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New Testament Reading: Luke 24:1–12

“But on the first day of the week, at early dawn, they went to the tomb, taking the spices they had prepared. And they found the stone rolled away from the tomb, but when they went in they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were perplexed about this, behold, two men stood by them in dazzling apparel. And as they were frightened and bowed their faces to the ground, the men said to them, ‘Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but has risen. Remember how he told you, while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men and be crucified and on the third day rise.’ And they remembered his words, and returning from the tomb they told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. Now it was Mary Magdalene and Joanna and Mary the mother of James and the other women with them who told these things to the apostles, but these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them. But Peter rose and ran to the tomb; stooping and looking in, he saw the linen cloths by themselves; and he went home marveling at what had happened.” (Luke 24:1–12, ESV)

Old Testament  Reading: Psalm 16

“A MIKTAM OF DAVID. Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge. I say to the LORD, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.’ As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight. The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips. The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” (Psalm 16, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

On Tuesday I had the privilege of conducting a graveside service for the stepfather of one of our members. The cemetery was very beautiful. It was set up on a hill overlooking the city of Whittier and the greater Los Angeles area. After the service I did what I usually do whenever I am at a cemetery — I began to read the inscriptions on the gravestones. All of them had names and dates. Most had little phrases to honor the person buried there — Loving Mother; Beloved Father; etc. 

This might sound strange to you, but I think spending time in a cemetery is good for the soul. There is something healthy about watching the body of another being laid to rest in the earth. There is something sobering about reading gravestones. It should move us to think, someday people will have a service like this for me. Someday my body will also be laid to rest in the earth (that is unless the Lord returns before I die). I say it is healthy for the soul because it should move us to live each moment of our lives with the grave in mind. It should move us to remember that our time here is short, that death will touch us all, and that only God can preserve us through death. And how will he preserve us? How will he deliver us body and soul from death? Answer: through faith in Christ who died for our sins and on the third day was raised from the grave in victory.   

After the graveside service on Tuesday, a young man approached me. He was a teenager, I think. And he seemed to be serious and thoughtful. He simply asked me, so what’s next? As he pointed over to the grave of his relative that was now being filled in. This was an opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus Christ with this young man! And so I proceeded to share what the scriptures teach regarding death, the temporary separation of the body from the soul — the body goes into the grave, and the soul goes either into the presence of God or to Hades — the resurrection of the body when the Lord returns, the final judgment, hell, and the new heavens and earth. Of course, I impressed upon him that we must be found in Christ, for in him we have the forgiveness of sins and the hope of life everlasting. It was a wonderful moment, but it was also a bit sobering and surreal given the setting. I do pray that the Lord would draw that young man to faith in Christ.

But here is the point: it was the grave that prompted him to ask the question, so what’s next? 

It will never cease to amaze me how few will take the time to ask this question. Loved ones pass away and people act surprised as if they did not know it would happen. And men and women attend memorials and graveside services and then walk away without considering that they too will be laid in the earth someday. “What’s next?”  You would think that that would be the question on everyone’s mind. Is there hope for life beyond the grave?

The Psalm that is before today is about this. Psalm 16 is a Psalm of David. That is what the title says: “A Miktam of David”. “Miktam” was probably a musical or liturgical term. We do not know exactly what it means. But it is said to be “of David”. So this Psalm, like Psalm 18 (and many others), was written by David, the king of Israel.   

After the opening line, this Psalm is divided into two parts, and the two parts mirror each other. In verses 2 through 6 David confesses that all of his trust and hope is set in the LORD. And in verses 7 through 11 David gives glory to the LORD who is trustworthy and deserving of all praise. If we were to analyze this Psalm carefully I think we would find that verse 7 corresponds to verse 2, verse 8 corresponds to verse 3, verse 9 to verse 4, verse 10 to verse 5, and verse 11 corresponds to verse 1.  

And though it is good to keep this structure in mind, the outline of the sermon for today is very simple. It goes like this: In Psalm 16 we find, 1) the confession of a faithful servant, 2) Concerning the LORD who is faithful and worthy of all our trust. Indeed we will find that he is to be trusted even for life beyond the grave.   

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The Confession Of A Faithful Servant (vs. 1-6)

So let us first consider the confession of King David, the LORD’s faithful servant. And by faithful I do not only mean obedient. Indeed, those who are faithful to the LORD are obedient — they strive to keep God’s law. And David, imperfect as he was, certainly did strive to keep God’s law as a faithful servant of the Lord. But by faithful, I also mean, full of faith. Who are the faithful ones? Yes, they are those who strive to obey God. But before this they trust him! So do you wish to be numbered amongst the faithful ones? Then do not start and end with obedience. Start instead with faith. Start with trust! And then after believing upon God and the Christ that he has sent, continue in the faith with obedience.  

This might seem like the splitting of a hair, but it is in fact the difference between true and false religion. The self-righteous say, “I will earn God’s favor through my obedience”, but they never do. They cannot. This is because all are in sin. But the faithful say, “I will trust in God and in Christ who has paid for all my sins, and then I will serve him out of gratitude”. This is what the faithful ones do. They trust and obey.  

King David was faithful. And by this I mean he was full of faith. 

Verse 1: “Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.”

Consider the opening line of this Psalm. It is not a commitment, but a cry for help! “Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.” 

“Preserve me”, he says. Guard me, watch over me, keep me.   

Friends, God is the Creator of all things seen and unseen. But we should not forget that he is also the preserver of all things seen and unseen. He creates, and then he upholds. He gives life, and he sustains life. 

This is a very humbling truth. We like to think of ourselves as self-sufficient. But we are not self-sufficient. Not in the least bit! This should be clear to anyone who would take the time to think about it. You did not create yourself. You did not bring yourself into existence. No, you were born, and this according to the will of God. And even now you are dependent upon many things for your existence — air, water, food, and other things external to yourself. Above all, you are dependent on God, for as Paul and others have said, “In him, we live and move and have our being”… “For we are indeed his offspring” (Acts 17:28, ESV). God preserves us. He holds us in his hand. He sustains us. He shelters us.

David knew this. And so he cried out, “preserve me, O God”. And it will soon become clear that he was concerned with being preserved, not merely in this life, but also through death, and in the life to come. Friends, if it is true that God must preserve us in this life. How much more so that he must preserve us through death and in the life to come. 

So the Psalmist says, “Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.” Let me make two remarks about the word “refuge”. 

One, the word refuge communicates preservation through trouble. And so the thought is advanced. Preserve me, LORD, not only in the good times but also in times of trouble. As I have already said, it will become clear in a moment that David has, not only the troubles of this life in mind but the trial of death itself. Where did King David flee for refuge? Did he trust in his army, or in his fortress? Not ultimately. No, he trusted in the LORD. He knew that only the LORD could deliver him, body and soul, even through the trail of death.

Two, the word “refuge” should remind us of what we heard at the conclusion of Psalm 2. You remember that Psalms 1 and 2 function as the introduction to the Psalter. And in Psalm 2, after the truth concerning our sin and the final judgment are expressed, we hear the gospel: “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” And so with this blessing, this declaration, we were sent on our way to consider the rest of the Psalms: “Blessed are all who take refuge in [the Son]”, the LORD’s Anointed. 

If you were to look up all the occurrences of this Hebrew word translated as “refuge” you would find that occurs very frequently in the Psalms, and especially in the first book of the Psalter, that is to say in Psalms 3-41. Psalm 2 says, “Blessed are all who take refuge in [the Son]”. And in the first book of the Psalter, this is what we find David and others doing, or encouraging others to do. They take refuge in the Son, and they encourage others to do the same (to see this you may go to Psalms 5:11, 7:1. 11:1, 16:1. 17:7, 18:2, 18:30, 25:20, 31:1, 31:19, 34:8, 34:22, 36:7, and 37:40). 

God is our refuge and strength. 

“Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” (Psalm 34:8, ESV)

“How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings.” (Psalm 36:7, ESV)

“Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me, for in you my soul takes refuge; in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge, till the storms of destruction pass by.” (Psalm 57:1, ESV)

I have already taught you that Psalms are about Jesus. And so it is right for us to hear these words as David’s words, but even more so they are the words of Jesus the Messiah. David was faithful, but not as faithful as Jesus. David trusted in the LORD to preserve him, but Jesus trusted even more. When Jesus hung on that cross he cried out with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!’ And having said this he breathed his last” (Luke 23:46, ESV). Jesus entrusted himself to the Father always, and especially at the moment of death. More than this, when David placed his trust in the LORD he was in fact placing his trust in Jesus the LORD’s Anointed, who would descend from him according to the promise of God. 

“Preserve me, O God, for in you I take refuge.” What a marvelous declaration this is. And so I ask you, have you run to the LORD and to his Messiah for refuge? Is he your security, your strength, your stronghold? Or is your hope placed in something else? All else will fail you in the end, my friends. 

After this initial plea for help, verses 2 through 6 consist of four declarations or confessions. These are the confessions of one who has placed their trust in the LORD. And so I think they will serve as a litmus test for us, therefore. In other words, these are things that one who is faithful (or full of faith) will say. And so as we consider David’s words I might ask, have you made the same confession? 

Verse 2: “I say to the LORD, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.’”

 First of all, the Psalmist says, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.”

The LORD (YHWH) was David’s Lord, or Master (Adoni). And so I ask, is the LORD your Lord? Now, the LORD is the Lord whether or not he is your Lord. I hope you understand this. Even if the whole world were to deny God, God would still be God, for he does not depend on us. No, we depend on him. But when I ask you, is the LORD your Lord, I am asking you, have you bowed the knee before him? Have you acknowledged him as supreme? Is he your authority? And are you his servant? 

The scriptures are clear that to be saved one must have Jesus as Lord. Romans 10:9 says, “if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9, ESV). If we wish to have Jesus as Savior, we must have him as Lord. If he is not your Lord, then he is not your Savior. Instead, he is your judge. This is why it is such a contradiction for someone to claim to believe in Christ but to live as if they are ruled by someone else. Those who believe in Jesus do also serve him. And so again I ask, is the LORD your Lord? Have you bowed the knee before God and his Anointed One?

“You are my Lord”, is David’s leading confession. And this must be the leading confession of all of God’s people. We must come to God and say, your are my Lord. Jesus is Lord. But then David adds these words: “I have no good apart from you.”

If you compare English Bible translations you will see that this Hebrew phrase is a little difficult to translate, for there are many different renditions of it. But the meaning is clear, I think. David is here confessing that the LORD is himself his greatest good, and that every other good thing that he enjoys comes from God’s hand. 

“I have no good apart from you”, David says. This same idea is found in Psalm 73:25 where Asaph speaks to the LORD saying, “Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you” (Psalm 73:25, ESV).

I do love how David’s confession, “You are my Lord”, is paired together with his confession, “I have no good apart from you”. The declaration, “you are my Lord” is prone to be misunderstood. It can be taken to mean that David’s relationship to the LORD is characterized by slavish fear, distance, formality, coldness, and dryness. Indeed, this is the kind of relationship that many servants have had with their earthy masters. But no, though YHWH is David’s Lord, he is also David’s delight. 

And how is it for you, my friends? I hope Jesus is your Lord. I hope you have bowed the knee before him. I hope that you serve him faithfully. But I pray that you also love him, knowing that he has set his love upon you. 

Think of it. David — King David — a man of great power and wealth spoke to the LORD, saying, “I have no good apart from you.” In other words, you are my greatest good, Oh Lord. You are my treasure. You are my delight. 

And this too must be the confession of all of God’s faithful. I am not saying that it is a separate confession from the first one, but a companion confession. For when we say, Jesus is Lord, we do not mean that he is merely our Master — distant, harsh, and cold. No, we mean to say that he is our Master and friend. He is our Lord and savior. He is our Ruler, but he is also to be our delight. What is the greatest commandment, friends? “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5, ESV).

The LORD is to be our Lord, but he is also to be our delight. The mature in Christ understand this. The mature in Christ do not merely obey Christ out of duty. No, they obey him as they delight in him. Perhaps you have heard it said that “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him”? (J. Piper). I think that is very true. Yes, we glorify God when we obey him. But more than this we glorify God when we take refuge in him, trust him, love him, and obey him because we delight in him. 

Verse 3: “As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.”

Look now to verse 3. It is there that we find David’s second confession: “As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.”

So those who are faithful delight in God, and they also delight in God’s people. 

Who are “the saints”? They are those whose sins have been washed away by the blood of Christ. Or, to use the language of this Psalm, they are all those who have taken refuge in the LORD and in his Anointed. The “saints” are those who delight in God and have believed in the Son. 

As David looked out upon his kingdom he saw saints and sinners (of course, saints are sinners too, but they have been washed and renewed). David saw the godly and the ungodly. And he considered the saints to be the “excellent ones”. He delighted in them. He cherished their companionship. 

Verse 4: “The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.” 

In verse 4 we find another declaration: “The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply; their drink offerings of blood I will not pour out or take their names on my lips.” 

Just as the word “refuge” was to remind us of Psalm 2, I think this statement is to remind us of Psalm 1, which says, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law, he meditates day and night” (Psalm 1:1–2, ESV). 

David is here declaring that he has taken the right path. He perceives that though the wicked might prosper for a time, their end is destruction. And he has determined to not walk, stand, nor sit with them. His delight is in the LORD and the LORD’s people. He will not associate with the wicked in their wickedness. 

I wonder if you see the connection here between the first declaration, and the second and third. David claimed to delight in God above all else — “I have no good apart from you”, he said. And this delight for God which was hidden away in his heart did manifest itself through his associations. Because David loved God above all else, he also loved to assemble and associate with God’s people, but he refused to associate with the wicked in their wickedness, for his heart was not with them.

To put the matter most directly: If we truly delight in God, then we should also delight in God’s people, and refuse to associate with the wicked in their wickedness, whatever form it takes.  

Verses 5 and 6: “The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.”

In verses 5 and 6 we find the fourth of David’s four confessions: “The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.”

Like verse 2, verse 5 is a little difficult to translate from Hebrew into English. Again, you can see this by comparing the English translations. There is great diversity in the translations. But again, the meaning is clear. 

David is here saying, I have an inheritance awaiting me, and I have a portion even now, and it is the LORD. Did you hear this? David did not say, I have an inheritance awaiting me, and I have a portion even now, and it comes from the LORD. No, the LORD himself is David’s heritage and portion. “The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup…” (Psalm 16:5, ESV).

This is truly marvelous. King David, a man of great power and wealth, considered all of his possessions and said, “The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup…” In other words, of all that I have, this is the one thing that really matters: belonging to the LORD, knowing him, and having him as LORD and God. 

This reminds me of what Paul said. After telling us of all that he had in this world, he said, “But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—” (Philippians 3:7–9, ESV). 

What did Paul consider to be of surpassing worth? Christ. Above all, he wanted to have Christ, and to be found in Christ. And that is what the Psalmist is saying here. “The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup…” When all is considered, I wish to have the LORD. Everything else pales in comparison. 

When the Psalmist says, “you hold my lot” and “the lines have fallen for me in pleasant places”, he is expressing contentment with his lot in life and gratitude for the LORD’s blessing upon him. 

Contentment, brothers and sisters, is a great gift. As Paul says, “godliness with contentment is great gain…” (1 Timothy 6:6, ESV). And I suppose that we might be tempted to say, well, of course, David was content with his “lot” in life, and with the “lines” that the LORD drew for him, for he was King! Well, go ahead and review the story of David’s life. Though he would eventually become King, and though he would eventually have great power and wealth, his life was marked by hardship and heartache. And yet he was content with God’s will for him. 

I have found that many people struggle with discontentment. In fact, I think discontentment is a major problem within our society — it is a root problem. Stated differently, I have found that many struggle to keep the Tenth Commandment, which says, “thou shall not covet”. It is so easy for us to fixate on what we do not have, or on what others have that we wish we had, be it money, possessions, status, or privilege. But God has called us to be content in him. Contentment is not complacency — these two things are not the same. To be content is to be satisfied and at peace concerning God’s will for you. 

And I think you can see the connection. If God is our delight — if he is our chosen portion — then we will find our contentment in him, rather than in the things of this world. Even the very poor and downtrodden may find their contentment in God when they say to him, “You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.” And so too the rich and powerful may find true contentment in him. If we wish to be content, we must find our contentment in the LORD.

And this is how David concludes this first portion of the Psalm: He declares, “indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.” The LORD is David’s beautiful inheritance. The new heavens and earth earned by Christ is David’s inheritance. And this is the inheritance of all who take refuge in the Messiah. 

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Concerning the LORD Who Is Faithful And Worthy Of All Our Trust (vs. 7-11)

We still need to consider the second half of this Psalm, but as you can see we are well beyond the midpoint of the time allotted for this sermon. We will move rather quickly. In verses 2 through 6 David made confessions or declarations regarding his faith. But in verses 7 through 11 David speaks concerning the LORD who is faithful and worthy of all our trust. 

As I have said, the second half of the Psalm does seem to correspond to the first. Here we do not find confessions or declarations, but rather statements regarding God’s goodness and faithfulness. In other words, David is saying, it for this reason that I take refuge in the LORD, have him as my Lord, delight in him, delight in his people, flee from the wicked, and am content with my inheritance. The second half of this Psalm answers the first half. In the first half David says, this is what is in my heart. My faith is in the LORD. And in the second half David says, here is why. My faith is in the LORD because he is faithful — he is worthy of my trust. 

Verse 7: “I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.” 

In verse 7 we read, “I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me.” This corresponds to the declaration of verse 2, “I say to the LORD, ‘You are my Lord; I have no good apart from you.’”

Here David blessed the LORD. He praises him and acknowledges that it is the LORD who gives him counsel. The LORD is the source of all wisdom. And for this reason, David has the LORD as his Lord and counselor. 

Verse 8: “I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” 

In verse 8 we read, “I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken.” I believe this relates to verse 3 where David says, “As for the saints in the land, they are the excellent ones, in whom is all my delight.”  

You ask “Where is the connection?”. Well, both verses have to do with companionship and associations. David delighted in the saints of God. He surrounded himself with the faithful ones. But this he did because he desired to have God himself at his right hand. Though it is true that David delighted in the saints of the LORD, and though it is true that associated with them, his trust was ultimately in the LORD. It was because the LORD was always before him, and it was because the LORD was at his right hand, that David was not shaken. But this was manifest through his companionship  

with the saints of the LORD. 

Verse 9: “Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.” 

In verse 9 we read, “therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.” This corresponds to and contrasts verse 4, which says, “The sorrows of those who run after another god shall multiply…”

How true it is that the sorrows of those who run after other gods shall multiply. Their sorrows multiply in this life, for they have lived according to a lie. But their sorrows will certainly multiply at the judgment. But in contrast David, and all who are faithful with him, have hearts that are glad, they rejoice, they do not even fear the destruction of their flesh. Why?

Verse 10: “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.”

In verse 10 we find the answer: “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.” 

Now we have finally come to the root of the matter. Why did David trust the LORD? Why did he run to the LORD for refuge? Why did he have the LORD as his Lord? Why did he delight in him, and in his people? Why did he choose to walk in the way of the righteous and to forsake the way of the wicked?  And why was he content in the LORD, being satisfied with the LORD as his inheritance?

I’m sure there are many reasons. But the answer that is given here is, he knew that the LORD would keep him even through death. He believed — truly believed — that the Lord would “not abandon [his] soul to Sheol, or let [his] holy one see corruption.”

Verse 10 is very important.

It is the climax of this Psalm, for it explains everything that precedes it. It gets to the root of the matter. The LORD is to be our refuge because he alone can preserve in life and through death.

You can easily see how verse 10 explains verse 9. Why was David’s “heart… glad”? And why did his “whole being rejoice”? The answer is found in verse 10: Because he knew that God would not abandon his soul to Sheol. 

Human beings are made up of two parts. We have a body and we have a soul. Sheol (in the Hebrew), or Hades (in the Greek), is the realm where the souls of the deceased go. Prior to the resurrection of Christ, the wicked were punished there, and the righteous were comforted there. After the resurrection of Christ the souls of those in Christ go immediately to heaven where they enjoy the blessed presence of God. But David, writing long before the life, death, and resurrection of Christ was confident. Though his soul would go to Sheol after he died (because David was faithful, his soul would go to paradise, or Abraham’s bosom as was called), he knew for certain that God would not abandon his soul to Sheol. No, God would keep him and deliver him from Sheol. 

And why in verse 9 did David say, “my flesh also dwells secure”? Didn’t he know that his body would eventually die, be put into the grave, and decompose? Yes, he knew this. But he was also certain that his flesh would dwell secure. How? Verse 10 answers this question when it says “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption.” 

“Corruption” obviously refers to the destruction of the body. But who is this “holy one” mentioned at the end of verse 10? Well, considered on one level, it is David. He was sure that his body would not be destroyed or lost forever. But there is a deeper meaning. We know that the Holy One of verse 10 is in fact Jesus the Christ, David’s greater Son. 

You may read the Apostle Peter’s sermon that he delivered on the day of Pentecost in Acts 2 to see that this is the proper interpretation. These words of David are in fact about Christ and the resurrection. After citing Psalm 16:8-11, including this phrase “For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption”, Peter says, “Brothers, I may say to you with confidence about the patriarch David that he both died and was buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. Being therefore a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that he would set one of his descendants on his throne, he foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that he was not abandoned to Hades, nor did his flesh see corruption. This Jesus God raised up, and of that we all are witnesses.” (Acts 2:29–32, ESV)

This Psalm is about David. It is David’s confession of faith in the LORD who is faithful. But it is really about Jesus — his death, burial, and resurrection. Why was David so confident? Why was he so sure? Because he understood that God would provide a Savior for him — a Savior that would rescue him and keep him through death, body and soul. This Savior is Jesus the Christ, the Son of Abraham, the Son of David, The Son of God. 

Verse 11: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” 

Verse 11 rounds everything out and brings us back to the start. We must run to LORD and to his Anointed for refuge, for he “make[s] known to [us] the path of life; in [his] presence there is fullness of joy; at [his] right hand are pleasures forevermore.” 

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Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, it is good for us to think about death, which is the separation of the body and the soul. And it is good for us to ask the question, what’s next?  The body goes into the earth, but the soul goes either to heaven or to Sheol — to paradise or to punishment. But at the end of this age, all will be raised. And all will stand before God the judge. Knowing this, we should then ask, what must I do to be saved? The answer is that we must in this life turn from our sins, place our faith in the Christ, and say Jesus is Lord through the waters of baptism. “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved” (Romans 10:9, ESV). Thanks be to God that he will not abandon us, body or soul. No, he is our refuge. He will keep us. And this he will do by virtue of the salvation that Christ has accomplished for us in his life, death, burial, and resurrection. “Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” (Psalm 2:12, ESV)

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Baptist Catechism 74

Q. 74. What is forbidden in the sixth commandment?

A. The sixth commandment absolutely forbideth the taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbor unjustly, or whatsoever tendeth thereunto. (Gen. 4:10,11; 9:6; Matt. 5:21-26)

Scripture Reading: Matthew 5:21-26

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.” (Matthew 5:21–26, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

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The reason I have read from Matthew 5:21-26 is to remind you that these commandments we are considering are to be kept, not only externally, but in the heart. Jesus did not make this up when he said, “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.” No, this was not a new and novel interpretation of God’s law. This was not a stricter application of God’s law. No, Jesus was simply presenting the true interpretation and full application of God’s law. God’s law was always to be obeyed, not only in deed, but also in thought and in word. Remember, the commandments of God are summed up with these two: “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might” (Deuteronomy 6:5, ESV), and “you shall love your neighbor as yourself…” (Leviticus 19:18, ESV).

So have we kept the sixth commandment when we refrain from murder? Well, not necessarily. The commandment is to be applied more broadly. We are also to seek to “preserve our own life and the life of others.” And the commandment is to be applied to the heart. We must not hate our neighbor. Neither are we to hold a grudge against our neighbor, insult them, or curse them.

All of God’s commandments are to be kept from the heart, friends.  I’m sure Jesus said what he said as recorded in Matthew 5 to combat legalism. Legalism takes many forms, but the most common form is the thought that men and women may stand before God righteous through obedience to God’s law. And you can see how some might think that they are able to keep God’s law perfectly if they apply God’s law only to external behavior. 

“Thou shalt not murder.” Check.

“Thou shall not commit adultery.” Check. 

“Thou shall not bear false witness.” Check.

But wait a minute. Is God only concerned with the act of murder, the act of adultery, and the act of bearing false witness in the court of law? No. If we think so, we have badly misunderstood God’s law. God requires us to love him with all that we are, and our neighbor as we love our own selves. Once we understand this we will be able to see that all have violated God’s law in thought, word, and deed. And then we will also clearly see our guilt and our need for a Savior.  

We have learned what the sixth commandment requires. “The sixth commandment requires all lawful endeavors to preserve our own life and the life of others” (BC 73). And now we learn about what it forbids. “The sixth commandment absolutely forbideth the taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbor unjustly, or whatsoever tendeth thereunto.”

Baptist Catechism 74

First of all, “the sixth commandment absolutely forbideth the taking away of our own life…”

Suicide and assisted suicide is a violation of God’s law. Some might reason in this way: My life is so miserable that it would be better if I died. But that is not your decision to make, friends. God has numbered our days. It is his right to give us life, and to take it away. It is a great evil to take that decision into our own hands. 

I’m afraid that those who think this way have forgotten that God is able to use our suffering for good. I run the risk of sounding insensitive here. I do understand that people do sometimes suffer greatly. And I am aware that I myself am not currently suffering, nor can I claim to have endured any great suffering in my life. So I acknowledge that I do not speak from experience here. But if I am only allowed to speak from experience, then there will be many things that I will never be able to say a word about, for my experiences are limited. So I do not speak on the authority of experience, but on the authority of God’s word. And God’s word is clear — he works through suffering. He refines his people through suffering. He is able to bring good out of suffering. 

Do you want proof of this? Then look to Christ. See the good that came out of his suffering. More examples can be given — indeed, I could pile up scriptures texts. But the sufferings of Christ provide sufficient proof that God accomplishes his purposes through suffering. 

If we lose sight of this, then we will struggle to suffer well. In fact, we may even despair of life in the midst of suffering.  Brothers and sisters, do not despair. Persevere through suffering, knowing that God will keep you. He will use the suffering to refine you, to bring about good, and to accomplish his purposes.

And some may be tempted to take their life into their own hand’s reasoning that they do not wish to be a burden to others who must care for them in their suffering. But this too is a great error. You must remember that God may use your suffering to refine those who have the privilege to care for you in the mists of it. 

Whatever the reason, the sixth commandment is a great help to those who are despairing of life, for it strictly forbids us from taking our own life. It simply is not an option. We must leave the matter to God. God determined the moment of our birth, and we are to leave it to him to determine the moment and circumstances of our death. 

Some have wondered if those who commit suicide can be saved? Two things should be considered. First, Christ atoned for all kinds of sins when he died on the cross for his people, including violations of the sixth commandment. So no sin, with the exception of the sin of unbelief, is beyond the atoning power of Christ’s blood. But secondly, the scriptures do teach that we will know Christ’s disciples by their fruits. Those who belong to Christ will keep his commandments. It is no wonder, then, that the sin of suicide leaves everyone wondering what they are to think about the salvation of that soul. For that one’s life comes to an end in an act of sin. I have heard many describe suicide as a selfish act. Why is it described in that way? Because it leaves so many behind wondering and morning the loss.

With that said, by heart does break for those who have come to such a dark place of despair. They need the gospel of Jesus Christ. They need to know that hope and peace is found in him. They need to know that there is a purpose to life, and even to the suffering. And they need to know that life does not end when we pass from this world. No, every human is in fact immortal. All will live forever either in heaven or hell. We must be found in Christ if we are to spend eternity with him in heaven, for he is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through him. And of all people, the Christian ought never to take their own life.

Secondly, “the sixth commandment absolutely forbideth the taking away of… the life of our neighbor unjustly, or whatsoever tendeth thereunto.”

The words “whatsoever tendeth thereunto” remind us that we are not to participate in anything that leads to the unjust taking of human life.

And the word “unjustly” is also crucial. It indicates that while it is true that it is not our place to take away life — our own life, or the life of another — there are exceptions. And the exceptions are when the taking away of the life of another is “just”, or “right”. 

Three instances come to mind: One, in self defense. Two, when the state rightly uses its power to punish a murderer. And three, in just war. 

As Christians, we must learn to think carefully and biblically about these things. 

If someone commits a crime against you, is it your place to punish them? No. That is the job of the state. 

And should the state punish every sin? No. There are many sins that are not criminal. Lying is a sin, but is not a crime, unless the lie is uttered while under oath, or leads to the damage of another’s person or property. 

And should the state use the death penalty to punish every crime? No. The murderer is to be put to death (Genesis 9), and the murder had better be proven. But other crimes may be punished through restitution. 

Also, the Christain should think very carefully about what constitutes “self defense”, and what is to be considered “just war”. We are walking in the realm of ethics again, and ethical questions can be complicated. 

I would be remiss if I failed to address the great sin of abortion. Abortion is the taking away of life. And these lives of the unborn are taken away unjustly. These little ones did not do anything to deserve being put to death by their own mothers and fathers. No, in the vast majority of cases they are put to death on the basis of the preference of the parents. It is often about convenience. This is not right.

If you have had an abortion I must say, it was a sin to do so. You violated the sixth commandment. But their forgiveness in Christ Jesus. Acknowledge your sin, trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of your sins, and serve him as Lord from this day forward. You will not be shunned by him, for he is gracious and kind. And neither will you be shunned by us, for we are all sinners saved by the marvelous grace of God.   

Lord, help us to know your word and give us the wisdom to apply it in every circumstance, should be our prayer.  

Conclusion 

But here is where we must begin: with God’s law. And what does God’s law say? “You shall not murder” What does this commandment forbid?

A. The sixth commandment absolutely forbideth the taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbor unjustly, or whatsoever tendeth thereunto. (Gen. 4:10,11; 9:6; Matt. 5:21-26)

Posted in Sermons Joe Anady
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Baptist Catechism 72 & 73

Q. 72. What is the sixth commandment?

A. The sixth commandment is, “Thou shalt not kill.” (Exodus 20:13)

Q. 73. What is required in the sixth commandment?

A. The sixth commandment requires all lawful endeavors to preserve our own life and the life of others. (Eph. 5:29,30; Ps. 82:3,4; Prov. 24:11,12; Act 16:28)

Scripture Reading: Acts 16:25–34

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’ And they said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household.’ And they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God.” (Acts 16:25–34, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

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Baptist Catechism 72

Our catechism says that the sixth commandment is “thou shalt not kill.” And that is indeed the way that the King James Version translates the sixth commandment as found in Exodus 20:13: “Thou shalt not kill.” But more modern Bible translations have preferred the word “murder” instead of “kill”. “You shall not murder” is what the ESV says. Really, either term will do. In fact, both are prone to misunderstanding and must be explained.

“Thou shalt not kill”, may be taken to mean that humans should never kill anything. Animals should not be killed for food, therefore. But we know this is not the meaning, for animals were rightly killed for food and sacrifice in the days of Moses and long before that. And “thou shalt not kill” may also be taken to mean that a human must never take the life of another human. And that is not true either. The rest of the law of Moses which was written to explain and apply these ten commandments to the nation of Israel teaches that men may kill in self defense, in righteous war, and as agents of the state to promote justice. Take Genesis 9:6 for example: “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.” (Genesis 9:6, ESV). This principle of retributive justice runs through the law of Moses and is even found in the New Testament (see Romans 13). So, if you memorize the sixth commandment as, “Thou shalt not kill”, you must keep in mind that it does not mean thou shalt not kill anything or under any and all circumstances. No, you do not break the sixth commandment if a violent intruder breaks into your home and threatens your family, and you take his life. 

The translation, “You shall not murder”, can be misunderstood in other ways. It is a better translation, I think, for it does clarify that it is the unjust taking of a human life that is forbidden here. But the word “murder” may be interpreted too narrowly. Not only does the sixth commandment forbid murder — or perhaps we might say, murder in the first or second degree. It also forbids carelessness which leads to the death of another human being. We might refer to this as murder in the third degree or manslaughter.  

  So take your pick. When reciting the sixth commandment you may say “Thou shalt not kill”, following the KJV, or “You shall not murder”, following the ESV. Whichever translation you choose, the important thing is that you understand what the commandment means — what does it forbid, and what does it require. 

Baptist Catechism 73

Our catechism is most helpful. Today we will ask, what is required in the sixth commandment?

And the answer given by our catechism is, “The sixth commandment requires all lawful endeavors to preserve our own life and the life of others.” This is what is required. Next week will ask, what is forbidden in the sixth commandment? And then we will learn that “The sixth commandment absolutely forbideth the taking away of our own life, or the life of our neighbor unjustly, or whatsoever tendeth thereunto.” And so the pattern continues: what does this commandment require, and what does this commandment forbid?

Before we consider the answer to question 73 piece by piece, I should say a word about the basis for the sixth commandment. I will do this by asking, why are humans permitted to kill animals for food, but forbidden from taking the life of another human without just cause? 

I should say, I do not believe that humans are permitted to kill animals indiscriminately — that is to say, randomly, recklessly, and carelessly. No, humans are to be good stewards of the created world, and they are not to be brutal, not even with animals. 

But with that said, the question remains. Why do the scriptures forbid the taking of human life without just cause? And the answer is that man is made in God’s image. There is something particularly dignified about human life. Human life is to be highly respected because the human being is the pinnacle of God’s creation. The human is made in God’s image, and this cannot be said of anything else in all of God’s creation, not even the angels. I have already quoted from Genesis 9:6, but hear it again. “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image” (Genesis 9:6, ESV). It is because man is an image-bearer of God that murder is to punished with death. 

Think of how perverse our society is. In our society murders are often permitted to die of old age whereas the lives of millions of unborn children are snuffed out in the wombs of their mothers each and every year. This perversion is rooted in the fact that our society has forgotten that man is made in God’s image. If we were to remember this, then human life would be treated with dignity at every stage. Murders would get their just reward, and the lives of the innocent would be protected.

 So what is the basis for the sixth commandment? Man is made in the image of God. And what does this commandment require? “All lawful endeavors to preserve our own life and the life of others.” 

What does the word lawful mean? It means that we are to preserve life so long as it does not require us to violate God’s moral law. This can get a little tricky. Is it ever right to tell a lie to preserve life? In general, no. But what about those who hid the Jews from Hitler’s troops during WWII? Did they do wrong when they deceived Natzi’s? I pray that we will never be faced with such difficult choices. But in general, the principle stands. The sixth commandment requires “all lawful endeavors to preserve our own life and the life of others.”

I do appreciate that our catechism draws attention to the obligation we have to preserve our own life. Human beings are made in God’s image. And this means that you are made in God’s image. Not only do you have the responsibility, therefore, to preserve the life of other image-bearers. You also have the responsibility to preserve your own life! 

Christians should not live recklessly, therefore. This too can get a little tricky when it comes to application. Just how cautious should we be? You will notice that our catechism does not provide us with a detailed application, but only with the principle. And I am glad about that! The Christian should not be reckless. G.I. Williamson in his commentary of the Westminster Larger Catechism (by the way, both of these resources — the Westminster Larger Catechism, and Williamson’s commentary on it — are very useful tools for the study of the Baptist Catechism, which very similar to the Westminster Shorter Catechism)… back to my point: G.I. Williamson in his commentary of the Westminster Larger Catechism lists “dueling, bullfighting [and] shooting the rapids of the Niagara River in a barrel” as a clear violation of the sixth commandment, but he admits that attempting to cross the Atlantic in a small sailboat may not be a violation. I think it is right that we are confronted with the principle that sixth commandment requires “all lawful endeavors to preserve our own life”, and then, in general, to leave it to each person to work out the specifics. 

Does this mean that we should watch what we eat? Probably. But I’m not all that interested in helping you craft a meal plan if you know what I mean. Does this mean that you should exercise? Probably. But again, I’ll leave that to you to work out (pun). But I heard that you were drag racing your car on Domenigoni Parkway, I’d surely rebuke you. I’d rebuke you for a number of reasons. You’d be breaking a civil law — a civil law rooted in the sixth commandment, by the way. And you would therefore be in clear violation of God’s moral law. You would be recklessly endangering your own life and the lives of others. 

Some live recklessly and deserve to be rebuked. But some do also live fearfully. And perhaps this is more of an issue in our day. There is a delicate balance that we all must strike, therefore. We must not be reckless with our lives, but neither can we be driven by fear. No, we must live our lives to the fullest. This means that we must live courageously and with wisdom to the glory of God. We cannot allow fear of sickness or death to hinder us from loving, serving, and worshipping God, nor can we allow fear to hinder us from loving one another. We must live courageously and with wisdom to the glory of God.

I suppose this will always require us to assess risk and reward. And do not be surprised, brothers and sisters, when the world assesses risk and reward differently than we who are in Christ do. For us the sting of death has been removed. But for the one who is dead in their sin, death is an all-consuming enemy. And for us, the greatest reward is to see God glorified and in his glory. But for the world, the greatest reward is health, wealth, and prosperity. Lord, grant us wisdom so that we might know how to walk in this world. Brothers and sisters, do not be reckless with your own life, but neither should you be driven by fear.

Not only does the sixth commandment require us to endeavor “to preserve our own life” it also requires us to endeavor to preserve the lives of others. 

You know about a year ago we were told that there was an epidemic sweeping across our land, and a pandemic sweeping across our world. Our leaders warned us that if we did not quarantine our hospitals would be overrun and thousands upon thousands would perish. I remember hearing our President say, we will see casualties like we haven’t seen since WWII if we don’t act. The call was to lockdown for a brief time in order to flatten the curve, and we complied. We refrained from assembling for corporate worship for five weeks. 

You know, taking into consideration what we knew at the time, I would do the same thing again. I do believe that the sixth commandment should lead us in that direction. And I do believe that the preservation of life does trump the ceremonial observance of the Sabbath day. We should remember what Christ said about Sabbath observance. “Which of you, having a son or an ox that has fallen into a well on a Sabbath day, will not immediately pull him out?” (Luke 14:5, ESV). And so the preservation of life — even the life of an ox — does take precedence over the ceremonial.  

I will not rehearse everything that has transpired over the last year with so-called pandemic, nor will I do a play-by-play for you as it pertains to our decision-making process. The point that I am making here is that the command, “you shall not murder” does not only forbid unjust killing, it does also require us to think about the preservation of life. Again, this can get tricky. Again, this requires wisdom. Again, the question of risk and reward does come into play. 

I suppose if we were to push this principle of the preservation of life too far, we would never leave our homes. Certainly, we would never assemble. When we leave our homes, we take a risk. We might get into a car accident and be killed, or kill another. And when we assemble — when we shake hands, look into one anothers eyes, sing together, and greet one another with a holy kiss (metaphorically speaking) —  germs are spread. And there is always the risk that someone will get really, really sick, and even perish. Not to mention the fact that when we commute to church our automobiles emit gasses that warm the earth and lead to natural disasters, famine, death, and destruction (or so some people say).  

Brothers and sisters, this principle that we have a moral obligation to preserve our own life and the lives of others can be misused and abused. In fact, it can be used as a weapon against God’s people to keep them from doing what God has called them to do. 

What an interesting year this past year has been.

Conclusion 

Q. 73. What is required in the sixth commandment?

A. The sixth commandment requires all lawful endeavors to preserve our own life and the life of others.

Clearly, this is true!

Lord, give us the wisdom to keep this commandment as we live in this world, in our families, and as a church, all to the glory of the Triune God.

Posted in Sermons Joe Anady
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New Testament Reading: Luke 24:36-49

“As they were talking about these things, Jesus himself stood among them, and said to them, ‘Peace to you!’ But they were startled and frightened and thought they saw a spirit. And he said to them, ‘Why are you troubled, and why do doubts arise in your hearts? See my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me, and see. For a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see that I have.’ And when he had said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. And while they still disbelieved for joy and were marveling, he said to them, ‘Have you anything here to eat?’ They gave him a piece of broiled fish, and he took it and ate before them. Then he said to them, ‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, ‘Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. And behold, I am sending the promise of my Father upon you. But stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.’” (Luke 24:36–49, ESV)

Old Testament  Reading: Psalm 18

“TO THE CHOIRMASTER. A PSALM OF DAVID, THE SERVANT OF THE LORD, WHO ADDRESSED THE WORDS OF THIS SONG TO THE LORD ON THE DAY WHEN THE LORD DELIVERED HIM FROM THE HAND OF ALL HIS ENEMIES, AND FROM THE HAND OF SAUL. HE SAID: I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies. The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears. Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked, because he was angry. Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him. He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet. He rode on a cherub and flew; he came swiftly on the wings of the wind. He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him, thick clouds dark with water. Out of the brightness before him hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds. The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice, hailstones and coals of fire. And he sent out his arrows and scattered them; he flashed forth lightnings and routed them. Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils. He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters. He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support. He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me. The LORD dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he rewarded me. For I have kept the ways of the LORD, and have not wickedly departed from my God. For all his rules were before me, and his statutes I did not put away from me. I was blameless before him, and I kept myself from my guilt. So the LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness, according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight. With the merciful you show yourself merciful; with the blameless man you show yourself blameless; with the purified you show yourself pure; and with the crooked you make yourself seem tortuous. For you save a humble people, but the haughty eyes you bring down. For it is you who light my lamp; the LORD my God lightens my darkness. For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall. This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him. For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?— the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights. He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze. You have given me the shield of your salvation, and your right hand supported me, and your gentleness made me great. You gave a wide place for my steps under me, and my feet did not slip. I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and did not turn back till they were consumed. I thrust them through, so that they were not able to rise; they fell under my feet. For you equipped me with strength for the battle; you made those who rise against me sink under me. You made my enemies turn their backs to me, and those who hated me I destroyed. They cried for help, but there was none to save; they cried to the LORD, but he did not answer them. I beat them fine as dust before the wind; I cast them out like the mire of the streets. You delivered me from strife with the people; you made me the head of the nations; people whom I had not known served me. As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me; foreigners came cringing to me. Foreigners lost heart and came trembling out of their fortresses. The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation— the God who gave me vengeance and subdued peoples under me, who rescued me from my enemies; yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me; you delivered me from the man of violence. For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations, and sing to your name. Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever.” (Psalm 18, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

One of my objectives in this brief sermon series is to show you how to read the Psalms like a Christian. 

A Christian believes that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, or the Anointed One, or the Christ. No matter which term we choose — Messiah, Anointed One, or Christ — we are saying the same thing. We believe that Jesus of Nazareth was and is the promised King who has come in the line of David. He is the Savior.

Of course, Jesus is more than our King. He is also our Prophet and our Priest. The one man, Jesus, fulfilled all three of these offices. As our great Prophet, he has revealed the will of God for our salvation. As our great High Priest, he has reconciled us to God by offering himself up as a sacrifice for our sins, and he makes continual intercession for us. And as our great King, he subdues us to Himself, he rules and defends us, and he restrains and conquers all his and our enemies. So the one Christ has fulfilled all three offices. He is the Prophet, Priest, and King of God’s people. He is the Messiah, the Anointed One, the Christ. He is the Savior. 

Now, this idea that God would send a Savior is very old. In fact, it is nearly as old as sin itself. Soon after Adam fell into sin, God graciously announced that a Savior would be provided. But the good news that was delivered to Adam and Eve in those days was vague, or mysterious. The LORD spoke to the serpent who brought the temptation to Eve, and through her, to Adam, saying, “I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel” (Genesis 3:15, ESV). This was good news indeed. Adam and Eve would not be immediately judged. The human race would continue on. And in due time a Champion would arise who would crush the head of the serpent, who is Satan. This Champion would arise from the seed of the woman. In other words, he would be human. The serpent would do him harm — the serpent would “bruise his heel” — but this seed of the woman would have the victory in the end. Again, this is good news. But it was vague. There was much mystery. Who would this Savior be? When would he come? What would he be like? The promise of the gospel was clear. It was clear enough for God’s people in those days to put their trust in it. But it was also mysterious. 

This promise of the gospel which was announced shortly after sin entered the world would grow in clarity with the passing of time and with the establishment of each new covenant that God transacted with his people. The promise of the gospel grew in clarity in the days of Noah. It grew in clarity in the days of Abraham and Moses. And it grew in clarity yet again in the days of King David. As you know, a covenant was transacted with David which clearly communicated that through him — that is to say, in his line of descendants — the kingdom of God would be established forever and ever. In the line of David, a King would arise who would win the victory for God and his people and establish an everlasting kingdom, one that would never come to an end.

David was anointed as king of Israel, but he was not the Anointed One. David’s son Solomon was anointed as king of Israel after him. His kingdom was indeed powerful and glorious. He built God’s temple. The nations took notice. But he was not the Anointed One. And Rehoboam took the throne after Solomon. He was not the Anointed One either. 

As Christians, when we say that we have turned from our sins and have placed our faith in Jesus the Christ we are saying, among other things, we believe that Jesus of Nazareth is the Anointed One. He is the Champion that was promised to Eve.  He is the priest that was promised to Abraham. He is the Prophet promised through Moses. And he is the King promised to David. He is the Anointed One of God, the Messiah. 

When we read the Old Testament scriptures, we must read them as Christians. We must agree with what Jesus taught his disciples — the Old Testament is about him!  This is what said to his two disciples after his resurrection as he walked with them on the road to the town called Emmaus. Luke 24:27 says, “And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, [Jesus] interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.” The scriptures that are referred to here are the Old Testament scriptures. The New Testament had not yet been written.  So Jesus “interpreted to them in all the [Old Testament] Scriptures the things concerning himself.”

And this includes the Psalms. Later that same night Jesus appeared to his disciples who were assembled in Jerusalem he said to them, “‘These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.’ Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, and said to them, ‘thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and on the third day rise from the dead, and that repentance for the forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in his name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem’” (Luke 24:44–47, ESV).

So there is a Christian way to understand the Old Testament scriptures. The Christian way is to see Jesus of Nazareth as the fulfillment of the law, the prophets, and the Psalms. The Old Testament scriptures are about him. They contain promises, prophecies, types, and shadows, all of which are fulfilled in the person and work of Christ, and in his eternal kingdom. Jesus taught this. And the New Testament scriptures, which were written by his Apostles, or under their supervision, teach this. The law, the prophets, and the Psalms are about Jesus the Christ. They find their fulfillment in him. 

The Psalms are about Jesus. Or to put it another way, the Psalms are about King David and the establishment of the kingdom of Israel. 

Now you say, wait a minute! Those are two different things! How can you in one breath say “the Psalms are about Jesus” and in the next breath, “the Palms are about King David.” Which is it? You cannot have it both ways!

Well, in fact, both statements are true. The Psalms are about Jesus, and they are about King David. This is so because Jesus is the fulfillment of David, and Christ’s eternal kingdom is the fulfillment of the kingdom of Israel. These two things: David and his earthly kingdom, and Christ and his heavenly kingdom are one. They are organically related to one other in the way that an acorn is related to an oak tree. If I hold up a book and say, this book is about acorns, but you find that it ends up being about oak trees, I have not lied to you. For the end of an acorn is an oak tree. In fact, you cannot thoroughly talk about acorns without talking about oak trees, can you?  And in the same way, when I say the Psalms are about David and his kingdom, and then I say, the Psalms are about Christ and his kingdom, I have not lied — I have not contradicted myself — for the end of the covenant that God transacted with King David is Christ and his eternal kingdom. David is the seed; Christ is the tree. David is the prototype; Christ is the real deal. In David we find the promise; in Christ, we find the fulfillment. 

So when we read the Psalms we must read them on these two levels. We must read them on the level of promise and fulfillment, type and anti-type, shadow and substance. This is what Christ taught, and this is what the New Testament so clearly teaches. These Psalms were written about David and things that he experienced as the anointed King of Israel. But his person and his works foreshadowed the person and work of his greater son, Jesus of Nazareth, who is the Christ. 

We must learn to read the Old Testament, the Psalms included, as Christians. But you would be surprised at how many in our day who profess faith in Christ do not. In fact, many who profess faith in Christ read the Old Testament (and preach the Old Testament) in much the same way that the unbelieving Jews in Jesus’ day read them as if they are merely about an earthly king and an earthly kingdom. No, the Old Testament is fulfilled in Jesus the Christ and in his heavenly kingdom, “For all the promises of God find their Yes in him” (2 Corinthians 1:20, ESV).

More can be said, but for the sake of time let us move on to Psalm 18. This is a relatively long Psalm, isn’t it? I will not be able to touch on every phrase as I typically do. Instead, I will highlight its sections and draw your attention to its main points, showing what they meant to David, how they were fulfilled in Christ, and how they apply to you and me today. 

This Psalm was written by King David. That is what the title says. “TO THE CHOIRMASTER. A PSALM OF DAVID, THE SERVANT OF THE LORD…” Like Moses the prophet and Aaron the priest, David was the LORD’s servant. He was the servant King. This is true on a deeper level of Christ, our great Prophet, Priest, and King. Christ is God’s ultimate servant king.  

And the title also reveals the circumstance which prompted David to write this Psalm. It continues, “ WHO ADDRESSED THE WORDS OF THIS SONG TO THE LORD ON THE DAY WHEN THE LORD DELIVERED HIM FROM THE HAND OF ALL HIS ENEMIES, AND FROM THE HAND OF SAUL”. So this Psalm is about the deliverance of God’s warrior servant king from trouble. 

The historical context of this Psalm is well known. For this same Psalm is found almost word for word in 2 Samuel 22. David spoke these words to the LORD after he had been delivered from all his enemies, and his kingdom was made secure. In the second half of 1 Samuel, and in 2 Samuel, we learn all about David’s enemies. 2 Samuel begins with the announcement that David’s first enemy, Saul, had died. But it goes on to describe the many conflicts that David endured as he took the throne and established his reign. David’s own son, Absalom, rebelled against him and was put down. The Philistines were a constant problem for him. But David did eventually conquer these enemies. And when he did, he sang this Psalm to the LORD. 

Please make this connection before we move on. King David took possession of his kingdom through conflict and struggle. And King Jesus took possession of his kingdom through conflict and struggle. Both were required to defeat their enemies to make their kingdom secure. David defeated earthly enemies — Saul, Absalam, and the Philistines, to name a few. But Christ defeated much stronger enemies — Satan, sin, and death. This he did, not only for the Jews but for Gentiles also. And then he sat down upon his heavenly throne. This Psalm — Psalm 18 –is about the victory which God gave to David, but it is more about the victory that Jesus has won. 

We know that this Psalm is about the Christ, for this is what Paul the Apostle teaches when he quotes Psalm 18:49 in Romans 15:8-10, saying, “For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show God’s truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, ‘Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and sing to your name’” (Romans 15:8–10, ESV). Notice that Paul refers to Christ as “a servant” echoing the title of Psalm 18. And then he quotes verse 49 of Psalm 18, teaching that it was fulfilled, not by David ultimately, but by Jesus Christ. Yes, David would “praise [God] among the Gentiles, and sing to [his] name”. But when Paul, as one who believed that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, considered Psalm 18 he knew that it was ultimately about Jesus. Jesus is God’s servant King. Jesus is the king who would have the nations as his inheritance.  

So as Christians we must confess that this Psalm is not merely about David, nor is it merely about the nation of Israel. No, this Psalm is about the establishment of God’s kingdom through conflict, rescue, and victory, first as experienced by David, and then as experienced by Jesus Christ, David’s greater son. That is the Christian interpretation. That is the interpretation that the New Testament provides. 

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An Expression Of Praise (vs. 1-3)

This Psalm begins with an expression of praise. David says, “I love you, O LORD, my strength. The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. I call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.” (Psalm 18:1–3, ESV)

There is energy to this Psalm, isn’t there. David is clearly excited about what the LORD has done for him. He is eager to give him praise. 

You have hearts it said that David was a man after God’s own heart. It would be a mistake to think that he was perfect. Far from it. But he did love the LORD sincerely. He did trust the LORD deeply. His longing was to see the LORD’s purposes accomplished in and through him. In this sense, he was a man after God’s own heart. He viewed himself as a servant of the LORD, and he did run to the LORD for strength. 

“I love you, O LORD”, the Psalm begins. What a marvelous and warm opening to this Psalm. “I love you, O LORD, my strength.” The LORD was King David’s strength. He did not trust ultimately in own strength, in chariots or armies, but in the LORD. And then David heaps up metaphors to describe what God is to him: The LORD is his rock, fortress, deliverer, shield, the horn of his salvation, and stronghold. You can tell that David was a king based upon the metaphors he chose. The point is this, David’s trust was not in earthly things — earthly fortresses, etc. — but in the LORD. 

This was true for David. Indeed, he did entrust himself to the LORD. But it was so much more true of Christ. “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly [namely God]. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.” (1 Peter 2:22–24, ESV).

These words spoken by David were true. He did love the LORD sincerely. He did look to God as his rock and fortress. But if we consider these words on the lips of Jesus, David’s greater Son, they take on a whole new depth of meaning, don’t they. Jesus’ love for the Father was most pure. His trust in the Father was most sincere. He trusted the Father to keep him, not merely from death, but even through death. He went to cross where he said, “‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!’ And having said this he breathed his last.” (Luke 23:46, ESV)

What about you? Do you share David’s love for the LORD? Do you trust the LORD to keep you and to deliver you from all of his and our enemies? Are you certain that he will deliver you even from death? Is the LORD your rock, fortress, deliverer, shield, the horn of your salvation, and stronghold? Or is your trust in something else? Friends, no one else will be able to deliver you from death. Only the LORD. 

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A Description Of The Deliverance (vs. 4-19)

In fact, this is the very thing which threatened David — death! In verses 4-19 God’s deliverance is described, and it was nothing short of deliverance from death. In verse 4 David says, “The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me” (Psalm 18:4–5, ESV). 

It is impossible to know for certain what experience David is referring to here, for he had many near-death experiences. He was threatened often by Saul and his men. He was very vulnerable when he fled to Achish the King of Gath for refuge. And he was nearly killed by his own son, Absalom, who led a rebellion against him. In each of these instances, David must have felt as if the “cords of death” and “Sheol” were entangling him and tightening their grip. 

It is clear to us what the “cords” and “snares of death” are. But what are the “cords of Sheol”. Sheol is simply another way to speak of death, for Sheol is the place where the souls of the dead dwell. Prior to the death and resurrection of Christ, the wicked were tormented in Sheol, and the righteous were comforted there. When Christ rose from the dead he led the souls of the righteous out of Sheol (or Abraham’s bosom) and into heaven. Now after the resurrection of Christ from the dead, the souls of the righteous do go immediately into heaven where they enjoy the blessed presence of God, but the souls of the wicked still suffer torment in Sheol where they await the resurrection and final judgment. So David, being a righteous man living before the resurrection of Christ, described his near-death experience with these words: “The cords of death encompassed me”, and again, “the cords of Sheol entangled me.”

As I said, it is difficult to know for sure what experience David had in mind when he said, “the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me”. But the most fitting experience would be the one where David and his men hid from Saul and his men in the cave in the wilderness of Engedi. David was trapped. He was outnumbered. And as he went down into that dark cave it must have felt as if he and his men were descending into Sheol, metaphorically speaking. They probably wondered if they would ever see the light of day again. They wondered if that cave would be the grave for their bodies and if their souls would depart from there to Sheol. But David called upon the LORD. The LORD heard his voice from his heavenly abode, and he delivered him from death. 

In verses 7-19 David describes the deliverance saying, “Then the earth reeled and rocked; the foundations also of the mountains trembled and quaked, because he was angry. Smoke went up from his nostrils, and devouring fire from his mouth; glowing coals flamed forth from him. He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under his feet. He rode on a cherub and flew; he came swiftly on the wings of the wind. He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him, thick clouds dark with water. Out of the brightness before him hailstones and coals of fire broke through his clouds. The LORD also thundered in the heavens, and the Most High uttered his voice, hailstones and coals of fire. And he sent out his arrows and scattered them; he flashed forth lightnings and routed them. Then the channels of the sea were seen, and the foundations of the world were laid bare at your rebuke, O LORD, at the blast of the breath of your nostrils. He sent from on high, he took me; he drew me out of many waters. He rescued me from my strong enemy and from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support. He brought me out into a broad place; he rescued me, because he delighted in me.” (Psalm 18:7–19, ESV)

The imagery that David uses here should send our minds in two directions. First, our minds should go backward from David’s time in the history of redemption to days of Moses, to the Exodus event (the ten plagues, and the parting of the sea), to the giving of the law on Sinai, and to the eventual conquest of Cannan, wherein Israel was brought out into a broad place. You will need to read these verses again on your own and compare the imagery used by David here to the Exodus event. It is no wonder that he used this imagery. He saw the deliverance that the LORD has accomplished for him in light of the deliverance that God had accomplished for Israel when he brought them out of Egypt. Just as God rescued Israel from death, so too God rescued David from death. 

Secondly, our minds should jump forward from David’s time in the history of redemption to the days of Christ, to his crucifixion, his burial, and his resurrection. Think of how the earth shook and how the land was covered in darkness when Christ was crucified. The imagery that David uses to describe his own deliverance is to remind us of God’s deliverance of Israel, and it foreshadows the deliverance that God would accomplish for Christ. 

But here is the difference between the deliverance that God worked for David, and the deliverance that God worked for Christ. God kept David from death, but God raised Jesus from the dead. God kept David from Sheol, but God rescued Jesus out of Sheol. David was made victorious in life, whereas Jesus won the victory over death and Sheol itself. Indeed, Jesus is “the first and the last, and the living one. [he] died, and behold [he is] alive forevermore, and [he has] the keys of Death and Hades.” And this reason we are to “fear not”(see Revelation 1:17–18).

To put it differently, if you imagine Jesus in his resurrection saying, “The cords of death encompassed me; the torrents of destruction assailed me; the cords of Sheol entangled me; the snares of death confronted me. In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears” (Psalm 18:4–6, ESV), these words take on a whole new level of meaning. Who knows, it is possible that Jesus did quote Psalm 18 when he met with his disciples on the Emmaus road, and with others later that night back in Jerusalem. These words were true on David’s lips. But where do you imagine him being when he says them? In trouble, but alive on earth. Perhaps trapped in a dark cave. But when you imagine these same words on Jesus’ lips, where do you imagine him being. Dead. His body in the grave and his soul in Sheol. Jesus was delivered, not from death, but through death, for he did taste death for us (see Hebrews 2:9). Indeed, God “sent from on high, he took [Christ]; he drew [him] out of many waters. He rescued [him] from [his] strong enemy and from those who hated [him]… the LORD was [his] support. He brought [him] out into a broad place; he rescued [him], because he delighted in [him]” (Psalm 18:16–19, ESV). 

Verses 3 – 19 tell of the deliverance that God accomplished for David, but really this is about the deliverance that God accomplished for Christ. God did not merely deliver Jesus from death. No, “God raised him from the dead” (see Acts 13:30). 

Friends, do you believe this? And if you believe this, do you believe it truly and sincerely so that it brings you great comfort, hope, and confidence in life and in death. I have heard it said that the job of the Pastor is to prepare the members of his church to die well. That is a rather morbid perspective on pastoral ministry, but I think it is true. There is more to it, of course. As one of your pastors, I do also want to see you live well. But I suppose the two things are related aren’t they — living well and dying well? But one thing I know for sure, you will not die well if you are not certain that Jesus Christ your Savior died for you and in your places. His body went into the grave and his soul to Sheol. But from there he was raised body and soul! And he was raised, not only for himself but for you and me and all who are in him by faith. “God raised him from the dead” (see Acts 13:30). And those who are in Christ are confident that they too will be raised, just as he was raised. 

*****

The Reason For The Deliverance (vs. 20-36)

In verses 20-36 David tells us why God delivered him.

For the sake of time I will leave it to you to read verses 20-36 again. And I would ask you to read these verses on two levels. First, read them as David’s words, and then read them as Christ’s words. Again, you will see that they were true for David on one level, but they were for Jesus the Christ on a whole other level. 

God delivered David because he was righteous, blameless, merciful, pure and humble. If you know the story of David you know this is only true in a sense. David was righteous only in the way that you and I can be righteous, for he was a sinner like us. He was made righteous through faith in Christ (his son). And he was righteous, but only in a religious sense. He was righteous in the sense that he was faithful to God and devout. We know that he was not righteous and pure in an absolute sense.  The scriptures are clear about this. 

And whatever righteousness David did have, even that was owed to the grace of God alone. David himself says so in this passage. Beginning with verse 27 David gives all glory to God, saying, “for you save humble people”; verse 28: “for it is you who light my lamp”; verse 30: “This God—his way is perfect; the word of the LORD proves true; he is a shield for all those who take refuge in him”; verse 31: “For who is God, but the LORD? And who is a rock, except our God?— the God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless” (Psalm 18:31–32, ESV). On and on I could. This Psalm is filled with praise for God’s grace. David is not here claiming to be righteous in and of himself. No, but he was righteous in God and in his Anointed. And for this reason, God delivered him, “because [God] delighted in [him]” (Psalm 18:19).

But if you read these same words as if from Jesus the Christ, the Son of David, they rise to a higher level. Christ was righteous, absolutely. “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth” (1 Peter 2:22, ESV). And for this reason “God raised him up, loosing the pangs of death, because it was not possible for him to be held by it. For David says concerning him, [in Psalm  “ ‘I saw the Lord always before me, for he is at my right hand that I may not be shaken; therefore my heart was glad, and my tongue rejoiced; my flesh also will dwell in hope. For you will not abandon my soul to Hades, or let your Holy One see corruption. You have made known to me the paths of life; you will make me full of gladness with your presence.’” This was how Peter preached the gospel as recorded in Acts 2:24–28. 

*****

The Victory Of The King Over All His Enemies (vs. 37-45)

Verses 37 through 45 do not describe deliverance from trouble, but the King’s victory over all his enemies. So the situation is advanced here. No longer does the King feel as if the “cords of Sheol” are entangling him. No longer is his rescue described. Now the King is victorious. Now he conquers his enemies. 

You will notice that some are consumed. 

In verse 37 we read, “I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and did not turn back till they were consumed” (Psalm 18:37, ESV).

In verse 42 we read, “I beat them fine as dust before the wind; I cast them out like the mire of the streets” (Psalm 18:42, ESV). 

This should remind us of what was said concerning the Lord’s Anointed in Psalm 2: “You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel” (Psalm 2:9, ESV).

But others surrender to the King. Or to use the language of Psalm 2, they take refuge in the LORD’s anointed.   

Verse 43: “You delivered me from strife with the people; you made me the head of the nations; people whom I had not known served me. As soon as they heard of me they obeyed me; foreigners came cringing to me. Foreigners lost heart and came trembling out of their fortresses.” (Psalm 18:43–45, ESV)

This was certainly David’s experience. After he was anointed king he ran from Saul, but God delivered him. And after God delivered him, he gave him victory over all his enemies and made his kingdom secure. That is what David is celebrating in this Psalm. 

And such was the experience of Christ, David’s greater son. He obtained his kingdom through trial and tribulation. He suffered. He died. But his soul was not abandoned to Hades, and neither was his body abandoned in the grave. He was raised! And after he was raised in glory, he ascended. And when he ascended he sat down at the Father’s right hand. There he reigns until his enemies are made his footstool at the final judgment (see Luke 20: 41-44). There he reigns until all of his elect are gathered from every tongue, tribe, and nation. They will be summoned by the gospel. And they will be subdued by the Holy Spirit. They will say, Jesus is Lord, and they take refuge in the Anointed One.  In this way — in judgment, and in salvation — every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord.  

Friends, Christ will have the victory. He will have dominion over all, either as Savior or as Judge. What is he to you? Everyone who has ever lived is in a relationship with Christ. He is either Savior or he is Judge. Again I ask, what is he to you? I return now to the second Psalm to urge you to turn from your sins and to trust in him. “Now therefore… be wise; be warned… Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” (Psalm 2:10–12, ESV)

*****

Doxology (vs. 46-50)

In verses 46 through 50 we find a doxology, or a concluding praise. “The LORD lives, and blessed be my rock, and exalted be the God of my salvation— the God who gave me vengeance and subdued peoples under me, who rescued me from my enemies; yes, you exalted me above those who rose against me; you delivered me from the man of violence. For this I will praise you, O LORD, among the nations, and sing to your name. Great salvation he brings to his king, and shows steadfast love to his anointed, to David and his offspring forever.” (Psalm 18:46–50, ESV)

These are the words of King David. But more than this, they are the words of Christ. Verse 49 is the verse that Paul quotes in Romans 15:10. But as I have taught you before, when the New Testament quotes the Old, or when the Old Testament quotes the Old, do not read only the particular verse that is cited. No, take a look around. Paul wants us to see that Jesus Christ is not only the fulfillment of verse 49, but of this whole Psalm.

Jesus is the servant King. Jesus is the one who was delivered from his enemies — from the man of violence, and from death itself. And Jesus is the one who is victorious. He rules and reigns supreme. He has the nations as his inheritance. And what is his goal? The glory of God amongst the nations.

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Conclusion

Let me now conclude by reading 1 Corinthians 15:20-28 which makes this point so beautifully. Like David, but even more purely, the goal of Christ is the glory of God the Father amongst the nations. “But in fact Christ has been raised from the dead, the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep. For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. But each in his own order: Christ the first-fruits, then at his coming those who belong to Christ. Then comes the end, when he delivers the kingdom to God the Father after destroying every rule and every authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all his enemies under his feet. The last enemy to be destroyed is death. For ‘God has put all things in subjection under his feet.’ But when it says, ‘all things are put in subjection,’ it is plain that he is excepted who put all things in subjection under him. When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things in subjection under him, that God may be all in all.” (1 Corinthians 15:20–28, ESV)

Posted in Sermons Joe Anady
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Baptist Catechism 70 & 71

 Q. 70. What is forbidden in the fifth commandment?

A. The fifth commandment forbideth the neglecting of, or, doing anything against the honor and duty which belongeth to everyone in their several places and relations. (Prov. 30:17; Rom. 13:7,8)

Q. 71. What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment?

A. The reason annexed to the fifth commandment is a promise of long life and prosperity (as far as it shall serve God’s glory and their own good), to all such as keep this commandment. (Eph. 6:2,3; Prov. 4:3-6; 6:20-22)

Scripture Reading: Proverbs 4

“Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching. When I was a son with my father, tender, the only one in the sight of my mother, he taught me and said to me, “Let your heart hold fast my words; keep my commandments, and live. Get wisdom; get insight; do not forget, and do not turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will keep you; love her, and she will guard you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown.” Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many. I have taught you the way of wisdom; I have led you in the paths of uprightness. When you walk, your step will not be hampered, and if you run, you will not stumble. Keep hold of instruction; do not let go; guard her, for she is your life. Do not enter the path of the wicked, and do not walk in the way of the evil. Avoid it; do not go on it; turn away from it and pass on. For they cannot sleep unless they have done wrong; they are robbed of sleep unless they have made someone stumble. For they eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence. But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day. The way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know over what they stumble. My son, be attentive to my words; incline your ear to my sayings. Let them not escape from your sight; keep them within your heart. For they are life to those who find them, and healing to all their flesh. Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life. Put away from you crooked speech, and put devious talk far from you. Let your eyes look directly forward, and your gaze be straight before you. Ponder the path of your feet; then all your ways will be sure. Do not swerve to the right or to the left; turn your foot away from evil.” (Proverbs 4, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

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Introduction

You know, the fifth commandment is really quite simple. “Honor thy father and thy mother”, the law says. This means that you children must not disrespect their parents, and it also means that children must show honor to their parents. And so you can see how this same law can be stated both positively and negatively. Negatively, children, do not dishonor your parents. Do not be disrespectful or disobedient. And if we were to state it positively we would say, do this instead! Show them honor. Give them love and respect. 

Do you see the difference between the two ways of putting it? At first glance, the positive and negative perspectives seem to only be two sides of the same coin. But I think there is a great difference between keeping this commandment (and all the other) negatively and positively.

A child may keep the fifth commandment negatively by not talking back to her parents. She may keep the fifth commandment by not breaking the rules of the house. And that is all good. But more is required. The commandment also calls children to proactively and positively show honor to their parents. Do you see the difference? Perhaps you can imagine a child merely following the rules, but in a heartless and loveless way. God’s law calls us higher, friends. Not only are children to refrain from dishonor, they are also to actively show honor. This is what God’s law requires. God’s law is calling us to love!

And last week we also learned that the fifth commandment applies, not only to children but to everyone. Inferiors are to show a special kind of honor superiors, and superiors are to show a special kind of honor to inferiors, and equals are also to show honor to one another. 

You know, I do hope that our children are paying attention to this teaching. How very important it is for our young people to honor their parents in the home! But I am also hoping that husbands and wives are paying close attention to the fifth commandment! That might still sound strange to you. You might still be thinking, but isn’t that commandment about children and parents? It is! But it applies to all. In fact, I have attempted to show you that what is said elsewhere in the scriptures by Paul and others regarding the marriage relationship is rooted in the fifth commandment. Wives are to honor their husbands in a particular way, for the husband is the head of the wife. And husbands are to honor their wives in a particular way, for the wife is vulnerable as she takes that position of submission. The fifth commandment certainly applies. But here I wish to press a little harder on what I have said before. Do not only refrain from dishonor. No, proactively and positively honor. There is a great difference between the two things. And I do think that our relationships would be much happier if we would understand the difference and learn to be proactive in showing honor. 

Husband, it is good for you to not be rude and harsh towards your wife. That is good. And perhaps it is best to start there if this is a problem in your marriage. But you must very quickly replace that dishonor with honor. You must not only put off the old, but you must also quickly put on the new. Do not be harsh with her. That is good. But go ahead and take the next step. Be tender towards her. Be loving, gracious, patient, kind, and thoughtful. Do not tear her down with your words. Instead, build her up. This is the Christian way. This is what God’s law requires. Love her as Christ loves the church!

Now, I will not take the time to say the same thing to wives, children, siblings, fathers, mothers, pastors, congregants, bosses and employees, governors and citizens — you can easily see that the same principle applies to you in every sort of relationship. Do not merely not be rude, be kind! Do not merely refrain from harshness, love instead! Do not merely not dishonor. Instead, honor. I think you get it. “Love is patient and kind” (1 Corinthians 13:4, ESV).

Baptist Catechism 71

In the remainder of our time together I would like to briefly consider Baptist Catechism 71 which asks, “What is the reason annexed to the fifth commandment?” “Annexed” is simply an old-fashioned word for added or appended. “What is the reason [added or attached] to the fifth commandment?”

This is a question about the promise attached to the fifth commandment itself, which says, “Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you.” (Exodus 20:12, ESV). So there is a blessing attached to the fifth commandment. In Ephesians 6:1 Paul says, “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. ‘Honor your father and mother’”, and then he adds, “this is the first commandment with a promise” (Ephesians 6:1–2, ESV). 

So what is this promise all about? Our catechism gives this answer: “The reason annexed to the fifth commandment is a promise of long life and prosperity (as far as it shall serve God’s glory and their own good), to all such as keep this commandment.”

The little qualification, “as far as it shall serve God’s glory and their own good” is meant to keep us from assuming that this is a guarantee. In other words, we should not take this to mean that every child that honors his parents will live a very long and prosperous life. No, life doesn’t work that way. The righteous do sometimes die young. 

Instead, we are to take this as a general rule. In fact, the Proverbs are filled with things like this. They are not promises, strictly speaking, but general principles. Those who obey God’s law and pursue wisdom will be blessed in life, generally speaking. And you know this to be true. Wise living does usually produce good things. But not always. As I said, sometimes the righteous do suffer. In fact, I think that is one reason we have the book of Job. That book shows us that the righteous do sometimes suffer. But what is the general principle in this promise attached to the fifth commandment?

Well, we should remember that the ten commandments were originally given to Israel as a nation. If Israel were to this law, they would be blessed in the land. But Paul does also apply this same law to New Covenant Christians who do not have a homeland. And to us he says, “‘Honor your father and mother’ (this is the first commandment with a promise), ‘that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land’” (Ephesians 6:2–3, ESV).

Here is the principle. Though it is true that God may have other plans and purposes, in general, it is true that keeping this commandment will be rewarded with good things in this life. Good things will come to you because the blessing of God is on you. And also good things will come to you because of the so-called natural consequences of your actions. Those who are rebellious will most often suffer difficulty, whereas those who honor God and their fellow man will most often enjoy the blessings that come with that way of life. You have witnessed this, I’m sure. 

And indeed this is true when it comes to all of God’s commandments. There is a blessing in them. There is life in them. No, we do not keep them perfectly, so we need a Savior. But God’s law is good. God’s law is not burdensome. 

Proverbs 4, which was read at the start of this sermon, speaks to this reality. It begins, “Hear, O sons, a father’s instruction, and be attentive, that you may gain insight, for I give you good precepts; do not forsake my teaching.” And then later it says, “Get wisdom, and whatever you get, get insight. Prize her highly, and she will exalt you; she will honor you if you embrace her. She will place on your head a graceful garland; she will bestow on you a beautiful crown. Hear, my son, and accept my words, that the years of your life may be many.”

And I would like to show you this same principle in Paul’s instructions to husbands. He says, among other things, “In the same way husbands should love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself” (Ephesians 5:28, ESV). Oh, how true that is. Brothers, do you want good? Then love your wives with the love of Christ. And sisters, do you want it good, then honor your husbands in the Lord. Children, do you want it good? Then honor your father and mother — indeed, give everyone the honor that is due to them. 

As I have said, there are no guarantees, but generally, this principle is true. Keeping God’s law does bring about much that is good and pleasant. And certainly, it will produce good and pleasant things in the life to come where we will enjoy life eternal with our Maker and our Savior. And really, I think that is that point.   

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Conclusion

Let us be found trusting in Christ and keeping his commandments, for his glory and our good. 

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AT HOME OR IN GOSPEL COMMUNITY GROUPS

Sermon manuscript available at emmausrbc.org

• Who is the Anointed One, or the Son, of Psalm 2?
• How is Psalm 2 related to the covenant that God made with David found in 2 Samuel 7? Hows does Hebrews 1:5 help us to see the connection?
• Psalm 2 is gospel. How so? Discuss.
• If Psalm 2 is gospel, why is there so much bad news in verses 1-9?
• How might we apply Psalm 2 to our lives today?

Posted in Study Guides Gospel Community Groups Joe Anady
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New Testament Reading: Acts 13:13-42

“Now Paul and his companions set sail from Paphos and came to Perga in Pamphylia. And John left them and returned to Jerusalem, but they went on from Perga and came to Antioch in Pisidia. And on the Sabbath day they went into the synagogue and sat down. After the reading from the Law and the Prophets, the rulers of the synagogue sent a message to them, saying, ‘Brothers, if you have any word of encouragement for the people, say it.’ So Paul stood up, and motioning with his hand said: ‘Men of Israel and you who fear God, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our fathers and made the people great during their stay in the land of Egypt, and with uplifted arm he led them out of it. And for about forty years he put up with them in the wilderness. And after destroying seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance. All this took about 450 years. And after that he gave them judges until Samuel the prophet. Then they asked for a king, and God gave them Saul the son of Kish, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. And when he had removed him, he raised up David to be their king, of whom he testified and said, ‘I have found in David the son of Jesse a man after my heart, who will do all my will.’ Of this man’s offspring God has brought to Israel a Savior, Jesus, as he promised. Before his coming, John had proclaimed a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. And as John was finishing his course, he said, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. No, but behold, after me one is coming, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to untie.’ Brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those among you who fear God, to us has been sent the message of this salvation. For those who live in Jerusalem and their rulers, because they did not recognize him nor understand the utterances of the prophets, which are read every Sabbath, fulfilled them by condemning him. And though they found in him no guilt worthy of death, they asked Pilate to have him executed. And when they had carried out all that was written of him, they took him down from the tree and laid him in a tomb. But God raised him from the dead, and for many days he appeared to those who had come up with him from Galilee to Jerusalem, who are now his witnesses to the people. And we bring you the good news that what God promised to the fathers, this he has fulfilled to us their children by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you.’ And as for the fact that he raised him from the dead, no more to return to corruption, he has spoken in this way, ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’ Therefore he says also in another psalm, ‘You will not let your Holy One see corruption.’ For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep and was laid with his fathers and saw corruption, but he whom God raised up did not see corruption. Let it be known to you therefore, brothers, that through this man forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you, and by him everyone who believes is freed from everything from which you could not be freed by the law of Moses. Beware, therefore, lest what is said in the Prophets should come about: ‘Look, you scoffers, be astounded and perish; for I am doing a work in your days, a work that you will not believe, even if one tells it to you.’ As they went out, the people begged that these things might be told them the next Sabbath.” (Acts 13:13–42, ESV)

Old Testament  Reading: Psalm 2

“Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, ‘Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.’ 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, ‘As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.’ I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” (Psalm 2, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

Introduction

Psalm 2 is a very important Psalm. Of course, all of the Psalms are important. In fact, all of scripture is important. But I think you would agree with me that there are some passages of scripture that are very central to the overarching message of scripture. Psalm 2 is one of those passages. 

Psalm 2 plays a very important role in the Psalter. There is a reason why it has been placed in the second position. Last Sunday I stated that Psalm 1 is law, and Psalm 2 is gospel. The law says, do this and you shall live. But the gospel says though it is true that you have violated God’s law in thought, word, and deed, and therefore, stand guilty before God, you may live by trusting in the work that has been accomplished for you by another, namely, Jesus the Christ. The law says, do this and you shall live — the problem is that we all fall short. But the gospel says, live because of what has been done for you! Repent and believe upon the Savior. Psalm 1 is law, but Psalm 2 is gospel. They are the twin pillars that we must walk in between in order to enter the Psalms. Law and Gospel.

But how, specifically, does Psalm 2 proclaim the good news of salvation through faith in the Christ, the Lord’s Anointed? Answer: By amplifying the promises of the gospel found within the terms of the Davidic Covenant. Please stick with me here. I think this is a very important thing to recognize if we are to understand and fully appreciate Psalm 2.  

You know that God always relates to man by way of Covenant. A covenant is an agreement wherein two parties say, this is the nature of our relationship. Here is what you should expect from me, and here is what I expect from you. Marriage is a covenant. And God has always related to his people by establishing covenants with them. A covenant was made with Adam in the garden. Adam broke that covenant, but God promised to send a Savior. And covenants were also made with Abraham, Moses, and David — yes, I have skipped the covenant made with all of creation in the days of Noah, for it is a bit outside of the scope of this sermon. But the covenants made with Abraham, Moses, and David were all related. They all contained and in some ways advanced, in their own unique way, the promise concerning a coming Savior which was made in the presence of Adam as recorded in Genesis 3:15. It is helpful to think of that first promise of the gospel as a seed. In the days of Abraham that seed sprouted. In the days of Moses, it grew. And in the days of David, it grew more. With the addition of each of these covenants — the Abrahamic, Mosaic, and Davidic (together they are called the Old Covenant) — the promise of the gospel that God would send a Savior grew stronger and more clear. These covenants are all related for they carry and advance this promise. And they are related because they find their fulfillment in the finished work of Jesus Christ and the inauguration of the New Covenant through his blood. 

With that broad overview out of the way, I want for you to think specifically about the covenant that God transacted with king David. The terms of it are recorded for us in 2 Samuel 7. Please listen carefully to the promises and the stipulations of God’s covenant with King David. God spoke these words to David through Nathan the prophet: “I took you from the pasture, from following the sheep, that you should be prince over my people Israel. And I have been with you wherever you went and have cut off all your enemies from before you. And I will make for you a great name, like the name of the great ones of the earth. And I will appoint a place for my people Israel and will plant them, so that they may dwell in their own place and be disturbed no more. And violent men shall afflict them no more, as formerly, from the time that I appointed judges over my people Israel. And I will give you rest from all your enemies. Moreover, the LORD declares to you that the LORD will make you a house. When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. When he commits iniquity, I will discipline him with the rod of men, with the stripes of the sons of men, but my steadfast love will not depart from him, as I took it from Saul, whom I put away from before you. And your house and your kingdom shall be made sure forever before me. Your throne shall be established forever’” (2 Samuel 7:8–16, ESV).

So, there are a lot of things going on in this covenant. There are a number of dimensions to it. God makes unconditional promises to David concerning an everlasting kingdom, but there are also terms to be kept. When David’s offspring are disobedient, they will be disciplined. Also, some things that are said pertained uniquely to David, other things pertained to the kings that will rule Israel after him, and yet other things could find their fulfillment only in the King, the Christ, the Anointed One of God. The New Testament makes it very clear that the promises of this covenant which God transacted with King David did find its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus the Christ, the son of Abraham, the son of David, the son of God. He is the King of kings, and Lord of lords, whose throne will remain forever, whose kingdom will never come to an end. The Davidic covenant is complex, as I have said. But it is very, very important to the story of redemption. It is really about Jesus and the eternal, heavenly kingdom which is now his.  

So, what does this have to do with Psalm 2? I am saying that Psalm 2 makes sense only when interpreted in the light of the covenant that God transacted with David. 

Who wrote Psalm 2? King David did. If you read that Acts 13 passage carefully — the one that I read at the start of this sermon — you will notice that verses 33-35 say that the “second Psalm” was written by David.  And when did he write it? It seems clear to me that he wrote it after God established his covenant with him through Nathan the prophet, for this Psalm is based upon the terms of that covenant. It amplifies it.

Back to my question: How does Psalm 2 preach the gospel? By urging all people to be found in the Messiah that God would in due time send in the line of David. All people must be found in him. They must take refuge in him if they wish to escape the wrath of God which he himself will administer at the final judgment.

So Psalm 2 is very important. It plays a very special role in the Psalter. It proclaims the gospel from the start, and it does also fix our minds upon the promises of God regarding his Anointed King and his everlasting Kingdom. I wonder, do you remember what I said regarding the five books of the Psalter and their themes? I will not repeat myself here, but the themes all have to do with God’s king and kingdom from confrontation to communication to devastation to maturation to consummation. I am moving very quickly here hoping that you will reflect on all of this and connect the dots.

Psalm 2 is important to the Psalter. And it is important to the promise of the gospel in the Old Testament — it amplifies it! And it is no wonder, therefore, that this Psalm is quoted (or alluded to) very frequently in the New Testament. And the New Testament does clearly teach that this Psalm is about Jesus the Christ. 

Who is the “Anointed” one of Psalm 2:2? Who is the “King” that God has set on Zion, his holy hill (Psalm 2:6)? Well, just like with the covenant that God transacted with David, it is complicated. King  David was an anointed one. The kings of Israel that would come after him were anointed ones. But as we progress through this Psalm — and especially as we read the New Testament — it becomes abundantly clear that no king of Old Covenant Israel could fulfill what is said in this Psalm. No, only the Christ could. And indeed the Christ has come! Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Abraham, the Son of David, the son of God. 

With all of that as an introduction, let us rather quickly consider this Psalm piece by piece. Psalm 2 is neatly divided into four sections. In verses 1-3 the rebelliousness of the nations and their kings is described. In verses 4-6 God’s heavenly response is described. In verses 7-9  we hear the voice of the Lord’s Anointed. And finally, in verses, 10-12 the kings of the earth are summoned to pay homage to the son and to take refuge in him. So let’s get to it! 

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The Nations Rage (vs. 1-3)

In verse one we encounter a question: “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, ‘Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us’” (Psalm 2:1–3, ESV).

So there are three parties mentioned here — the nations of the earth, God, and his Anointed. 

The nations consist of people and their rulers. Can you picture it? All of the peoples of the earth are grouped into nations with rulers at the head. And what are these nations doing? They rage. They are in an uproar. They are filled with commotion. The people are continuously plotting. This means that they grumble and groan. They murmur to one another. They scheme. But we are told that they plot in vain. This means that all of their raging and plotting is empty. It will accomplish nothing in the end.  

And what do the kings and rulers do? They do the same as the people. They too rage. Verse 2: “The kings of the earth set themselves…” We are to picture the kings of the earth standing in a rebellious way. And they are also plotting. The text says that “the rulers take counsel together…” 

And who are they plotting against? Not one another in this instance, but “against the LORD and against his Anointed…” (Psalm 2:2, ESV). So the picture here is not of one nation rising up against another nation, but of the nations (all of them) rising up against the LORD God. And not only do they rage and plot against God, but also against his Anointed. 

Who is this Anointed one? It may refer to David, for David was indeed anointed as king of Israel. And it may indeed refer to any one of the kings who would come after him, for they too were anointed as kings of Israel. But really we are not left to wonder who this Anointed one is, for the New Testament tells us that he is Jesus.  

Turn with me to Acts 4:23. There we read “When they [the Apostles Peter and John] were released [from custody to the Jewish leaders], they went to their friends and reported what the chief priests and the elders had said to them. And when they heard it, they lifted their voices together to God and said, ‘Sovereign Lord [remember that when we return to Psalm 2], who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them, who through the mouth of our father David, your servant, said by the Holy Spirit, [and then they quote our passage in Psalm 2, saying] ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers were gathered together, against the Lord and against his Anointed’— for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.’ And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness” (Acts 4:23–31, ESV).

So who is the Anointed one of Psalm 2 according to the New Testament scriptures? Jesus is the Anointed One. Or we might say, Jesus is the Messiah, for that is the Hebrew word translated at anointed here ( מָשִׁיחַ māšiyaḥ). Or we may also say, Jesus is the Christ — that is the Greek term. 

By the way, you probably have noticed that I rarely refer to Jesus as “Jesus Christ”. Instead, I call him “Jesus the Christ”. That is to combat the misnomer that Christ is the last name of Jesus. It is not. Christ is his title. He is Jesus the Anointed One; Jesus the Messiah; Jesus the Christ. 

So, what is described in Psalm 2 is ultimately not the nations’ rebellion against God and David (or any other king of Israel), but the nations’ rebellion against God and his Messiah, of which David and the other kings of Israel were a type. 

When did this happen? When did the nations rage and rebel against the LORD and his anointed? 

Well, we know that it happened when the unbelieving Jews conspired with the Romans to murder Jesus the Christ by hanging him on the cross. That is what Acts 4:27 says. After citing Psalm 2, the disciples said, “for truly in this city there were gathered together against [God’s] holy servant Jesus, whom [God] anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever [God’s] hand and [God’s] plan had predestined to take place” (Acts 4:27–28, ESV). 

So it certainly happened at the crucifixion of Christ. But we must also confess that it happened long before then. In fact, nations have been living in rebellion against God and his Messiah ever since the first promise of the gospel was given to Adam and Eve. Think of how Cain murdered Abel. Think of the wickedness that covered the earth before the flood. Think of Babel. Think of Israel’s bondage in Egypt and the murdering of the first-born children. And think of how the world is to this present day. Need I go  Since the fall of Adam into sin, and from the first utterance of the gospel, the nations have raged, the peoples have plotted in vain. The kings of the earth have set themselves, and the rulers have take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, [verse 3] “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us” (Psalm 2:3, ESV). 

Stated differently, in sin the peoples of the earth have always said let us do away with God and his Christ, for we do not wish to be ruled by him. No, we would rather rule ourselves. Is this not what Adam and Eve said when they ate the forbidden fruit? Instead of submitting to God’s law they decided to go their own way and to be a law unto themselves. Instead of agreeing with God concerning good and evil, they made their own determination. When they ate of that forbidden tree they said, in essence, let us burst these bonds apart and cast away these cords from us, for they did not see that God’s law is in fact good.

This description of the nations of the earth raging and rebelling against God and his anointed is timeless. The nations have always raged against God and his Anointed, and they will continue to do so until Christ returns to judge and make all things new. This is what Jesus taught as recorded in Matthew 24:3-14. But verses 1-3 of this Psalm were fulfilled in a most direct way when the unbelieving Jews conspired with the Romans to put Jesus the Christ to death. You may read Psalm 2:1-3 and then open to the Gospel of John and read chapters 18 and following to see the connection.

Before we move on to the second portion of this Psalm I would like to make a connection between the first three verses of Psalm 2, and Psalm 1, which we considered last week. It won’t take long. Simply consider how Psalm 1 taught that the blessed man walks in the way of life and avoids the way of death. The blessed man does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor does he stand in the way of sinners, nor does he sit with scoffers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord. But what do we see here in Psalm 2? Are the nations of the earth walking in the way of life? Are the people and their kings found delighting in the law of the Lord? No! They are walking in the way of death. They are raging and plotting against the LORD and his anointed. They wish to cast off his law. And they are taking counsel together. Such is the condition of the human race. 

I told you that Psalm 1 is law, but no one keeps it, with the exception of one. And I told you that Psalm 2 is gospel. But here is the deal with the gospel. Before the good news can be understood, we must hear the bad news. And the bad news is this. The nations of the earth — both the people and the kings — rage and rebel against God and his Messiah. And to bring this home, this includes you and me in our natural condition. Before the LORD captivated us by his love and graciously drew us to faith in the Messiah, we too were numbered amongst the rebels.  

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The Lord Laughs From Heaven (vs. 4-6)

In verses 1 through 3 we have considered the rebellion of the nations against God and his anointed. And in verses 4 through 6 God’s response is described. “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, ‘As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.’” (Psalm 2:4–6, ESV)

“He who sits in the heavens laughs…” He laughs at the rebels. He laughs, not because they are funny, but because they are pathetic. This is the laughter of ridicule, and understandably so. Picture it in your mind. The nations — the people and their kings here on earth — rage and plot against God who is seated in heaven. Do you remember how the disciples of Jesus spoke of God in that Acts 4 passage that I read just a little bit ago? They referred to God as the ‘Sovereign Lord, who made the heaven and the earth and the sea and everything in them…” They took comfort in this truth. Though nations rage — though the people and their kings’ plot against the LORD and his anointed — God is Sovereign over heaven and earth. He is not disturbed by the tumult on earth. He is not concerned about his palace being overrun. No, “he who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.” This means that he scorns and mocks them. He despises them to their faces. For they are weak and he is strong. Their raging and their plotting are in vain. It is pathetic. It is silly.

And in verses 5 and 6 the judgment of God is described. “Then he will speak to them [the rebels] in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury…” And what does he say? “As for me, I have set [or anointed] my King on Zion, my holy hill.”

Again, I must ask, who is this king? Who is this anointed one who has been appointed by God to judge the nations on his behalf? I suppose we may say, I was King David, the author of this Psalm. And there is some truth to that. But King David was only a prototype. Never did David judge the nations. Clearly, what is being described here is beyond David. This text is about David’s greater Son. And no, I do not mean Solomon, but Jesus the Christ.  

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David Tells Of The Decree (vs. 7-9)

In verse 7 King David speaks in the first person, saying, “I will tell of the decree…” What decree? The decree that was just described in verses 5-6. The decree of God to set his King on Zion, his holy hill. It’s as if David interrupts as says, let me explain. Let me tell you all about the decree of the LORD concerning his anointed. “I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you.’”

Pay careful attention here and notice three things: 

One, notice how the names used for God have been changing back and forth in this Psalm. In verse 2 God is called the LORD (יְהוָֹה yehōwāh). This name communicates that God is a gracious God — a God who draws near. He is the covenant-making and covenant-keeping God. And it is fitting that God be called yehōwāh in verses 1-3 where he mentioned alongside his anointed. But in verse 4 he is called the Lord (אֲדֹנָי ʾaḏōnāy). This name for God emphasizes his supremacy over all things and his great power. And it is fitting that God is called by this name in verse 4-6 given the subject matter — “He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.” But here in this third section David uses the name yehōwāh again. Why? Because he is telling of the decree or command of God, and this decree was communicated to David by way of covenant. 

Two, when we read the words “The LORD said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you’”, we are to think of the covenant that God transacted with King David as recorded in 2 Samuel 7. For it then that the LORD made this promise to David. This exact phrase, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you”, is not found in 2 Samuel 7, but the idea is there. This is clearly David’s summary and interpretation of the promise that God made to him. So what did God say to David regarding sonship so that David could say, “The LORD said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you’”? Again, listen to 2 Samuel 7:12-14. There God made a promise to David, saying, “When your days are fulfilled and you lie down with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. He shall build a house for my name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son.” (2 Samuel 7:12–14, ESV)

This was what David was referring to when he said in Psalm 2:7, “The LORD said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you…’”

And three, it is clear from Psalm 2 and also the New Testament that this promise was really about Jesus, David’s greater son. 

This becomes clear when we pay careful attention to what David says here. Again, verse 7: “I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel” (Psalm 2:7–9, ESV).

Let me ask you this, did King David or any of the other kings of Old Covenant Israel ever come to have the ends of the earth as their possession? No. Did David, Solomon, or any of the kings that followed them ever judge the nations of the earth, breaking them with a rod of iron and dashing them in pieces like a potter’s vessel? No, certainly not. David was the greatest of the kings of Old Covenant Israel. And Israel was strongest and most prosperous in the days of Solomon, David’s Son. But neither David nor Solomon came close to attaining what is described here in Psalm 2:7-9. Who is this about, then? It is about Jesus, the Son of Abraham, the Son of David, the Son of God. 

The New Testament makes this so very clear. I have cited Acts 13:33 numerous times now. But listen again to the preaching of the Apostle Paul. He said, among other things, “this he has fulfilled… by raising Jesus, as also it is written in the second Psalm, “‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you’” (Acts 13:33, ESV). Who is God’s Son? Not David, ultimately. But Jesus. 

And listen also to Hebrews 1:5. Here the author of Hebrews is establishing that Jesus Christ is superior to the angels. So he asks the rhetorical question, “For to which of the angels did God ever say, ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you’ [citing Psalm 2:7]? Or again, ‘I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son’ [citing 2 Samuel 7:14]?” (Hebrews 1:5, ESV). Now isn’t that fascinating? The writer to the Hebrews (maybe it was Paul) is here saying that 2 Samuel 7:14 (the Davidic Covenant), and Psalm 2:7 (the passage we are now considering) are related to one another, and they are about Jesus. Jesus the Christ is the fulfillment of these promises. And Hebrews 5:5 does something similar with Psalm 2:7, saying,  “So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, ‘You are my Son, today I have begotten you…’” (Hebrews 5:5, ESV)

Brothers and sisters, I hope you see this as marvelous. Here in Psalm 2 David is teaching us about the decree of God to give the nations to his Son as his heritage. The ends of the earth will be his possession. And he will judge them. 

Brothers and sisters, connect the dots. Jesus the Christ is the Son God who has the nations as his inheritance. 

The nations will be judged by him at the end of time. Listen to Matthew 25:31 and following: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world…. ‘Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.” (Matthew 25:31–41, ESV).

It is judgment that is described in Psalm 2:7-9. We love to talk about Jesus the Savior. And he is that. But did you know that he is also Jesus the judge? God will judge all people at the end of time through Christ. So he is not only Savior, he also the judge. Indeed, he will “break [the nations] with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel”, on the day of judgment. 

But he is the Savior of all people too. And this is why he commissioned his disciples

after he was raised, saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations…’” (Matthew 28:18–20, ESV)

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The Nations Are Summoned To Take Refuge In The Son (vs. 10-12)

So Jesus, the Son of David, and the Son of God, will have the nations as his inheritance both in judgment and in salvation. And this is how our Psalm concludes — with an appeal to the nations to pay homage to the Son, to take refuge in him, so as to be saved in him, and not judged by him. 

Listen to how David delivered the gospel call. Verse 10: “Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” (Psalm 2:10–12, ESV)

Here the kings of the earth, and the people they represent, are urged to cease from raging and plotting against the LORD and his anointed, and to pay homage to him instead. “Be wise; be warned”, David says. “Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.” Isn’t that a marvelous description of the fear of the Lord. It is not fear that produces terror, but fear that leads to rejoicing. “Kiss the Son”. In other words, honor him. Submit to his rule, “…lest he be angry, and you perish in the way”. That word “way” should remind me of the conclusion of Psalm 1:6, which says, “for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish” (Psalm 1:6, ESV). And then finally hear, “Blessed are all who take refuge in him.” 

Friends, if we wish to be shielded from the wrath of the Son, we must be found in him.  At the judgment there will be those who are in the Son — they are those who kissed him, who paid homage to him, who feared him, and rejoiced in him. Stated differently, these are those who had faith in him. They are in him. But all others will stand outside of him, and these will endure his wrath. There are no other options. You are either in the Son, or you are not. You are either for him, or against him. There is no other way.  

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Conclusion

So you see that Psalm 1 is law, and Psalm 2 is gospel. 

Psalm 1 says do this and live. But we all come short of it, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Christ did not fall short. He kept God’s law and entered into glory. He is seated at the Father’s right hand with all authority in heaven and on earth given to him. From there he will return to judge the world and to bring his redeemed into his eternal inheritance. 

Are you in him? Do you trust in him, honor him, and serve him? If you do, he is your refuge. If you do not, he is your judge. 

Psalm 2 is gospel because it announces that though we have broken God’s law and have failed to meet its righteous demands, there is Savior. He is the Anointed One, the Messiah, the Christ. Have you taken refuge in him?

And if you have, are you confident in him today? Yes, the nations rage. They always will. Yes, the people plot in vain. They are eager to cast off the bonds of the LORD and his Anointed. But where is the LORD? He is in heaven. Though you and I are prone to grow deeply troubled at the turmoil we see in the world, “He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision” (Psalm 2:4, ESV). “Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales”, before him.  (Isaiah 40:15, ESV)

Be found in Christ, dear friends. And be confident in the LORD, for he will surely accomplish all that he has decreed. 

Posted in Sermons Joe Anady Psalm 2
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Baptist Catechism 68 & 69

Q. 68. Which is the fifth commandment?

A. The fifth commandment is, “Honor thy father and thy mother, that thy days may be long upon the land which the Lord thy God giveth thee.” (Exodus 20:12)

Q. 69. What is required in the fifth commandment?

A. The fifth commandment requireth the preserving the honor, and performing the duties, belonging to everyone in their several places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals. (Lev. 19:32; 1 Peter 2:17; Rom. 13:1; Eph. 5:21,22; Eph. 6:1,5,9; Col. 3:19-22; Rom. 12:10)

Scripture Reading: Colossians 3:18-4:1

“Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord. Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them. Children, obey your parents in everything, for this pleases the Lord. Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged. Bondservants, obey in everything those who are your earthly masters, not by way of eye-service, as people-pleasers, but with sincerity of heart, fearing the Lord. Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men, knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ. For the wrongdoer will be paid back for the wrong he has done, and there is no partiality. Masters, treat your bondservants justly and fairly, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.” (Colossians 3:18–4:1, ESV)

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Please excuse any typos and misspellings within this manuscript. It has been published online for the benefit of the saints of Emmaus Reformed Baptist Church but without the benefit of proofreading.

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Introduction

I have come to really love and appreciate the instruction that our catechism provides on the Ten Commandments. One thing that I appreciate is the breadth of the interpretation. Our catechism does not give us a narrow interpretation, but a broad one. In other words, these commandments are teased out. And it is right for the Ten Commandments to be teased out, for this is what the scriptures do, and this is what Christ himself did. The Ten Commandments are to be viewed as a summary of God’s moral law. And you know what a summary is. A summary provides a brief account of something but does not tell the whole story. The Ten Commandments contain God’s moral law, in summary. 

So, the fifth commandment, which is, “Honor thy father and thy mother”, does not merely require little children to respect their parents. No, it requires us to  preserve the honor, and perform the duties, belonging to everyone in their [various] places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals.” In other words, respect is to be shown to all people. And it is to be shown to all people taking into consideration their place in relation to you as either superiors, inferiors, or equals. So it is not only superiors — like parents — who are to be respected but equals and inferiors too, each in a way that is fitting. 

And where is this behavior first learned? In the home. It is in the family environment where children are to honor others. First, they are to honor their parents. Second, if they have siblings, they are to honor them as equals. And third, they are to take this responsibility with them out into the world to apply in every realm. “The fifth commandment requireth the preserving the honor, and performing the duties, belonging to everyone in their several places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals. “

Baptist Catechism 69

The fifth commandment is the first commandment of the second table of God’s law. The first table of the law (commandments 1-4) has to do with our relation to God. And the second table (commandments 5-10) has to do with our relationships with our fellow man. The fifth commandment, just like the first commandment, is foundational then. 

Where do we start if we wish to relate to our fellow man in the right way? We start with honor. And the very first people we must learn to honor are our parents.       

My time is very limited in the afternoon, and so I will not expand upon this much. But think of how devastating the breakdown of the family is to society. Think of how devastating it is for God’s moral law to be abandoned and suppressed within a society. If God’s law is not honored, and if children are not taught to honor God and man within the home, then do not be surprised when that society grows very harsh and even brutal. If we are to learn how to relate well to our fellow man, we must learn to show honor to everyone in their different places. And this is to be learned first all in the home as children are raised, ideally, by father and mother.

Notice that our catechism says that we must “preserve the honor” of others. Does this not imply that men and women possess a certain dignity by nature? Yes, and this is because they have been made in the image of God. And add to this the place that God has given them in the world. Each place — be it lowly or high — requires a certain kind of honor. This honor is to be preserved. Does this not also imply that we, because of our sinful condition, do tend towards dishonor. Throughout this history of the world, the weak have been exploited by the strong. This cannot be. And men do also slander other men. This also is a great evil. Not only are we to show honor to others who have been made in God’s image, we must also seek to preserve their honor. So this may involve standing up for the weak and oppressed and rebuking the slanderer to preserve the reputation of another.

Next, our catechism speaks of “performing the duties, belonging to everyone”. When I think of the instruction to preserve the honor… belonging to everyone”, I think of defence. We must defend the honor of others. But the words, “performing the duties, belonging to everyone”, communicates that we are to positively and proactively give to others the honor that is due to them. 

Children owe their parents honor in the form of respect and obedience. Children, honor your parents. You must. God commands it. And when you fail to honor your parents, you must learn to repent. That means that you must learn to confess your sin to God, for you sin against him when you dishonor your parents. You must ask him to forgive you in Christ Jesus. And you must also learn to ask your parents to forgive you, for you have done wrong to them. You have failed to give them what they deserve as your parent — respect and obedience. And lastly, you must ask the Lord to help you to not stubble again. Children owe their parents honor in the form of respect and obedience. 

Citizens owe respect to governing authorities; congregants owe respect to their ministers; wives owe respect to their husbands; employees owe respect to their employers. On and on I could go. But I do love this little phrase, “ in their several places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals.” It helps us to remember that honor is owed, not only to those who are over us, but also to those who stand beside us and are under us. 

Husbands, honor your wives, therefore. Am I now contradicting the scriptures with say, “Wives, submit to your husbands, as is fitting in the Lord.” No! I am only drawing your attention to what is said next in that same passage — “Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.” So do you see that there is a special kind of honor that a wife owes to her husband, and there is a special kind of honor that a husband owes to his wife?! Yes, the husband has authority in the home, but honor is to be shown to all. As Peter says, “Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.” (1 Peter 3:7, ESV)

Governors, honor your citizens.

Bosses, honor your employees. 

Parents, honor your children. “Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged” (Colossians 3:21, ESV). “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” (Ephesians 6:4, ESV)

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Conclusion

So do you see how our catechism teases out the fifth commandment, and rightly so? The fifth commandment requires children to honor their father and mother, but more than this it “requireth the preserving the honor, and performing the duties, belonging to everyone in their several places and relations, as superiors, inferiors, or equals.”

Dear brothers and sisters, have you kept this law perfectly? 

No, we have violated this law in thought, word, and deed.

Thanks be to God for our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who paid for all our sins and has clothed us in his righteousness if we have faith in him. 

Posted in Sermons Joe Anady
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