SEPTEMBER 12, 2023
Psalm 2:7-9
I will declare the decree: the Lord has said to Me, “You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
In Jewish commentary, the one being spoken of here — the king who is set upon Mount Zion — is David. When he was crowned king of Israel, one of the first things he did was go to Jerusalem (which was called Jebus), subdue its inhabitants and begin to rule from Mount Zion. Thus, it is understood, at least in some Jewish circles, that the LORD speaks to David saying, “You are My son … I will give you the nations for your inheritance.” Without a doubt, David figured prominently in God's purpose and plan for Israel, nevertheless, we understand that David was a picture (or pattern if you will) that pointed to someone greater — the Son of David, the King Messiah.
It is on His behalf that this decree is issued, and it is to Him that the nations are given as an inheritance. As it is written, “The earth is the LORD's and the fulness thereof,” and consequently, He bequeaths the nations to His Son, the only begotten of the Father. He is the One who, according to the psalmist, “shall break (rule) them with a rod of iron … and dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.” When the nations are compelled to come up to Jerusalem to worship the King at the Feast of Tabernacles (Zechariah 14:16), they will not stand before the shepherd who killed Goliath; they will bow before the Good Shepherd, the One who crushed the Serpent and destroyed the works of the Devil.
All of us who follow the LORD look with great anticipation toward that day as we do consider what His reign means for us. Of course, it means that we will no longer be subject to the inclination of the flesh; we will be changed when we shall see Him as He is. Also in that day, we too will be recognized as sons and daughters of the Most High, and as such, will be given dominion over the nations. Quoting Psalm 2, Messiah promised that those who overcome and remain faithful to the end, will be given “power over the nations… to” rule them with a rod of iron” (Revelation 2:26-27).
Because of Him, we are reborn as the children of God; because He overcame the world, we can as well. Furthermore, just as He received authority to rule the nations from the Father, He will give us authority to do likewise. But here is the key: we must overcome and be faithful even as He was faithful — even unto death. We must do as Messiah admonished us to do, we must continue to watch and pray in this evil day that we might be permitted to stand before the Son of Man, the King Messiah (Luke 21:36).
