1) Reflections on Psalm 2: The Lord Responds (Warren Berkley)
2) Sword Tips #10 (Joe R. Price)
——————–<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/psa2_6_asv.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n-1-<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Reflections on Psalm 2: The Lord Responds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Warren Berkley As already observed, this royal psalm depicts the enmity and rebellion against His God that David knew was part of his world. Yet, he knew something else. The uproar of nations and arrogant despots never threatens the Lord, nor can it ever obstruct His plans. While evil men confer, consult and conspire, here is heaven\u2019s response: He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then He will speak to them in His wrath, and terrify them in His fury, saying, \u201cAs for me, I have set My King on Zion, my holy hill\u201d (Ps. 2:4-6).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n This had wonderful meaning for David. He knew \u201chis\u201d throne would someday be occupied by the Messiah (2 Sam. 7:13; Jer. 33:17; Acts 2:29-35). He recognized that this would come to pass without any concern that the vain plotting of men on earth would stop the coronation. \u201cHe who sits in the heavens laughs.\u201d When this is first read, it may seem odd. We associate laughter with humor or pleasure. There is ample evidence in human history of this physiological response, where mind and body contract spontaneously to something festive or comedic, typically with vocal expression. There is also a darker side to laughter, i.e., a maniacal excitement of evil intended or accomplished. God is not fazed! The mighty politicians, the dictators in their military fatigues, the terrorists with their bomb loads strapped to their backs\u2014God is unimpressed. If you have imbibed a western sentimental view of God as the great soupy softie in the sky, then you will not understand this picture of verse 4. In fact, it will likely \u2018offend\u2019 you. But the psalm implies that nations may strut out their nuclear bombs\u2014it only convulses the Almighty in laughter! To think that a few swaggering sovereigns could destroy God\u2019s kingdom with such trifles! After you hear the kings in verse 3, you need to see this picture of the laughing God in verse 4 in order to get refocused on the truth (Davis). <\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n \u201cHe will speak to them in His wrath and terrify them in His fury.\u201d With us, wrath may be felt but not expressed (in some cases, this is necessary in administering proper discipline or showing forbearance [cf. Jas. 1:19). God, too, can \u201crelent\u201d or hold back (cf. Joel 2:13). However, in this context\u2014of rebellious men who plot against God\u2014His wrath is vocal and active. His wrath was vocal on this page (in this passage), as the Lord is responding. His words and actions carry the just intent to \u201cterrify them in His fury.\u201d This is that element of fearing God that each believer should recognize: \u201cIt is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God\u201d (Heb. 10:31). We are blessed to know this about God, as was David.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The schemers and rebels needed to hear this: \u201cAs for Me, I have set My King on Zion, My holy hill.\u201d This carries the force of \u201cthis is what I will do. You cannot stop me. No matter the energy or numbers or power you think you have, My King will reign on Zion!\u201d This conveys the absolute certainty of God\u2019s innate power and His response to those who challenge Him. What is so strongly expressed here has likely become one of our texts of consolation in 2020. Preachers have mounted pulpits with this Psalm open. Bible class teachers have postponed scheduled lessons to plug this passage into the curriculum. Men have prayed this psalm. Livestreams have broadcast that Christ is King. World leaders, revolutionaries, and dictators who stand against the Lord may not be listening to this or reading the Psalms. God\u2019s people continue to rejoice in the Lord, knowing, singing, and thanking God\u2014that those who are at variance with God, though they seem destined to win, will ultimately hear Him speak in His wrath. In closing, consider another quote from Dale Ralph Davis:<\/p>\n\n\n\n So you live in a world that hates. But you lift your eyes and see the throne that consoles. I rather like the way the Jerusalem Bible translates verse 4a: \u2018The One whose throne is in heaven sits laughing.\u2019 It is the same message as in Revelation 4: there is a throne\u2014and One who is sitting upon it. Keep your eyes there. Sometimes that\u2019s all that will keep you sane (Davis).<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n Davis, Dale Ralph. Way of the Righteous in the Muck of Life.<\/em> Kindle Edition. Christian Focus Publications, 2010. -2- Joe R. Price 1) Hear <\/strong>the gospel — for that is how faith comes (Rom. 10:17; John 20:30-31). Tebeau Street Sunday: 9 a.m. <\/strong>Bible Classesand 10 a.m. <\/strong>Worship Service. Congregational Song Service<\/strong>: 5 p.m. for every first Sunday of the month.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Wednesday: 7 p.m. <\/strong>Bible Classes<\/p>\n\n\n\n evangelist\/editor: <\/strong><\/strong>Tom Edwards (912) 281-9917 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations…teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19-20, NASB).——————– Contents: 1) Reflections on Psalm 2: The Lord Responds (Warren Berkley)2) Sword Tips #10 (Joe R. Price)——————– -1- Reflections on Psalm […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2438","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized","post-preview"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2438","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2438"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2438\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2443,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2438\/revisions\/2443"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2438"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2438"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2438"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
Synopsis:<\/strong> God\u2019s people can be confident that no enemy or enemies of God will ever defeat or destroy any purpose or plan of God.<\/p>\n\n\n\nIntroduction<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Indeed history confirmed that neither punishment of Messiah nor death kept God from fulfilling His promise. As it turned out, the plans and plots of evil men were used by God to accomplish His purpose: On the day of Pentecost, Peter declared that Jesus was \u201cdelivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God.\u201d The apostle affirmed that this Jesus, crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men, God has raised! (cf. Acts 2:22-24). Thus, David\u2019s \u201cheart was glad,\u201d assured that the evil devised against God\u2019s coronation of Christ would not only not<\/em> succeed, but God would use their plan for His purpose.<\/p>\n\n\n\nDivine Laughter<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Divine laughter doesn\u2019t fit either of these two categories. It isn\u2019t merely a response to humor and certainly is not expressive of some evil intent. Rather, it is the writer\u2019s way of telling us that God isn\u2019t worried about the threats of His enemies on earth, singular or in league.
History confirms this. God\u2019s plan was not defeated by the tower of Babel. Pharaoh wasn\u2019t able to keep the descendants of Abraham in bondage. The Assyrians and Babylonians could not hinder God in any way; instead, He used them for His purposes. Seeking to preserve his power, King Herod sought to kill the Christ child. Yet, after Herod died, the family of Jesus came out of Egypt and settled in Nazareth. Likewise, as mentioned above, God\u2019s plan was not defeated but carried out<\/em> by those who crucified Christ.
Consider the following quotations by Dale Ralph Davis and G. Campbell Morgan:
<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
This derisive laughter of God is the comfort of all those who love righteousness. It is the laughter of the might of holiness; it is the laughter of the strength of love. God does not exult over the sufferings of sinning men. He does hold in derision all the proud boastings and violence of such as seek to prevent His accomplishment of His will (Morgan).<\/p>\n\n\n\nDivine Vocal & Active Wrath<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Divine Affirmation<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This text was not only meaningful to David and those of his time; it became the \u201cgo-to\u201d passage for early Christians who were suffering persecution. When Peter and John were threatened and as they prayed together about the difficulty, they referred to this psalm (Acts 4:23-31). To believe in the rule of Christ is one thing. To live under His authority is the point! Those who so live have the consolation announced in the second psalm.<\/p>\n\n\n\nConclusion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
\n
Sources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Morgan, G. Campbell. Searchlights from the Word: Being 1188 Sermon-Suggestions, One from Every Chapter in the Bible.<\/em> Fleming H. Revell, 1926.
\u2014 Via Truth Magazine, <\/em>Volume 65, No. 1, January 2021
https:\/\/truthmagazine.com\/kindle\/2021\/2021-01-jan\/08_Monthly_Theme_Lesson_03.htm
——————–<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/07\/phil4_8_web.jpg\")
<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\u201cAnd take…the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.\u201d (Eph. 6:17)<\/p>\n\n\n\nSword Tips #10<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord my strength and my Redeemer<\/em>. (Psalm 19:14)
We\u2019ve all heard, \u201cyou are what you eat.\u201d In a very real sense, we are what we think. Solomon said a man is what he thinks in his heart (Prov. 23:7). The Lord Jesus said, \u201cA good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things\u201d (Matt. 12:35). We speak what is in our heart. Period.
Begin to make a deliberate effort to think about what you are thinking. Think on things that are true, noble, just, pure, lovely and commendable (Phil. 4:8). By thinking on such things your words will reflect godliness and righteousness.
Meditate on what is right and speak what is good.
This is acceptable in the sight of God, our Redeemer.
——————–<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Steps That Lead to Eternal Salvation<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
2) Believe <\/strong>in the deity of Jesus Christ, the Son of God (John 8:24; John 3:18).
3) Repent <\/strong>of sins. For every accountable person has sinned (Romans 3:23; Romans 3:10), which causes one to be spiritually dead (Ephesians 2:1) and separated from God (Isaiah 59:1-2; Romans 6:23). Therefore, repentance of sin is necessary (Luke 13:5; Acts 17:30). For whether the sin seems great or small, there will still be the same penalty for either (Matt. 12:36-37; 2 Cor. 5:10) — and even for a lie (Rev. 21:8).
4) Confess faith <\/strong>in Christ (Rom. 10:9-10; Acts 8:36-38).
5) Be baptized <\/strong>in water for the remission of sins (Mark 16:16; Acts 2:38; 22:16; 1 Pet. 3:21). This is the final step that puts one into Christ (Gal. 3:26-27). For from that baptism, one is then raised as a new creature (2 Cor. 5:17), having all sins forgiven and beginning a new life as a Christian (Rom. 6:3-4). For the one being baptized does so \u201cthrough faith in the working of God\u201d (Col. 2:12). In other words, believing that God will keep His word and forgive after one submits to these necessary steps. And now as a Christian, we then need to\u2026
6) Continue in the faith <\/strong>by <\/strong>living for the Lord; for, if not, salvation can be lost (Matt. 24:13; Heb. 10:36-39; Rev. 2:10; 2 Pet. 2:20-22).
——————–<\/p>\n\n\n\n
CHURCH OF CHRIST<\/strong><\/strong>
1402 Tebeau Street, Waycross, GA 31501<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong><\/strong>Tom@ThomasTEdwards.com
<\/a>https:\/\/thomastedwards.com\/go\/all.htm<\/a><\/strong><\/strong> (This is a link to the older version of the Gospel Observer website, but <\/strong><\/strong>with bulletins going back to March 4, 1990.)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"