November 30
Psalm 2
1 Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break their chains
and throw off their shackles.”
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
5 He rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 “I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.”
7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:
He said to me, “You are my son;
today I have become your father.
8 Ask me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will break them with a rod of iron;
you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear
and celebrate his rule with trembling.
12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry
and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
In Hebrew poetry there are several devices they use to structure the message. This one uses a particular form. The first 6 lines speak of God’s actions in response to the rebellion of the kings. The last 6 lines speak of God’s direction and wisdom to the king who has been crowned. In the middle is one line, to be spoken by the new king: “I will proclaim the Lord’s decree.” The colon in the English text is added. No punctuation in the Hebrew version.
After God reminds the king of how others have tried to rule and before God offers promises and wisdom, the King will give that response: “I will proclaim the Lord’s decree.” And as a bit of further translation, the first statement from God that follows is the statement of belonging that was applied to the whole nation already. It is the language that Hosea brings to tell the people you are a people and you are loved. It is the word of God at the baptism of Jesus in Mark 1 and at the Transfiguration in Mark 9.
It applies to Jesus as the Son of God, the king who rules forever. It applied to the kings of Israel and Judah, who ruled under the authority of God. It applied to the people in the nation as Hosea shows that they are loved by God and belong to God. It applies to us still as we are shown to be sons (children) of God in 1 John 3.
We proclaim the message that God has made us his children. The message the God will make all his children as we come to know Jesus and follow Jesus. Our Father tells us that we are his – that we are forgiven, we are loved and we belong.
Song – How Deep the Father’s Love for Us
Prayer
Almighty and merciful God, through your well-beloved Son, Jesus Christ, the King of kings and Lord of lords, you have willed to make all things new. Grant that we may be renewed by your Holy Spirit and may come at last to that heavenly country where your people hunger and thirst no more and the tears are wiped away from every eye, through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.