MAN’S HATRED OF GOD

Psalm 2

  1. Intro.
    1. in the first three verses is revealed the hatred which depraved man has for the God who created him
      1. this hatred may seem shocking to us, but it really should not surprise us
      2. Jesus said in John 15:18; "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated Me before it hated you"
      3. in verse 25 of the same chapter we read; "They hated Me without a cause
      4. man hates God, and in his sinful depraved and wicked heart wants nothing to do with God
    2. it is amazing how many churches and Pastors are trying to attract people, as if man were seeking God (Romans 3:10-11)
  2. man's rage and rebellion against God - Ps.2:1-3
    1. this rebellion was first found in Satan himself, not in the heart of man (Isaiah 14:12-14)
      1. Satan lost no time in corrupting God's Crown of Creation-MAN
      2. Adam and Eve in rebellion against their Creator, ate the forbidden fruit
      3. their sin spread to their children and to all men everywhere - Romans 5:12
    2. throughout history, we can see how the rebellion of mans heart has raged against God
      1. when king Herod heard of the birth of a new king, he ordered the complete extermination of all boys two years and under
      2. the religious leaders of Jesus' day tried to stone; one night they came with swords and torches to arrest Him, they mocked and scourged Him, and then they crucified Him
      3. all because they would not "have this man to rule over us"
    3. Christ is not wanted nor is He welcomed by sinful fallen humanity as King
      1. they have set themselves against Him, they have taken counsel to rid themselves of Him – Ps. 2:2-3
      2. we have seen in our own nation over the last 50 years a organized effort to rid our nation of His influence
      3. we want to do our own thing, we want to live the way we choose, we do not want Him to rule over us
      4. it is true that man is religious, and he does want to believe in something, but he does not want to believe in the God of the Bible or submit himself to His rule
      5. we have taken away the Ten Commandments, prayer, and all things of Godly influence from our schools
      6. we certainly do not want to infringe upon the free expressions of our young people by holding them to such standards as not stealing, not killing, and honoring their parents
    4. the results
      1. we have schools that are battlegrounds
      2. we have streets that are filled with crime and every vile thing imaginable (and some that are not)
      3. we have become a nation controlled by greed, materialism, and selfishness
      4. our pulpits have been sterilized, therefore, positive thinking and practical "how to" messages are preached
        1. we have "spirituality" but no salvation
        2. we have happiness and fun, but no holiness and fire
        3. we have religious ritual, but no righteous relationship with God through Jesus Christ
    5. man in his rebellious rage against God has done and said all manner of vile things
    6. the Psalmist ask, "why do the heathen rage" – Ps. 2:1
      1. God has always shown love for man
      2. Jesus came to reveal God's love for sinners
      3. He came to take our sins upon Himself as the Lamb of God
      4. the men of Jesus' day loved their sins, as do the men of our day – John 3:19
      5. man does not like to recognize or acknowledge that they are sinners and that they have offended a holy God
    7. all of man’s rage and rebellion is vain, empty, futile, and worthless
      1. it accomplishes absolutely nothing
      2. mans rebellion will never remove God from His thrown or cause Him to change His attitude about sin
      3. the atheist who says that he does not believe that God exists has no effect upon God, for God is
  3. God's response to mans rage and rebellion - Ps. 2:4-9
    1. He laughs – 4
      1. it is not a giggle, nor a chuckle; it is not a nervous laugh, nor a laugh of amusement: it is a laugh of complete mockery and scorn
      2. it is the laugh that the crew of a battleships would give if they were attacked by someone in a rowboat with a sling-shot
      3. Man’s rebellious attempts to bring God down are contemptible and of no effect to God
    2. look at how God has dealt with the feeble attempts of those who would try to rebel against Him
      1. when Satan rebelled, God threw him out
      2. when Pharaoh pursued the people of God, the Lord drowned the whole army
      3. when Herod tried to kill the baby Jesus, God had already arranged for His escape, and thanks to the gifts of the wisemen, the financing was taken care of as well
      4. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego
    3. notice that He not only laughs, but He lifts Jesus before them – Ps. 2:6
      1. let the heathen rage all they what; let the nations rebel, let men disbelieve, laugh, mock and scorn Him
      2. the Lord Jesus is not waiting to rule, He is not requesting to be acknowledged, He is not pleading for someone to follow Him, He is not waiting for the world to approve of Him, or to even vote Him in
      3. HE IS LORD NOW
      4. one day every knee will bow, and every tongue will confess the fact that they now despise
      5. the pulpits in our nation need to thunder this truth
    4. Jesus Christ alone is the answer for our sin-sick world
      1. we will not find our answers in the political arena, or on Wall Street
      2. it will never matter who is in the White House, but only Who it is that runs the Church
    5. rebellion is at the root of all sin
      1. the Jews before Pilate said: "We will not have this man to rule over us"
      2. all sin has at its root this same attitude
  4. Conclusion
    1. your rebellion against the Lord will never change the fact that Jesus is Lord, and He always will be
    2. He will one day come back to this earth and you will either praise Him as your King and Savior, or you will cower before Him as your judge
    3. David said in vs. 9, "Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel"
    4. these words are hard to hear, and they can cause great distress in your hearts, but let me give you the good news in this psalm – Ps. 2:10-12
      1. it is a great wonder that God would offer such a thing in the remainder of this psalm
      2. He loves and invites the rebellious to come and worship before Him - 10-12
      3. how can we understand this love which God so richly and freely extends to those who hate Him
        1. our God is rich in mercy
        2. His grace is extended to all who will come to Him
        3. what a wonderful merciful God we serve, Even in our rebellion He invites us to come to Him
        4. angry sinner, you do not worry God, you do not frustrate His purpose or His grace
        5. His love and mercy are holding the way open to forgiveness and new life as a member of His royal family
    5. the message to you is COME TO THE SON OF GOD – Ps. 2:12