[Thursday's Devotional] - You are my Son

4 – You are my Son

 

We saw yesterday that the Lord has responded to the arrogance of earthly rulers by enthroning his own King, his Anointed One in Zion.  Today, the King speaks to us.

 

I will proclaim the decree of the Lord:

He said to me, “You are my Son;

today I have become your Father.

Ask of me,

and I will make the nations your inheritance,

the ends of the earth your possession.

You will rule them with an iron sceptre;

you will dash them like pieces of pottery.”                  [Psalm 2: 7 – 9, NIV]

 

Verses 6 and 7 are at the heart of this Psalm.  They show us the answer to the rebellion and the abuse of power shown by the kings and others in authority. 

 

That answer is Jesus the Messiah, King Jesus.  The words You are my Son were repeated to Jesus as he was baptised.  [Matthew 3: 17]

 

Jesus has come as King, not just of Jerusalem or Israel, but King over the nations and to the ends of the earth.  Jesus himself picked up on those words in the Great Commission, when he sent his disciples out into the world to make disciples of all nations.

 

And Jesus has come to rule [verse 9] – the Hebrew word means ‘shepherd’.  He has come to rule with an iron sceptre.  The shepherd’s wooden crook was used to guide the sheep and to fight off wild animals; but the King is to have an iron sceptre which speaks of his strong will as well as the final overthrow of the kings’ rebellion.

 

God's judgement on a sinful world is real and imminent; sin and death are now empty, broken forces since the death and resurrection of Jesus; and one day God will bring in his new kingdom of justice, peace and joy.  [Graham Tomlin]

 

Lord, thank you for sending your Son as the Good Shepherd.  Help me to listen to his voice, and to obey his commands.  Amen.

 

David Long