Knowing the Presence of God in the Psalmsनमुना

A Story in The Story

"I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.” I will proclaim the decree of the Lord: He said to me, “You are my Son; today I have become your Father. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.

Psalm 2: 6 - 9 (NIV84)

Psalm 2 is a poetic masterpiece. It is a powerful story in the bigger and more powerful story of God. It is the story of a man who became King of Israel, and within his story is The Story of the Coming King. The new King of Israel had recently come to power when this Psalm was written. In verses six through nine, he wrote what he believed the Lord had said to him as he began to reign over Israel. He is pledging to bring freedom and safety to all those who would threaten the nation of Israel. The Coming King, the Messiah, would do the same on a much grander scale.

This Psalm is more frequently referenced and, at other times, directly quoted in the New Testament than any other. It is referred to as a Royal and a Messianic psalm because it references the coming Messiah. While the Psalm does not explicitly reveal the author by name, many theologians believe its content identifies David as the author and the new King of Israel.

This psalm is a magnificent example of how the Spirit of God led the writer to describe what was significant to him in his era. Yet, it simultaneously foretells moments that would not happen for hundreds of years.

It is a glimpse into the “big picture” of God’s story of sovereignty. Thinly veiled in the story of the kingdom of David and Israel is the story of the Kingdom of God and his story of sovereignty. Thus, it is a story in The Story. Both are powerful stories, and both guide us in living our lives.

So, what is the value of Psalm 2 to you? How does the story of the King of Israel and the thinly veiled prophetic statements of the Coming Messiah apply to your life? I'm glad you asked! Interestingly, the Spirit of God does the same with you and me as with David. He enters our story so we can share with others the bigger story that is within us. While the story of God is being written in our hearts for us, it is also being written for the benefit of others.

David, the young shepherd of sheep and the least likely of his brothers to be selected to become King of Israel, who had little to no formal training for government work or leading soldiers into battle, became the King of Israel. Now, that is an amazing story. David quickly learned that he would need to learn how to hear God’s voice in order to accomplish the will of God for his life. In fact, for David to accomplish the story of God, he would need to hear the voice of the Lord to be empowered to do so.

Verses six through nine are the words David perceived the Lord to say to him regarding the trajectory of his life. He needed an encounter with God that would etch his soul and empower him with confidence to do what God had called him to do.

What are God's purposes for your life? Where does God want to enter your story and speak a life-changing message to you and others to be blessed by? How is God creating His story within your story?

As you consider these questions, let me remind you of two truths from David's life.

1. God was at work in David’s story far sooner than David knew. While he was shepherding sheep as a young boy, God was in the details and circumstances of his early years to bring him forward in his faith. Eventually, God's grand plan would unfold, but not until many faith-building moments had occurred.

2. God’s plans for David’s life were God-sized and would require great faith. As David grew in his faith, the story of God in him grew bigger. The Bible contains many stories where God speaks, and His people are empowered to accomplish what they could not without Him. Hebrews 11 contains an entire list of people who, like David, lived into the big story of God as they grew in faith.

I believe Psalm 2 was written to encourage you to live a life that contains two stories—yours and God’s in yours. Henry Blackaby, a popular Canadian author and pastor, wrote, “Will God ever ask you to do something you are not able to do? The answer is yes--all the time! It must be that way for God's glory and kingdom. If we function according to our ability alone, we get the glory; if we function according to the power of the Spirit within us, God gets the glory.”

I pray Psalm 2 encourages you to know God is at work in your life, whether you realize it or not. I pray you begin each day asking the Lord to further His Story through your life. Pause for a moment and pray something like this: “Father, today I surrender my life to you. May your kingdom come, and your will be done in my life as surely as it is done in heaven each day”. Friend, live today knowing God has been writing and is still writing His story in yours. When you get the opportunity, share with others what great things He has done in you, for you, and around you.