Kiss the Son

24 So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, 25 who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: 'Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? 26 The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.' 27 "For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. 29 Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, 30 by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus." 31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.

We left off in our last study at the private meeting of the apostles. After their release they came back and reported all that occurred to the other apostles. It must have had to been a rush of enthusiasm to have been released and able to return to fellowship with the Spirit in the church. Joy was on their faces as they shared the testimony of the lame man being healed and rejoicing with each other for the glory of God being openly proclaimed in the temple.

So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, . . .

Upon hearing of the news about Peter and John suffering for the name of Christ, and a lame beggar being healed, the counsel increased the volume of their praise before God, as they all spoke together praising God for His sovereignty over the heavens and the earth. The Greek word for Lord in this context is δέσποτα [despotes]. It means sovereign or master. Therefore they were praising God for the healing and proclamation of His word in the temple, and as the term is defined greater in the extension of their praise of His sovereignty being over all that is made; for they proclaimed that God is the maker of the heavens and the earth and all that dwells within it.

. . . who by the mouth of Your servant David have said: 'Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? The kings of the earth took their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord and against His Christ.'

Luke records that the council that day was referencing their praises from Psalm 2. If we go back and reread the context we will see why they are rejoicing in the Lord more clearly.

Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, "Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us." He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: "Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion." "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. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.' " Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges 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, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

The Old Covenant context is originally referring to the final rebellion at the end of the Day of the Lord (Rev.20). However, the counsel that day was only “applying” it to their current experience of persecution; not “interpreting” it. It is true that this applies to the crucifixion but only in part. Christ crucified is how God holds the nations in derision and are kept under His control for the current dispensation (1Cor.1:27), but the climax of these last days will end on the final Day of the Lord that extends to a one thousand year earthly reign of Jesus Christ with His glorified saints (Rev.20).

Just as the early church suffered the persecution of Israel who did not want this man to rule over them (Lk.19:14), our current nation refuse to be governed by Christ’s precepts. While that has always been true in every nation by various degrees, resistance to God’s law and the personal work of Jesus Christ will increase the closer we come to His second return (Matt.24:6-13), like the contractions of a mother preparing for the birth of her child.

Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: "Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion."

It is important to catch that God has spoken to us in His Son (Heb.1:2). This means that God has spoken to us through His Son by becoming a man like one of us; for He is the Word made flesh (Jn.1:14). But now in these last days God speaks in His Son through the Scriptures, which teach that Christ will speak again to those rebellious nations in His wrath. I need to make a disclaimer that I do not intend to mean that God is still giving revelation, but rather that God in His divine providence is fulfilling and will fulfill His Word. In verse 5, of Psalm 2, the first phrase of this prophecy is in the future tense (He shall speak), but the latter is in the past tense (I have set). Therefore, God speaks to us now through Christ’s life, death, and resurrection in a tone of love and mercy at the cross on His holy hill of Zion, as it was written; but He will speak again from the holy hill of Zion in His displeasure and wrath at the appointed providence. However the church is not appointed to this wrath, but appointed to hear of God’s love and mercy at the cross of Jesus Christ (1 Thess.5:9).

"I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, 'You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.

On the one hand of God, Christ was condemned and forsaken being declared sin by the Father; but on the other hand of God, Christ’s perfect life and obedient sacrifice was received by the Father; as payment for sin, and a satisfaction for His just anger and wrath against sinners. This verse speaks volumes about the believer’s adoption in the Lord Jesus Christ. In that The Lord has said to Christ, “You are My Son”, who never ceased being the Son of God throughout His life in the flesh has come from the eternal presence of God and confirmed to man salvation in His name. Christ committed His Spirit to the Father at His death, being welcomed into the fullness of His glory, vindicating the righteousness of God, and His resurrection proved He was God’s only true Son. Adam and all those in Adam are children of wrath, but God’s Son was God of very God in the flesh of human weakness. In other words, Christ’s Spirit was not created. However, the seed of the woman, or “egg” if you will, was begotten by the Father and conceived by the Holy Spirit for the incarnation of the Son of God (Gen.3:15). Christ’s mission was to inherit all the nations through the Gospel.

Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'

The gospel of Jesus Christ has not fulfilled this prophesy but only made it possible. Christ had to come and make peace for us in order to come again to establish His rule in the earth as King. In other words, He had to come and earn His crown before He could wear His crown. In the fulfillment of keeping His Father’s demands He is promised the nations as an inheritance and a possession. But His attempt of making peace through His life, death, and resurrection is not enough to make these nations come alive. Because without the sovereign will of the Holy Spirit we remain dead in our sins and God’s wrath abides on us (Eph.2:5;Jn.3:36). Therefore, He is coming in wrath to put an end of all rebellion. The nature of Christ’s second return is not peace but destruction for the purpose of preserving life (Matt.24:22) and a way for the gospel to go to every tribe and nation (Matt.24:14). He will rule with a rod of iron to protect from any opposition and every enemy of the gospel will be destroyed. This will bring in a true peace in relation to the nations, but it will still lack an inner peace of heart due to the nature of man. Because of the restraints upon the world, the land will be restored, made prosperous, and long life will be common. However the heart of man will still hate the law of God and curse Him in their thoughts and heart.

Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges 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, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

Here we are given an exhortation to repent before He comes in His anger. The believer does not need to fear, but those whom have not yet surrendered to His terms of peace do need to fear; for they will perish at His coming. Therefore we are to kiss the Son and all His anointed; for if you are in the Son then you are coming with Him to conquer the enemies of the gospel who want to cast off His restraints. All those in authority are to listen to what God has spoken in His Son. Those who do listen, God will make them “gods” or judges in His kingdom; but this should cause them to fear and rejoice with trembling at the weight of their privilege. All those who trust in Him will be blessed with His instructions and strength.