Scripture Reading: Psa. 1—2
Ⅰ
The central line of God's economy is to make God and man, man and God, one entity, with the two having one living by one life with one nature—John 15:1, 4a, 5a, 7; Rom. 12:4-5; Eph. 4:4-6; Rev. 21:2, 10-11a.
Ⅱ
The Psalms are fully Christ-centered; Christ is not only the centrality but also the universality of the Psalms—Luke 24:44.
Ⅲ
The book of Psalms shows us the contrast between the law and Christ:
A
The difference between Christ and the law is the difference between the Old Testament economy and the New Testament economy—Rom. 10:4; Gal. 2:16, 19-21; 3:2, 23-26; cf. Acts 21:18-24.
B
We need to be turned from the human concept of uplifting the law to the divine concept of exalting Christ according to the divine revelation—Psa. 1:2; 2:2, 6-8.
Ⅳ
Psalms 1 and 2 show us a comparison of the human concept in exalting the law with its keeper as the one blessed by God in man's interest and the divine revelation in proclaiming Christ as the One anointed of God in God's economy:
A
In Psalm 1 we see the law in man's appreciation; in Psalm 2 we see Christ in God's economy.
B
Psalm 1 concerns the personal benefit of the saints, whereas Psalm 2 concerns the accomplishment of the economy of God.
C
Psalm 2 is according to the divine concept of exalting Christ.
D
Psalm 2 is God's speaking, God's declaration, God's proclamation, concerning Christ as the center of His economy—vv. 6, 8.
Ⅴ
We need to see the divine revelation of Christ in God's economy in Psalm 2:
A
The word economy is not in Psalm 2, but the revelation and reality of God's economy are there.
B
The King and the kingdom in Psalm 2 show us the economy of God—vv. 6, 8-9.
C
In Psalm 2 we can see God's economy with the resurrection of Christ, in which He was begotten to be the firstborn Son of God—v. 7; Acts 13:33; Rom. 8:29.
Ⅵ
The twelve verses of Psalm 2 can be divided into four sections, with three verses in each section:
A
Verses 1 through 3 predict the opposition of the world rulers to Christ:
１
The fulfillment of these verses began with Pontius Pilate and will conclude with Antichrist—Acts 4:24-28; Rev. 19:19.
２
In Psalm 2:2 God came in to declare that Christ was His Anointed:
ａ
Christ was anointed in His divinity in eternity to be the Messiah—Christ—the anointed One—Dan. 9:26; John 1:41.
ｂ
Christ came as the anointed One to accomplish God's eternal plan; He became a man and was anointed again in His humanity in time at the time of His baptism—Matt. 3:16-17; Luke 4:18-19; Heb. 1:9; Acts 10:38.
B
Psalm 2:4-6 is God's declaration:
１
Christ was installed as God's King in the heavens in His ascension— v. 6; Acts 2:36; 5:31; Rev. 1:5a.
２
God declared and proclaimed that He had installed Christ not upon Mount Sinai but upon Mount Zion—Heb. 12:18-22; Gal. 4:25-26:
ａ
Mount Sinai was the place where the law was given; Mount Zion is the place where Christ is today in His ascension—Psa. 68:15-16; Eph. 4:8.
ｂ
Mount Zion is not a place to show us the law—it is a place to show us Christ—Rev. 14:1.
ｃ
We are on Mount Zion where we have the church, the Body of Christ, and God's economy for God's testimony—Heb. 12:18-24.
C
Psalm 2:7-9 is the declaration of Christ Himself:
１
After Christ was cut off, crucified (Dan. 9:26), He was resurrected to be begotten as the firstborn Son of God—Psa. 2:7; Acts 13:33; Heb. 1:5-6:
ａ
"Today" is the day of Christ's resurrection.
ｂ
By resurrection Christ brought His humanity into the divine sonship and was designated the Son of God with His humanity—Rom. 1:3-4.
２
Christ has been given the nations as His inheritance and the limits of the earth as His possession—Psa. 2:8; 72:8, 11; Rev. 11:15.
３
Christ will rule the nations in His kingdom with an iron rod—Psa. 2:9; Rev. 2:26-27; 19:15.
D
Psalm 2:10-12 is the preaching of the gospel:
１
One day Christ will come to execute His judgment in His wrath—v. 12; Rev. 6:15-17; Joel 1:15; 2:11, 31; 3:14; 1 Cor. 4:3-5.
２
To take refuge in the Son is to believe into the Son, Christ—Psa. 2:12c.
３
To kiss the Son is to love Christ, the Son of God—v. 12a.
４
To believe in the Lord is to receive Him, and to love the Lord is to enjoy Him; the Gospel of John presents these as the two requirements for us to participate in the Lord—3:16; 14:23:
ａ
Faith is for appreciating, substantiating, and receiving the unlimited riches of the Triune God.
ｂ
Love is for experiencing, enjoying, and living out the immeasurably rich Triune God—1 Tim. 1:14; Titus 3:15.