Read
The Lord's Chosen King
1 Why do the nations plot,
and why do their people
make useless plans?
2The kings of this earth
have all joined together
to turn against the Lord
and his chosen king.
3They say, “Let's cut the ropes
and set ourselves free!”
4In heaven the Lord laughs
as he sits on his throne,
making fun of the nations.
5The Lord becomes furious
and threatens them.
His anger terrifies them
as he says,
6“I've put my king on Zion,
my sacred hill.”
7 I will tell the promise
that the Lord made to me:
“You are my son, because today
I have become your father.
8Ask me for the nations,
and every nation on earth
will belong to you.
9 You will smash them
with an iron rod
and shatter them
like dishes of clay.”
10Be smart, all you rulers,
and pay close attention.
11Serve and honor the Lord;
be glad and tremble.
12Show respect to his son
because if you don't,
the Lord might become furious
and suddenly destroy you.
But he blesses and protects
everyone who runs to him.
Reflect
Kisses are so close-up and personal, so intimate. I don’t know about you, but I don’t kiss everyone I meet. Kisses are reserved for those special people in my life – people I know and trust, people I love.
Here in Psalm 2, kings and rulers are commanded to kiss the Son of God. What an odd command? What is the significance of this? The kiss in this case signals full submission. Kings and rulers are to submit to the overarching rule of Christ over themselves, their affairs and their domain.
Psalm 2 is the first of several messianic psalms scattered throughout the book of Psalms. There is nothing subtle about the messianic message found here. The Lord has installed His anointed as king in Zion and furthermore this anointed one is identified as the Son of God. The term the Lord’s “anointed” is frequently translated as Messiah or Christ.
In the book of Acts, the apostles viewed this psalm as the prophetic fulfillment of Christ’s mission during his last days in Jerusalem. The anointed Son of God was rejected by Herod and Pilate, the rulers of that time. They refused to kiss the Son. (See Acts 4:23-31.)
But what about me? Have I kissed the Son? Have I submitted to his will for my life? In my own small way, I too am a monarch, a ruler of my own domain. Today, will I allow him to rule over me and my affairs?
Respond
Dear Lord Jesus, thank you for your unconditional love. You want only the best for me. I yield to you. Help me to embrace your will and purpose for my life. I trust in you. I love you, Lord. With my lips I kiss the Son. Amen.
David Kitz
David Kitz is an actor, an award-winning author, and teacher. For more than thirty years, he has served as an ordained pastor. His love for drama is evident to all who have seen his Bible-based performances. He has toured across Canada and United States with a variety of one man plays for children and adults. Raised in Saskatchewan, David now lives in Ottawa with his wife Karen. Books in print: The Soldier Who Killed a King, Little Froggy Explores the BIG World, Psalms Alive!, Tunks on Tongues