THEME FOR 4TH QUARTER 2019
PROPHECIES OF JESUS IN THE PSALMS
For this quarter I am once again delving into the archives and finding another scriptural treasure chest—a study of the prophecies of Jesus found in the Psalms. As you may remember, my father was ever a lover of Bible prophecy. I, too, am thrilled and inspired by the PROOF that prophecy offers our faith when we see the marvelous fulfillments.
My father (Bro. Leslie Busbee) wrote: “Jesus said in Luke 24:44 to His disciples before He was taken up from them into the heavens: ‘All things must be fulfilled, which were written in the law of Moses, and in the prophets, and in the psalms, concerning me.’ The glorious majesty of His everlasting kingdom, His work of redemption, atonement for sin, and His sufferings, death, and resurrection are found in clear prophecy in the Psalms. It will help us to see Christ more as He really is, and when we are able to grasp the vision of Christ more brightly, it will inspire us to love Him more than ever and be steadfast for His cause.”
—Sis. Angela Gellenbeck
OCTOBER 6, 2019
EMBRACE THE SON
Psalm 2:1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7 I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
MEMORY VERSE: Kiss the Son, lest he be angry; and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. —Psalm 2:12
CENTRAL THOUGHT: Regardless of how God’s holy Son, Jesus Christ, was resisted and rejected by the folly of vain man, He still raised Him from the dead and set Him as King in the heavenly places. We need to fear and give heed to His counsel, embrace His doctrine, and worship Him purely lest we provoke Him to anger and perish at His hand.
WORD DEFINITIONS
Psalm 2:1 “A vain thing”: emptiness (Hebrew).
Psalm 2:2 “His anointed”: Jesus Christ. The word “Christ” means anointed. God anointed Jesus with the Holy Ghost and with power (Acts 10:38).
Psalm 2:3 “Bands”: chastisements, reproofs, and restraints (Hebrew). What are the bands and cords of Christ? They are the limits and standards of behavior that are in accord with holiness and what pleases God. The carnal mind resists the precepts of Christ, being ignorant of their importance and value, unaware that they are really for our safety and happiness.
Psalm 2:4 “Have them in derision”: mock, scorn, or hold in contempt (Hebrew).
Psalm 2:5 “Vex”: to cause to tremble inwardly, be alarmed or agitated.
Psalm 2:8 “Heathen”: the nations.
Psalm 2:12 “Kiss the Son”: a token of subjection and friendship. Another expression is “worship purely.” The Septuagint (Greek) translation says, “Embrace [His] discipline.” “When his wrath is kindled but a little”: stiffness and rebellion against Christ (in the face of all that He suffered in paying the price for our redemption) which will arouse His sore displeasure.
LESSON BACKGROUND
We are sure the Holy Spirit inspired David to write this Psalm as a prophecy of the triumph of our Lord Jesus Christ over all of His foes, being crucified and then victoriously raised from the dead. This is the way that the New Testament writers applied this Psalm. In prayer the disciples quoted from this 2nd Psalm: “…Lord,… God…who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ” (Acts 4:24-26).
The apostle Paul, in his message to those in the synagogue at Antioch in Pisidia, quoted from this Psalm. After declaring that God had raised Jesus from the dead, Paul said. “And we declare unto you glad tidings, how that the promise which was made unto the fathers, God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee” (Acts 13:32-33). Notice that he applied the truth of Jesus being raised from the dead to what was said in this Psalm when the Lord Jehovah said to Christ, “Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.” Jesus was begotten of God from the womb of Mary. But when God raised His Son from the dead He bestowed a Sonship upon Him that He did not have before. It was an eternal Sonship unto everlasting life, a Sonship that He can share with us. Notice what Paul said in Romans 1:3 -4: “Concerning his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, which was made of the seed of David according to the flesh; And declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.”
The glorified Christ Himself in Revelations 2:26-27 said, “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.” These New Testament scriptures very vividly show the great importance of the second Psalm as a prophecy of Jesus Christ, our Lord and King.
—Bro. Leslie Busbee
DISCUSSION:
- What are the bands and cords of Christ, and why do people seek to break them asunder?
- What is God’s reaction to man’s rebellious attitude?
- How did God set Jesus upon His holy hill of Zion?
- What kind of Sonship did God give Jesus in raising Him from the dead?
- What does it mean to “kiss the Son,” and why should we do it readily?
COMMENTS AND APPLICATION
Jesus Christ met great opposition from the world when He came to teach the way of God and purchase our salvation. The people in that society were not willing to submit themselves to Him. They stood up against Him and finally condemned Him to die as a thief, but all of their raging had no bearing on God’s decree. He raised up Jesus from the dead and set Him at His own right hand in the heavenly places. Because of their rejection of His Son, the wrath of God has been poured out upon the world, and in the last great day it will all be ultimately destroyed. Those who seek to break His bands and cords will pay the supreme price of eternal damnation.
In raising up Christ from the dead, God gave Him eternal Sonship and power to be Lord of all. He gave Him the whole world as His possession—those who would believe and obey Him to be His holy Bride forever, and those who reject Him for Him to destroy. He has the power to break in pieces a rebellious world. The Jewish nation suffered destruction because of their rejection of Jesus.
Today the challenge and decree is to us: submit to God in reverence and love and embrace His Son and His discipline completely. May we not hesitate or linger in indecision.
Hear the gospel. Believe it. Obey it and cling to Christ forever. He is our only hope. If we refuse to give ourselves wholly to Him in the face of what He paid as a ransom price for our sinful condition, we will incur the fierce wrath of an insulted and grieved Monarch. We will perish forever, regardless of our flimsy excuses and vain reasonings. How wise are all who seek refuge in Him, and how happy they are who experience His love and tender care! Oh, hasten and embrace the Son! Give up your sinful ways and take up your cross and follow Him!
—Bro. Leslie Busbee
REFLECTIONS
Acts 17:31 states, “Because He hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man who he hath ordained, whereof he hath given assurance unto all men.” We have a personal Savior who not only calls us His friend, but sends comfort and grace through the Holy Spirit. However, there will come a day when He will stand as our Judge. We cannot save ourselves; therefore, we must ask redemption of the Savior who paid for our sins by His sacrifice.
Jesus was “tempted in all points, like as we are, yet without sin”. He passed all of the tests victoriously so that we can too. Jesus is the final authority, and we will be weighed in the balance. Have we availed ourselves of the blood of Jesus? Have we utilized his grace in each situation? Will we be found wanting? Time spent here on earth is our only chance to prepare for that eternal life. Embrace the Son while there is opportunity!
—Sis. LaDawna Adams
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