of Jesus is – he will take you in and he will be your refuge….

In a book with many twists and turns, with the reality of suffering and evil, with struggles external and internal, with longings, with experiences of joy that point us to an even greater joy that lies ahead – read this book – and know this – God has a king – and so run to him, receive him.

He has done everything so that you can come into his loving arms, so that you can find rest for your souls. He is faithful; he is good.

Make him your refuge – the truly blessed life – the truly good life in the end – belongs to those who take refuge in him.

So let’s do that now.