Messiah: Declared to Be the Son of God

“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.’ “ (Psalm 2:7-8. NKJV) “And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, ‘This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.’ “ (Matthew 3:17. NKJV). [Read Psalm 2; Mark 1:11; Revelation 2:26—27).

Continuing with Old Testament prophecies concerning the Messiah, and New Testament fulfillment, we look today at the magnificent concept of the Messiah foretold to be the Son of God. Its achievement was in Jesus, God’s beloved Son. Psalm 2 was used as a coronation hymn for the inauguration of Israel’s kings. It appears to be based on Nathan’s prophecy in 2 Samuel 7:8-16 concerning David and his kingdom which promises to “establish the throne of his kingdom forever. ‘I will be his Father, and he shall be My Son.’ “ (v. 13-14). When Paul preached his fiery evangelistic sermon in Antioch of Pisidia, he quoted Psalm 2:7 in Acts 13:33: “God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son; Today I have begotten You.’ “

The only possible way we can understand how the psalmist living and writing hundreds of years before Jesus’ birth could forthsee that He would come, and be the very Son of God, is through God’s revelation. Through the eyes of faith, the psalmist was able to write of what would occur to keep God’s kingdom going, even to the ends of the world.
This Messianic psalm shows that God had a greater intention than just promulgating the Kingdom of Israel. From David’s line would come the one who would save His people from their sin. God has power and authority to work out His will in the world and to rule over it. No human monarchy can overrule God. God allows human leaders of nations to function, but above and behind it all, God is working His purpose out. God’s message makes a difference everywhere it is proclaimed, even in the market places of life and in the halls of government. “Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.” (Psalm 2:8). This promise of the Messianic reign is still being worked out. What did Jesus say of it, and of the coming kingdom and the end of the age? “And the gospel must first be preached to all nations.” (Mark 13:10). This time may be closer than we think. The gospel goes out daily to unreached millions. Missionaries are faithful to spread the word. Television, satellite transmission, the printed word, the spoken word, e-mails and facebook, to name a few, all declare that Jesus is the Son of God and that He is establishing His kingdom, repentant heart by trusting heart. The Messiah was predicted to be the Son of God. He came the Son of God, born of a virgin, lowly, and many esteemed Him not. But accepted or not, believed or not, that does not change the eternal status of the Son of God, the Savior of the world! Selah!

c Ethelene Dyer Jones; Friday, December 3, 2010