The Lord's King - Thoughts from the Second Psalm

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver

"Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh..." (Psalm 2:1-4)

The preeminence of Messiah, in the purpose of God, has made for a prohibition of any sound judgment that excludes this foundational consideration. Again, any assessment of men that ignores the Lordship of Jesus Christ cannot be anything but vain in matters of any real or lasting significance. Those who pretend that their existence is separate from the Divine Person, particularly the Divine Ruler, will make their own plans and seek to determine their own course but "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh."

Men have frequently and erroneously imagined that they were alone in their efforts and independent in their pursuits. But this is simply the nearsighted nature of the flesh (2 Pet 1:9). While it is inexcusable to for men to think this way, they are not without help. He that upholds all things by the word of His power (Heb 1:3) has been merciful and gracious to make known many mysteries of Divine working; even to mere men - babes (Mt 11:25).

Men always suppose that they have more control than they actually do. In our culture and time it is popular to tell children "You can be anything you set your mind to" and to adults, "If you don't do it, it won't get done." The call to diligence and effort is well received from these sayings, but again they fail to acknowledge the Lord as King of all. The Divine revelation contradicts our motivational speeches in saying, "Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain that build it: except the Lord keep the city, the watchman taketh but in vain" (Ps 127:1).

Again James says,

Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a city, and spend a year there and buy and sell and and make a profit." Whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, "If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that. But now you boast in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil." (James 4:13-16, NKJV)

These are not light matters with the Lord. The heathen are known for saying, either by word or deed, "Let us break Their bonds asunder, and cast Their cords from us." This is a rejection of the rule of the Lord. It springs forth from rebellion and unbelief. It provokes men to ask for another king to rule over them - that is, another man that is like them (1 Samuel 8).

Think of the audacity of the creature rejecting the rule of the Creator! God has set His King on His holy hill of Zion and men have taken it upon themselves to say He was wrong for doing so. These obstinate people have taken counsel together saying, "We will not have this Man to reign over us" (Lk 19:14). Yet the purpose of God will not be thwarted; certainly not by men.

God has declared the decree and has given His Son all power in heaven and on earth. He has given unto Him a kingdom and these very nations as His inheritance. Ignorance has convinced men that they will be able to escape any punishment for such vile treason. Worse yet, much of the modern church has painted a picture of a all-loving Jesus that would wink at the sin of rebellion and indifference. But the Holy Spirit will not speak thus. Jesus will rule these His enemies with a rod of iron and will bring them before Him to be slain (Lk 19:27). Take heed then to rest of Psalm 2:

Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him! (Ps 2:10-12)

"Ought To"

“Who” we are is a product of being “in Christ.” The Scriptures affirm that we are “saints”, “the light of the world” and “the salt of the earth” (Mt 5), “the called” (Rom 8:29), “a royal priesthood, holy nation, people for God’s own possession” (1 Pet 2:9) and much more. These are not things that men are to attain to be efforts, they are things that they are freely given as a result of being born again. 

However, there are many things that we “ought” to do. They are things, you will find, that are not burdensome. Those in Christ are forward to do these things because they are in strict accord with the nature of the new creature which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. And the things we ought to do are righteous and truly holy.

The following are all expectations of them that are partakers of the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

CONDUCT: There is a particular way in which we are to walk or live in the earth: In all things “ye OUGHT to walk and to please God” (1 Th 4:1). Not only should we walk unto pleasing God but we must refuse to fellowship with those who fail to do so. “Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us. For yourselves know how ye OUGHT to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you” (2 Th 3:6-8). The knowledge of the truth has a great bearing on the conduct of those once enlightened. For example, seeing that the things of the world and the world itself shall be dissolved, we “OUGHT” to live “in all holy conversation and godliness” (2 Pet 3:11). This is appropriate for those who have been made partakers of the Godhead. For “He that saith He abideth in him OUGHT himself also so to walk, even as He walked” (1 Jn 2:6).

TOWARDS OTHERS: Peter and the other apostles answered and said, “We OUGHT to obey God rather than men” (Acts 5:29). Paul exhorted the elders in Ephesus, “…Ye OUGHT to support the weak” (Acts 20:35). “We then that are strong OUGHT to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves” (Rom 15:1). Jesus said, “If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your feet; ye also OUGHT to wash one another’s feet” (Jn 13:14). “Hereby perceive we the love of God, because He laid down His life for us: and we OUGHT to lay down our lives for the brethren” (1 Jn 3:16). “Beloved, if God so loved us, we OUGHT also to love one another” (1 Jn 4:11)

SPEECH: Paul desired to “speak the mystery of Christ” and to “make it manifest” as he “OUGHT to speak” (Col 4:3-4). In joining him we are diligent to guard the very words of our mouths. “Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye OUGHT to answer every man” (Col 4:6). No sloppiness is permitted in the kingdom of God. As Jesus has said men shall give an account for every idle word. What a task!? “Ye OUGHT to say, ‘If the will, we shall live, and do this, or that” (Jas 4:15). Finally brethren, “we OUGHT to give the more earnest heed to the things which we have heard, lest at any time we should let them slip” (Heb 2:1).