Christ in the Old Testament

Psalm 2:6

I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain. (NIV)

Today’s Reading: Psalm 2:1-6

Today we begin the book of Psalms. There are nearly 100 prophecies about Jesus in Psalms. Much of the book was written by King David. It is beautiful literature often meant to be sung as worship songs to God.

Psalm 2 is entirely about Jesus. The Psalm begins by introducing us to the people of earth. The nations are conspiring. The word for nations is gôy which describes the pagan people or more specifically the Gentiles. They conspire and plot against the Lord’s anointed. The anointed is almost always the word māšîaḥ when it is used in the Old Testament meaning the Messiah.

Luke references the beginning of this Psalm in Acts 4:25-26. Peter and John were imprisoned and upon their release they told their people everything that happened to them. Their response was to quote this Psalm as prophecy about Herod and Pilate and their conspiracy to kill Jesus.

The kings of earth and the rulers band together saying, “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles” (Psalm 2:3). The language here seems to indicate that God has bound these kings and rulers in some way. One interpretation is that people who stand against God feel bound by God’s laws. They are like chains and shackles to them because God’s law restricts them from serving themselves to the pleasures of the world.

Interestingly enough, God’s response is to mock these kings and rulers. He laughs and scoffs at them. This is not the loving merciful side of God. This is the side of God that shows up when people reject Jesus. “Whoever does not honor the Son does not honor the Father, who sent him” (John 5:23). And thus God is not in a forgiving mood here. He is angry. And they are terrified.

God’s rebuke is to let them know, “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain” (Psalm 2:6). Jesus is now the king because God has appointed him to be king. Jesus came to earth to establish his kingdom and the kings and rulers of earth are terrified.

These are the words of Peter in his first sermon on the Day of Pentecost. “Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Messiah” (Acts 2:36). Jesus is now the king. During his first trip to earth, he was a kind, forgiving and merciful king. On his next trip here, he will bring the rod and sword.

“Therefore God exalted him to the highest place
    and gave him the name that is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
    in heaven and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord,
    to the glory of God the Father” (Phil 2:9-11).

All will bow to the truth that Jesus is Lord. We will either bow voluntarily or we will bow after we no longer have the choice. The Psalmist was giving us a glimpse into Jesus’ second coming. I pray we choose wisely to confess that Jesus is Lord while we still have the choice.

Today’s Prayer: I acknowledge you Jesus as Lord and King. I pray that I seek your will today in all that I do.