I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Psalm 2:7 & 8
This brief passage, included in our Old Testament reading during last week’s service, might be confusing at first glance. Regardless of who the author of the psalm is the speaker of this phrase within the psalm is almost certainly King David, the little shepherd boy who killed Goliath and grew up to be the king of Israel. The references to him as a “son of God” or “man after God’s own heart” should not go unnoticed. Many of these phrases serve to link Jesus to King David not only as his descendant (Jesus was a biological descendant of King David) but as his rightful heir. David had ruled for a season, but his descendant and heir would reign forever. David had ruled the Jews, but his descendant would receive all the heathen and the uttermost parts of the earth to be under his authority, to quote the psalm.
Psalm 2:7 & 8
This brief passage, included in our Old Testament reading during last week’s service, might be confusing at first glance. Regardless of who the author of the psalm is the speaker of this phrase within the psalm is almost certainly King David, the little shepherd boy who killed Goliath and grew up to be the king of Israel. The references to him as a “son of God” or “man after God’s own heart” should not go unnoticed. Many of these phrases serve to link Jesus to King David not only as his descendant (Jesus was a biological descendant of King David) but as his rightful heir. David had ruled for a season, but his descendant and heir would reign forever. David had ruled the Jews, but his descendant would receive all the heathen and the uttermost parts of the earth to be under his authority, to quote the psalm.
In the midst of all of this one stark difference remains. Jesus Christ is the Son, and a son greater than David. He was, the Bible asserts, truly the Son of God, and, indeed, very God himself. What we do with this assertion of the Bible makes all the difference. Is he the Messiah of the line of David whose coming was foretold? Is he the one whose coming the prophets foretold for hundreds of years? Is he truly the Son of God? Was he as he claimed to be, truly one with the Father?
Or was he just a man like his ancestor David?
A good man but a man none the less?
Each must decide this for him or herself.
Each must decide this for him or herself.
Yes, each must decide, and there couldn’t be more on the line.
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