● Main point: Worship the Son
● Intro
○ In 1882 renowned German Philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche penned 3 words that would shake the foundations of western society: “God is dead”. What he meant was that society no longer needed the idea of God to function. To progress as a society we should come out from under these moral shackles and make our own meaning. In some ways, Nietzsche’s words were not new ones. It’s been in the heart of man since the fall to want to usurp God. What does God have to say to someone like this? That is the subject of our text today. Our main point is that God has set his son who is not only worthy to rule but worthy of worship. We’ll break the text into the following
● A Foolish Rebellion (who we should follow)
○ Historical context
■ Sung at a coronation
■ Looks toward a future king
● Israel ruled other nations for a very short period of time
● This Psalm addresses all nations, not just those around Israel
○ What are they raging at?
■ The fact that they’re raging is presumed
■ They rage against the Lord and his anointed
● Anointed: holy (prophets priests, and kings)
■ That’s presumptuous: why do they rage against God?
● Romans 1:18 “who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth”
○ Why do the nations rage?
■ They don’t want to be under the king’s authority
■ Their solution
● Set themselves
○ You are your own standard of right and wrong
○ “Make your own meaning”
● Take counsel together
○ As opposed to Psalm 1: meditate on the law
○ Counseling is at an all time high. Modern counseling can only affirm
○ Ex: “enough about me, what do you think about me?”
● Their goal: Be free from God’s bonds
○ When God is removed, there is no source of authority
■ The church becomes pithy moralisms
■ Democracy is only rooted in what everyone else thinks is right
○ Ex: you’re in space and saying you don’t need a space suit
● Question over lunch: When was the last time you changed your mind about something? What authority challenged your views and why was it sufficient?
○ A friend, a verse, evidence
○ Why it’s foolish
■ The kings are on earth and God is in heaven
● Ex: do you want to see infinity? Look up!
■ Application: don’t put your hope in a politician
● Ex: abolitionist movement
● Ex: praying for those in authority
○ Leaders battle their own flesh as well as those they represent. It’s a miracle they do anything justly
● A Worthy King (why we should follow him)
○ What gives someone authority?
■ Power: the ability to do something
■ Authority: the right or license to make decisions with that power
● Ex: Abi taking yogurt from the fridge
○ She had the power to eat it but appealed to a higher authority, and thus I was duped
● These kings and nations grab for power, but outside of the authority given to them
○ The son’s right
■ He is chosen by God
● He’s been set
● The nations and earth are given to him
■ He is prophet, priest, and king
● We affirmed that today when reading the Ligonier Statement on Christology
■ He is begotten
● The son is equal to the father
○ Of the same substance
○ The nations are against both the father and the anointed
○ God
○ The nations and the earth are given to the son
■ God trusts the son will rule over all this capably
● In Acts 13:33, Paul applies this verse when Jesus rises from the dead. When he rose, his status as the messiah and son of God was publicly recognized
○ The son’s power
■ Authority without power is toothless
■ It’s firm
● It’s a rod of iron. There’s no bending his law
■ It’s decisive
● A clay pot is no match for a metal rod
■ Rev 19:15
● We see Jesus wielding this rod of iron in Revelation 19 to wage war against the beast and the kings of the earth
■ Psalm 23:4 “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me”
● The shepherd’s rod and staff were his implements for disciplining, rescuing, and protecting his sheep. They could be used to dissuade a sheep from going to a dangerous place or to break the skull of the serpent
● A Choice Given (how we should follow him)
○ The response to this kind of authority: worship
■ Worship: the glorification of authority
● Ex: singing
○ We recognize God’s authority over us and respond to it with a joyful noise
○ Lifting one’s hands is not in abandon but surrender
○ What does worship look like?
■ Fear God
● This is different from terror
● Terror moves us away from God, right fear of him brings us closer
● How do you rejoice and tremble?
○ Jeremiah 33:9 They shall fear and tremble because of all the good and all the prosperity I provide for it.”
○ Luke 7:16 “Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!”
● But although the sight of water made her feel ten times thirstier than before, she didn’t rush forward and drink. She stood as still as if she had been turned into stone, with her mouth wide open. And she had a very good reason: just on this side of the stream lay the lion. …“If I run away, it’ll be after me in a moment,” thought Jill. “And if I go on, I shall run straight into its mouth.” Anyway, she couldn’t have moved if she had tried, and she couldn’t take her eyes off it. How long this lasted, she could not be sure; it seemed like hours. And the thirst became so bad that she almost felt she would not mind being eaten by the lion if only she could be sure of getting a mouthful of water fi rst. “If you’re thirsty, you may drink.” …For a second she stared here and there, wondering who had spoken. Then the voice said again, “If you are thirsty, come and drink.”…It was deeper, wilder, and stronger; a sort of heavy, golden voice. It did not make her any less frightened than she had been before, but it made her frightened in rather a different way.
“Are you not thirsty?” said the Lion. “I’m dying of thirst,” said Jill. “Then drink,” said the Lion. “May I — could I — would you mind going away while I do?” said Jill. The Lion answered this only by a look and a very low growl. …The delicious rippling noise of the stream was driving her nearly frantic. “Will you promise not to – do anything to me, if I do come?” said Jill. “I make no promise,” said the Lion. …“I daren’t come and drink,” said Jill. “Then you will die of thirst,” said the Lion. “Oh dear!” said Jill, coming another step nearer. “I suppose I must go and look for another stream then.” “There is no other stream,” said the Lion.
● Fear is a response to overwhelming underserved grace
● When you fear something your mind turns away from yourself and towards something else. Your eyes are fixed
● Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom
■ Take refuge
● Psalms 1:6 the way of the wicked will perish. There’s no getting around it. It will happen sooner or later
● His wrath is quickly kindled
○ I thought God was slow to anger?
○ He’s slow to anger and quick to act
■ 1 Thess. 5:2-3 “For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying “There is peace and security”, then suddenly destruction will come upon them as labor pains upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.”
● Nearness to the son
○ Kiss the son: this is both a sign of affection and submission
● Refuge is security. There’s no need to be terrified that he will change his mind about you
● Conclusion
○ Jesus was mocked and shamed not just by the nations but his own people. We’ve all spat at his authority and transgressed his laws
○ When Jesus died, he put the power of sin to death. He proved to be even greater.
○ His authority over sin and everything was then authenticated by rising from the dead. Acts 13:33 quotes this psalm during his resurrection as a kind of coronation
○ Because of this, Jesus is worthy to be worshiped. He has full authority over everyone and everything.
○ Will you turn from your rebellion and worship him? Will you rejoice with trembling?