Psalm 2

1 Why do the nations conspire, and the peoples plot in vain?
² The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One.
³ “Let us break their chains,” they say, “and throw off their fetters.”
⁴ The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.
⁵ Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
⁶ “I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.”

⁷ I will proclaim the decree of the LORD: He said to me, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father.
⁸ Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.
⁹ You will rule them with an iron scepter; 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 rejoice with trembling.
¹² Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

This psalm is about the Lord. As you look at this psalm you will see a lot of purple that represents the Lord and a lot of green which represents those against the Lord. However, the only red which represents the saints is found only in the last sentence. We are blessed (reread psalm one) our refuge is in him. It is not by our acts but by his grace that we are blessed. Therefore, heed verse twelve kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you be destroyed in your way. Notice that way is singular. In Psalm 1:6 David writes but the way of the wicked will perishes, this is the way that the son destroys in verse twelve of this psalm. Kiss the son is an act of reverence. Your way then is simply put to this one question “what do you think of Christ?” Is he the way, the truth and the light in your life?

As I read Psalm two, I wonder what the Lord told the two disciples going to Emmaus (Luke 24:13-32) about this portion of the scriptures. In Luke 24:32 “And they said one to another, Was not our heart burning within us, while he spoke to us in the way, while he opened to us the scriptures?” was a trip that one of my favorite Bible teachers stated as his dream trip. That short journey from Jerusalem to Emmaus was the best discourse on Old Testament theology that was ever delivered. Christ himself gives us the keys to understanding the scriptures in Luke 24:46,47 “Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer, and rise again from the dead the third day; and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name unto all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem.” Simply put it is the gospel.

As I watch the news and listen to everyday discussions about the affairs of men, I see little refer being made to the King of Kings in either case. As I study the Sermon on the Mount found in Matthew chapters five through seven, I see the King of Kings presenting his kingdom and his principles to mankind. The theme of this psalm can be found in the first three verses. The people of this earth take their stand against God. Their goal is to break the chains that they state that God has placed upon them. These chains that the kings and the rulers want to break are simply the desire to set themselves up as gods so that men would worship them instead of God. As I study Isaiah fourteen verse twelve through seventeen, I realize that this was the same chains that Satan wanted to break. In Isaiah 14:12-17:

How you have fallen from heaven, O morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations! You said in your heart, “I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God; I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain. I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High.” But you are brought down to the grave, to the depths of the pit. Those who see you stare at you, they ponder your fate: “Is this the man who shook the earth and made kingdoms tremble, the man who made the world a desert, who overthrew its cities and would not let his captives go home?”

Just as Satan, these kings and rulers of the earth paid no heed to God’s law and disregard the honor due Him. However, God has set Christ up as King. As you study the gospels take a close look at the parables that Christ gave after his Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem. The parables of the two sons, of the tenants, the wedding banquet, the ten virgins, and the talents all point to a returning Lord. As we approach each day are our eyes focused on the clouds and looking for the coming King or are we so focused on the daily activities around us and being part of this world that we have taken our eyes away from looking for the return of the coming King.

I was asked the other day if God ever laughs. Here in verse four of this Psalm, as well as Psalm 37:13 and Psalm 59:8 I have found the answer. God laughs at the wicked. In these three Psalms the issue that God laughs at is the stand the wicked have taken against God and his anointed One. He laughs that they believe that they can rebel against God and free themselves from his ways. God looks down from heaven and views this as foolishness. His advice is simply “serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling”. So be warned “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you will be destroyed in your way”.

Testimonies of the Lord

2 Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart,
14 In the way of thy testimonies I delight as much as in all riches.
22 take away from me their scorn and contempt, for I have kept thy testimonies.
24 Thy testimonies are my delight, they are my counselors.
31 I cleave to thy testimonies, O LORD; let me not be put to shame!
36 Incline my heart to thy testimonies, and not to gain!
46 I will also speak of thy testimonies before kings, and shall not be put to shame;
59 When I think of thy ways, I turn my feet to thy testimonies
79 Let those who fear thee turn to me, that they may know thy testimonies.
88 In thy steadfast love spare my life, that I may keep the testimonies of thy mouth.
95 The wicked lie in wait to destroy me; but I consider thy testimonies.
99 I have more understanding than all my teachers, for thy testimonies are my meditation.
111 Thy testimonies are my heritage for ever; yea, they are the joy of my heart.
119 All the wicked of the earth thou dost count as dross; therefore I love thy testimonies.
125 I am thy servant; give me understanding, that I may know thy testimonies!
129 Thy testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.
138 Thou hast appointed thy testimonies in righteousness and in all faithfulness.
144 Thy testimonies are righteous for ever; give me understanding that I may live.
146 I cry to thee; save me, that I may observe thy testimonies.
152 Long have I known from thy testimonies that thou hast founded them for ever.
157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, but I do not swerve from thy testimonies.
167 My soul keeps thy testimonies; I love them exceedingly.
168 I keep thy precepts and testimonies, for all my ways are before thee.

John 14:23-27

Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.   He that loveth me not keepeth not my sayings: and the word which ye hear is not mine, but the Father’s which sent me.   These things have I spoken unto you, being yet present with you.   But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.   Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.  (KJV)

As I read and study God’s Word it is amazing the peace it can bring into my very busy life.

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers.  But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.  He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers.  Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away.  Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.  For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

As I start my quest of detailing my philosophy of life to my children over the next one hundred and fifty days, I will explore each of the one hundred and fifty Psalms and will focus on these four universal questions:

1. Does God exists?
2. What am I?
3. Is there a correct way to live?
4. How can we live together?

Psalm one is a great stating point since all four of the questions are addressed. Does God exist?  It is interesting that the very first verse of the Bible states “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” In this Psalm God is the law giver, he is the judge, and the protector of the righteous.  So the very first Statement I must make in writing about my philosophy on life is the fact (the foundation) of my belief statement is that God is the creator of both heaven and earth.

The second question is what or who am I. In this Psalm man is described as either walking with the wicked or meditating on the law of the Lord (the path of the righteous).  It is interesting that this Psalm gives us a way to walk.  Our walk or way seems to determine what or who we are.  So what is man?  A creature created by God who has the gift of choose.  The law of God was simple to Adam and Eve as Eve stated it the serpent: “And the woman said unto the serpent, Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat: but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.”  However the counsel of the wicked changes God’s words:  “And the serpent said unto the woman, you shall not surely die: for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil.” And as the story goes in Genesis chapter three we realized that this was the fall of man.  “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat.  And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig-leaves together, and made themselves aprons.” (ASV)  As Paul writes in Roman five verses 17 through 19:  For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, even Jesus Christ.  So then as through one trespass the judgment came unto all men to condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness the free gift came unto all men to justification of life.  For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous. (ASV) So with first decision to disobey God by Adam the sinful nature was passed upon all mankind.

There with this sinful nature being a part of all mankind is there a correct way to live and if so how can we live together? His Psalm address this path as the law of the Lord.  But it not a law to know but to be mediated upon.  Live is very complicated.  And because of the sinful nature that exist in everyone we must follow David’s advice of mediating on God’s law day and night.

Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither. Whatever he does prospers. Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away. Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous. For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.

As I start my quest of detailing my philosophy of life to my children over the next one hundred and fifty days, I will explore each of the one hundred and fifty Psalms and will focus on these four universal questions:

1. Does God exists?
2. What am I?
3. Is there a correct way to live?
4. How can we live together?

Psalm one is a great stating point since all four of the questions are addressed. Does God exist? It is interesting that the very first verse of the Bible states “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.” In this Psalm God is the law giver, he is the judge, and the protector of the righteous. So the very first Statement I must make in writing about my philosophy on life is the fact (the foundation) of my belief statement is that God is the creator of both heaven and earth.

The second question is what or who am I. In this Psalm man is described as either walking with the wicked or meditating on the law of the Lord (the path of the righteous). It is interesting that this Psalm gives us a way to walk. Our walk or way seems to determine what or who we are. So what is man? A creature created by God who has the gift of choose. The law of God was simple to Adam and Eve as Eve stated it the serpent: “And the woman said unto the serpent, Of the fruit of the trees of the garden we may eat: but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God hath said, Ye shall not eat of it, neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die.” However the counsel of the wicked changes God’s words: “And the serpent said unto the woman, you shall not surely die: for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as God, knowing good and evil.” And as the story goes in Genesis chapter three we realized that this was the fall of man. “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat; and she gave also unto her husband with her, and he did eat. And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig-leaves together, and made themselves aprons.” (ASV) As Paul writes in Roman five verses 17 through 19: For if, by the trespass of the one, death reigned through the one; much more shall they that receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one, even Jesus Christ.  So then as through one trespass the judgment came unto all men to condemnation; even so through one act of righteousness the free gift came unto all men to justification of life.  For as through the one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, even so through the obedience of the one shall the many be made righteous. (ASV) So with first decision to disobey God by Adam the sinful nature was passed upon all mankind.

There with this sinful nature being a part of all mankind is there a correct way to live and if so how can we live together? His Psalm address this path as the law of the Lord. But it not a law to know but to be mediated upon. Live is very complicated. And because of the sinful nature that exist in everyone we must follow David’s advice of mediating on God’s law day and night.

Exodus 3:11

And Moses said unto God, Who am I, that I should go unto Pharaoh, and that I should bring forth the children of Israel out of Egypt?

Have you ever wondered why God uses certain people to complete His will on this earth?  Moses gave up the palace life he was living in Egypt and was dwelling  in the land of Midian as a shepherd.  From his youth he had been blessed, but one wrong decision made him run from everything dear to him and caused him to start his life over again.  The Bible is full of examples that God has given us to explore.  We see the life of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph given to us in the book of Genesis.  We also see the lives of Moses, Joshua, Samuel, and David given to us a great man of faith.  But why were they chosen by God to be used by God?

I believe Christ has an answer for us in Matthew 26:42  “He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done.”   All the examples given above was willing to say to God “Thy will be done”.  Sometimes the events in our life done not go according to our plans.  These examples had to chose to let “Thy will be done” in their life.  Paul had to make the same choose in Acts 9:5 “And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutes: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.”  Was Paul going to continue his task of breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord and having them arrested or was he going to accept the Lord as the Messiah?  Yes the decision seems to be easy, and yet as I look around and see how many people who profess to know Christ live a life that denies the truth given us in the scriptures I begin to realize that most are not willing to say “Thy will be done” in their life.

I Peter 3: 7-9

That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perished, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:  whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls.

The battle lines have been drawn.  It is either your faith in Christ or the things of this world.  As our faith grows so will the conflicts in our life.  This is what the apostles warned us about:

I Peter 4: 11,12

Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:   But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

Paul write in II Corinthians 5:19 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”  This passing away of the old things puts us in conflict with the world.

Ephesians 6: 10-12

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.   Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  (KJV)

Finally, after Paul had written his message to the Ephesians he gives them this last piece of advise.  Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might.  Paul knew the power of the Lord’s might from his daily living in doing the will of God.  This strength came from the faith that Paul experience day  in and day out in the Lord.  Paul knew this faith came by trusting only in Christ, and not in his own abilities or of the abilities of these around him.  This is the same faith that we need to have as we walk daily with the Lord.

Paul after writing to the Ephesians on how to live to Christian life pointed them to the real enemy we face the devil.  In verse twelve he writes “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”   This battle is real.  Satan’s goal is simply to create a Godless society, a society that does not recognizes God.  A society in which man is the supreme  beings.  So what place do you place God in your life?