WORSHIP THE KING
Opening Prayer
The Lord is King. Open your hands in a gesture of submission to him and in willingness to receive from him.
Read Psalm 2
Psalm 2
1 Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break their chains
and throw off their shackles.”
4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
5 He rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 “I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.”
7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:
He said to me, “You are my son;
today I have become your father.
8 Ask me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will break them with a rod of iron;
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 celebrate his rule with trembling.
12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry
and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
New International Version (NIV)
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
What are you looking forward to the most about Jesus’ eternal rule?This is a psalm about God’s authority as it is worked out through his chosen king. Originally it referred to a king of Israel. But there is far more than that. It looks forward to the time when God will establish his rule through Jesus.
Ever since Adam and Eve chose to go their own way, humans have believed that they can do without God (1–3). They’re wrong. God will have the last word (4,5) through his King (8,9), establishing his rule of justice. His righteous anger (9) is his reaction to rebels who have rejected refuge in him (12) and bring the consequences on themselves; but it is never the final word. There is always the invitation to come back (10,11).
In Jesus, God reigns. We don’t yet see this working perfectly but one day we will. In Jesus, God saves. Our responsibility is to remind people that God is in control. Jesus will come back to deal with all that is wrong, to tell them of his love, and invite them to respond to him.
Apply
Read Acts 4:25,26; 13:33; Hebrews 1:5; 5:5; and Revelation 2:27; 12:5; 19:15. Compare these verses to this Psalm and how it relates to our Eternal King.
Closing prayer
Pray for friends and family who do not yet know the peace that comes from recognizing and following Jesus.
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