Christmas Day (Year C - Lutheran Service Book readings)
Monday, December 25, 2006
Please take your hymnals and find Psalm 2 in the front. Right after the preface pages you’ll find the Psalms arranged in order. We’re going to look at Psalm 2 this morning. It’s the appointed psalm for Christmas Day; it’s used by the New Testament writers to point to Jesus; and it continues the psalm theme we’ve had here at Redeemer this month.
Psalm 2 is a coronation psalm—a hymn written to celebrate the coronation of the king, the ceremony where the crown is placed on the king, making him the ruler of the kingdom. We don’t know which of the Old Testament kings this psalm was written about, but the psalm shows how much the king is celebrated. Yet, even more than celebrating the king, it celebrates the true king of Israel, the One who gives the king his power, God Himself.
I’m going to ask you to imagine the scene at the coronation, because I want you to see the drama in Psalm 2.
But I’ll give you a hint about what’s coming after we use our imaginations: we’ll see how this coronation is connected with the birth of Jesus, King of Kings, Lord of Lords. The heir to the throne is born this day, so it’s no mistake that Psalm 2, a coronation psalm, is our focus today. See if you can guess the connections to Christmas as we go along.
But first I want you to imagine that this is the throne room of a king. I want you to imagine with me that today is a huge day of celebration as the new king receives his crown. Looking at Psalm 2, we can see all of the different voices heard in the throne room that day.
(center aisle, halfway back into nave, facing the altar)
It begins with the people who have come to the court for the ceremony. They’re asking,
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. (English Standard Version, ESV)
The people are distressed over how the other nations, their enemies are rallying against God and the anointed, God’s chosen king for Israel. The people are asking,
Why are the nations up in arms, and men drawn into insane dreams?
The world’s rulers are in accord—against God and the Lord’s Anointed (Gordon Jackson, gj)
So the people are in the court of the king asking this question, distressed by what’s happening. They’re asking God, “What’s going on?” And they report what those enemy nations are saying.
(outside back doors of sanctuary)
Outside of the court, outside of the kingdom, that’s where the other nations are saying,
Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us. (ESV)
In other words, those nations plot to overthrow the king, to reject any rule that Israel might have. The nations are standing at the door, so to speak, watching as the new king receives his crown, and they think they will beat him.
Old God’s authority is at an end – long live the Revolution! (gj)
(front of nave)
But then from inside the court of the king comes laughter, laughter that fills the room and echoes all around, echoes that are heard by those enemy nations.
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. (ESV)
Perhaps these words are a report from a priest who answers the distress of the people. The people are concerned about what the other nations are plotting, but the priest reports that God Himself is not concerned. God finds it humorous that the nations think they will win the day.
Lord in heaven is laughing; to him their threats are a joke.
But one day his top will blow; and his fury flow like lava. (gj)
(from behind the altar)
Then we hear the very words of God. In the throne room of Israel, these words would have been spoken by the High Priest or a prophet, speaking for God.
As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill. (ESV)
The nations can plot all they want, but God has crowned his new king, God has put his king on the throne, God has given his king power and authority, God has established the kingdom, God will follow His will and the enemy nations will not disrupt God’s plan.
Here on my holy mountain, behold the man, the Anointed
(from the pulpit)
In response to this, we finally hear the new king speak. He says,
I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, (ESV)
The new king’s response to the enemy nations and their evil plots, the new king’s response to the worried questions of the people is to read the decree of God, the decree, the document that makes him king. And so the next words are again the words of God Himself.
(from behind the altar)
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. (ESV)
This decree from God has placed the new king on the throne, and God has given a strong promise—a promise to be the king’s father, a promise to give the king victory over the other nations, a promise to give the king strength and power.
You are my Son; this day I have begotten you.
The nations are yours for the asking, the ends of the earth your estate;
With a sceptre of iron judge them; smash them to smithereens. (gj)
(from the pulpit)
The new king reads this decree to give confidence to the people—no more do they need to worry about the enemy nations. The new king reads this decree to warn the other nations—they need to know what they’re coming up against. The new king reads this decree to remind everyone that he is king at the invitation, instruction, intervention, institution of God—he is God’s representative on earth.
(center aisle, halfway back into nave, facing the back)
The new king’s reading of the decree is just what the people need to hear. Here they had begun standing in the court with their hands wringing, worrying about the other nations, and now that the king has reminded them that God Himself is in charge, now the people turn as if to talk directly to the enemy nations.
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. (ESV)
The people warn the other nations—while perhaps inviting them to realize the truth—that the only way to be safe is to worship the true God. The only way to avoid destruction to “kiss the son,” pay homage, give respect to the new king, the one who is like a son to God the Father.
Learn wisdom smartly, O Captains and Rulers, remember your place
Bow to the Lord in fear, and rejoice in him with trembling;
Kiss the Son, stay his displeasure; and beware his infolded fire;
Once it erupts it will engulf
all but the blessed he shelters. (gj)
The people are now ready to truly begin the celebration of the coronation of the new king, because now they see that all is God’s hands. Now they see that God will win the day. Now they see that salvation, power, honor, and glory belong to the Lord. God has given them a new king, but God is the true King who will save His people.
(front of the nave)
Do you remember that I said we’d connect this to Christmas? Do you remember that I said this coronation psalm has everything to do with Jesus because He is the heir to the throne born this day?
Take the picture that you just had in your head of the throne room and the people and the enemy nations and the priests and God and the new king, and now let’s imagine this scene is in the throne room of God. Watch as the scene unfolds and leads us straight to Bethlehem and a baby born in a manger.
(center aisle, halfway back into nave, facing the altar)
God’s people since Adam and Eve have been aware of their sin. We come before God knowing that His enemies surround us, that even if we come to His court, still we’re surrounded by enemies. We ask,
Why are the nations up in arms, and men drawn into insane dreams?
Why are they against your ways, God?
The world’s rulers are in accord—against God and the Lord’s Anointed
The people are against you, and they’re dragging us down with them.
(outside back doors of sanctuary)
The people who are against God are all around us—and sometimes we even that we’re part of them—as we rebel against God. We stand with sinful pride and say,
Old God’s authority is at an end – long live the Revolution!
(front of nave)
But then from the Church, from God’s Word, from God’s messengers comes the reminder that God isn’t concerned about His enemies. He’s not concerned about the evil ones who surround us; He’s not even worried when we claim we’ll rebel against Him. God’s Word tells us,
The Lord in heaven is laughing; to him their threats are a joke.
But one day his top will blow; and his fury flow like lava.
(from behind the altar)
Then we hear the very words of God.
As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill.
God has a plan to break the evil of the world; God has a plan to save us from the enemy; God has sent One who will be King.
Here on my holy mountain, behold the man, the Anointed
The Anointed—an English word for the Greek word, Christ—which is a translation of the Hebrew word, Messiah. God is crowning His king, Jesus Christ, who will come to break the cruel oppressor’s rod and save His people from their sins. This Messiah, Christ, Anointed One, the newly crowned King, was born this day in the town of Bethlehem.
(from the pulpit)
The heir to the throne is born this day, and when He grows up, He will rightfully claim His throne. But He doesn’t make this claim on His own authority; the authority comes from God the Father. So Jesus Christ-Messiah-Anointed One says,
I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me,
(from behind the altar)
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.
God is the Father of Jesus from all eternity. God gives Jesus victory over all enemies—sin, death, and the devil. God gives the Son strength and power. All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to this new king, this heir to the throne born this day.
(from the pulpit)
The new king has announced this decree to give us confidence—no more do we need to worry about the enemies—sin, death, and the devil. The new king reads this decree to warn those who don’t believe—they need to know what they’re coming up against. The new king reads this decree to remind everyone that He is king at the invitation, instruction, intervention, institution of God—He is God’s representative on earth.
(center aisle, halfway back into nave, facing the back)
The new king’s reading of the decree is just what we need to hear. We began standing in the court with our hands wringing, worrying about the other people, the enemies of the Lord, and now that the king has reminded us that God Himself is in charge, now we have the confidence to turn as if to talk directly to all of the Lord’s enemies.
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.
(front of the nave)
Today we celebrate Christmas, and perhaps it serves as a warning to those who don’t believe in Christ—while also inviting them to realize the truth—that the only way to be safe is to worship the true God. The only way to avoid destruction is to “kiss the son,” pay homage, give respect to the new king, the Son of God the Father, the One born today. More than just warning the non-believers around us, our announcement today to all people is that you will be blessed if you take refuge in Jesus. You will have the promise of forgiveness and eternal life if you believe in Jesus.
We are now ready to truly begin the celebration of the coronation of the new king, because now we see that all is in God’s hands. Now we see that God will win the day. Now we see that salvation, power, honor, and glory belong to the Lord. God has given us a new king, Jesus, the true King who will save His people.
English Standard Version, © 2000; 2001 by Crossway Bibles. All Rights Reserved.
Gordon Jackson, The Lincoln Psalter, London: Carcanet, 1997.