Category: psalms

psalms, sermon

The Wisdom of Fear and Trembling

Posted on by Jay Givens

Woody Allen once said, “Do you want to make God laugh? Tell him your plans!” Psalm 2 tells us of the rage of nations excited about a regime change on Israel’s throne. Various people groups (inside and outside Israel) wanted to test the boundaries of what the new king might allow or to see if he was strong enough to maintain his rule. The plotting and scheming of these kings of the earth was no different than the tenants in Jesus’ parable of the vineyard, who–upon seeing the son of the vineyard owner coming to collect rent for his father–assume the old man is dead and so proclaim, “Here’s the heir! Let’s kill him and the inheritance is ours!” Even today, we see riots and autonomous zones in some U.S. cities while others rage on social media about their various conspiracies and opinions about pandemic protocols.

Psalm 2 tells us these kings of the earth are a joke to the one on heaven’s throne. He scoffs at their plans (the way the wicked scoffed at the righteous in Psalm 1). Along with the rebuke of heaven, we are told of the appointment of heaven’s true earthly king on Zion’s hill. Since Psalm 2 was a coronation psalm, the new king was whoever was being newly installed into that office. Too often, we are like the raging kings, thinking we know what is best or even that “God is on our side” or that we know his plans.

Instead, we find the reign of the Son, the king who (according to 2 Samuel 7:13-14) is proclaimed to be Son of God. The book of Psalms was compiled after the collapse of the monarchy, so for the post-exilic Jews, the Son of Psalm 2 was the coming Messianic king who would bring the Kingdom of God. This is why it is so significant the voice at Jesus’ baptism proclaimed, “This is my Son . . .” the Son of God–the Messiah. It is also part of the reason Matthew concludes with this Son sending his disciples “to the nations” (not to punish them for their raging, but to make disciples of them and to teach them the ways of the true king. Rome (where Caesar was considered Son of God) eventually fell to this revolution not through violence or war, but through love, sacrifice, forgiveness, and mercy. Some Christians have been shocked by rioters spray-painting “crucify again” on a statue of Jesus. But they say this not because of the true Son as much as because of the Christians who have not modeled such love and sacrifice but instead have become enamored by power politics and hate speech on social media.

Finally, we find that this Messiah is a refuge for the broken. The kings are warned to be wise and to serve the Lord with fear and trembling. Jesus said as he neared Jerusalem that he longed to shelter the people under his wings, but they would not let him . . . and so he wept for Jerusalem. He knew their love of politics and supporting the meanest guy who “fought” for their side would result in Jerusalem’s destruction.

While the psalm is primarily about the kings of Israel and ultimately the Messiah, Jesus in the beatitudes said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called “Sons of God.” Paul likewise told us in the letter to the Romans that we are adopted as “Sons” and are “co-heirs” with Christ. So we find that the disciples actually pray Psalm 2 in Acts 4:25-37. Yet they do not ask that they can break their enemies with rods of iron or smash them like pots. Instead, they pray for boldness of words and that God would stretch out his hand with miracles and healings. We are called to overthrow our enemies through loving proclamation and bold proclamation of Christ’s rule and the principles of the Kingdom. We should no longer sell out to political philosophies or idolize a particular political leader or demonize those who disagree with us. Instead, we should “kiss the son” and serve him with fear and trembling.

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Psalm 2 “The Wisdom of Fear and Trembling”

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psalms, sermon

The Way of Wisdom

Posted on by Jay Givens

Psalm 1 contrasts the way of the wise with the way of the wicked. We can hear the psalmist ask three questions of us. First, if you stop, what do you hear? Many of us today are so media and technology-driven that we honestly don’t stop. We cannot stand awkward silence. A slight pause in the conversation and our smartphone immediately pops out. The psalmist warns that those who begin by walking with the wicked soon find themselves stand among sinners. Ultimately, they sit down in mocking and scornful judgment of others (which sounds a lot like Facebook!). So the wicked “stop,” but they do not listen. In contrast, the wise intentionally cause themselves to stop and listen. We are told that they delight to meditate on the instruction of the Lord day and night.

Second, when trouble comes, how do you stand? The wise are described as the very Tree of Life deeply rooted beside the rivers of Eden. Drought will not damage them nor storms uproot them. In all seasons, the wise flourish. They bless the lives of others with fruit of their good works and comfort to the afflicted with their shade of their leaves. The wicked, however, are like chaff easily blown about by the slightest breeze. They are useless to themselves or to others when the trials of life come. (Sadly, Jeremiah 17:5-8 describes a “middle way”between these two–those who have a shallow faith–as a bush struggling in the desert for its own sustenance, unable to bless others.)

Third, in your journey, who do you trust? The psalmist describes life as a journey. With assurance he tells us the LORD watches over the way of the righteous. Like a GPS, God can guide the steps of the righteous even when our path is obscured by the storms of adversity, the fog of loss and struggle, or the darkness of fear and doubt. Not so the wicked, concludes the psalmist. He tells us that they vanish on their path and so will not stand in the judgment.

In Aesop’s Fables, Prometheus tells Zeus he created two roads. The path of freedom starts out difficult and rocky but ultimately becomes a wide easy plain with beautiful gardens and rivers. The path of slavery starts out easy and wide, a joy to behold, but eventually it becomes an impassible, treacherous climb. Thanks be to God who sent Jesus our Christ to show us the way–no, to be the Way, the Truth, and the Life. As his one body, he called his followers to help our brothers and sisters through those difficult parts of our journey. Together, we delight in our Christ, we meditate on the One who embodies the Law.

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“The Way of Wisdom” — Psalm 1

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