Mike's Day 2: “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy hill ...”

Psalm 2: a prayer of defiance. Though the nations conspire against the LORD (thus against Israel), the Anointed-King, the one LORD names as his own Son and rules from Zion (Jerusalem), will rule with an 'iron sceptre'; therefore those plotting kings should 'be wise', 'be warned', 'Serve the LORD with fear','rejoice with trembling' and ultimately 'Kiss the Son' in order to stave off his anger.

This is a bit of an angry one. It is a Psalm about the Messiah (Anointed One), probably David, chosen by God to both rule his people and defeat the enemies of the people of God. One of the functions of the Messiah was to defeat the enemies of Israel, thereby bringing salvation. The Messiah's victory would be God's victory, and perhaps the high point of David's reign is captured in the millitary victories of 2 Samuel 8 & 9 (before the Bathsheba incident) and preceded by God's message to David through Nathan (2 Sam 7), which reads:

"I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be distrubed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies."

Psalm 2 recalls this 'promise', if you like. Note that it is against the nations that rage and conspire against Israel, not against the nations per se. The function God had for Israel was twofold, to defeat evil, and be the the source of blessing for the nations.

This Psalm had special meaning for the early church: read Acts 4:23-31. It is attributed directly to their 'father' David, who spoke the words of God by the Holy Spirit (v.25). The peoples are all those who conspired against Jesus, whom God anointed (v.27). The Psalm of salvation for Israel has then been fulfilled in Jesus; the successor mentioned by Nathan in 2 Sam vs. 12 is Jesus.

'Blessed are all who take refuge in him.'

Chrissy's Day 2: I need to obey, I need to do

Summary of Romans 2

You can read Romans 2 at BibleGateway.

Paul warns that we shouldn't pass judgement on others because we're just the same as the wicked people described in chapter 1. God will give everyone what they deserve, both Jews and non-Jews. Infact, Jews will be held to a higher standard because they have God's law. Because it is not hearing that is important it is obeying. In fact, those people who have never heard of God's law but follow it by instinct prove that it is the truth.

If Jews want to brag about having God's law, their relationship with God and try to teach others, they had better be careful to obey the law themselves. For example, they can't teach against stealing and then steal themselves. The scriptures say "It's because of you Jews that non-Jews ignore God".

Circumcision is only valuable if you keep God's law. If you don't, then it's better to not be circumcised. It's what is happening in your heart that matters.

Reflection

I know you should be careful about taking something written a couple thousand years ago to a specific group of people and try to apply it directly to your own life but...

I do wonder how similar we Christians are to the Jews of that time. We smugly think we can tell others how to live because we are 'saved' but don't really change our lives all that much. We claim to have the inside scoop on love but exclude people from our churches if we don't approve of their lifestyles. We go on about how God created the world in 7 days but continue to trash it. We talk about how we are free from condemnation but judge other Christians mercilessly.

Well, if we can apply this passage to ourselves, Paul is telling us to be careful. We who have heard will be held to account for our actions. We won't be able to plead innocence cause we should have known better.

Here again Paul is saying. It's not enough just to hear the gospel - we need to hear it. Verse 13: "For it is not those who hear the law who are righteous in God's sight, but it is those who obey the law who will be declared righteous."

So where do I sit in all this?

I confess, I sit back and say 'oh, I'm a Christian, I have been saved by God's amazing gift of grace', and think that that's enough. Yes, God has extended a free and undeserved gift to me and it is enough. And yet it's not.

Clearly, this passage (if it is ok for me to apply it to my life...) is telling me that it's not enough to rely on my religion and think I have a free ticket to the Kingdom of God. I need to obey. I need to do.

So my next question is: How do I obey? What do I need to do?

Prayer

Father, Son, Holy Spirit,

Thank you for this opportunity to spend time exploring your word.
Thank you for the journey you are taking me on and how far I have already come.

Lord, I confess that I am lazy. I have willfully misinterpreted your message to suit myself.
Please forgive me.

I want to obey. Please show me how. Please show me what you want me to do.

I want to be your servant, your vessel.

Amen

x
Chrissy