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Parent Category: Bible Resources

Category: Help from the Psalms

Thoughts on Psalm 2

This is one of the great questions: Why do peoples and nations and their rulers always try to throw off the rule and oversight of the LORD? Study any nation, any period of history, study religious beliefs, ethics, laws, social and economic systems, racial and ethnic policies, foreign policies - is there not overwhelming evidence that the LORD'S rule is rejected?

Why? The simple answer is so that people can be their own boss, so that they can exercise power without being answerable.

And the LORD'S response? Laughter, scoffing, derision, and then anger. But in the Psalm the simple response from the LORD is that he has set his King on his holy hill. A human king to rule the nations of the world on behalf of the LORD.

Is it just a romantic poem? A piece of wishful thinking? Is it what David or Solomon hoped would be the case in the troubles of their day?

Maybe it is what they hoped for. But later when the great King did establish his reign on the holy hill of Jerusalem, one of his messengers, Paul, could say that God had set a day on which he will judge the world with justice by a man whom he had appointed; and had given assurance to all by raising that man from the dead. (Act 17.31)

In fact the King was also the Son of the LORD - the resurrection of Jesus being the great declaration of that fact.

So if the King who is the Son has been given all authority to rule, what ought the people's of the earth do? The wise thing would be to serve the King, submit to him. The happy life is found in taking refuge in this King.

There are many troubles for those who follow the King in a world which has decided to throw off his rule. But he is a refuge to be trusted.

And what about the nations and peoples and their rulers? The servants of the King have a task to urge people to change allegiance so that they serve the Lord Jesus Christ. This will usually produce conflict and turmoil, but this is how the King becomes the refuge and ruler for the people of his world.

This task and turmoil has been going on from the beginning, and continues in the present. With your help too?

"But the Jews became jealous, and with the help of some ruffians in the marketplaces they formed a mob and set the city in an uproar. While they were searching for Paul and Silas to bring them out to the assembly, they attacked Jason's house. 6 When they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some believers before the city authorities, shouting, "These people who have been turning the world upside down have come here also, 7 and Jason has entertained them as guests. They are all acting contrary to the decrees of the emperor, saying that there is another king named Jesus." 8 The people and the city officials were disturbed when they heard this, 9 and after they had taken bail from Jason and the others, they let them go." Acts 17:5 -9(NRSV)

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Parent Category: Bible Resources

Category: Helps to Reading the Bible

M'Cheyne's Bible Reading Plan

A calendar for reading through teh BIble in a year. Or you can take two or four years if you would like to. This plan begins at the four great beginnings Genesis, Ezra, Matthew and Acts.  Click here for the plan

YouVersion

YouVersion is a free online and mobile Bible application with over 5 million users. It allows people to read the Bible (a variety of versions) online by a variety of methods, keep their own journal and interact with other users - and more. Click here for the link

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Parent Category: Bible Resources

Category: Reading Guides to Bible Books

In the Beginning:   Studies in Genesis

These studies are meant to help us read and understand better the book of Genesis.

It is difficult to hear Genesis speak to us in its own right because there are many other voices shouting at us or at Genesis, demanding to be heard, demanding to answer questions that are not the concern of Genesis, and wanting to set their own agendas for our reading of the book.

Some of these voices are our own of course. Genesis has been caught up in debates about the origins of the universe and we want to have a clear idea what views we should have in the debate. However the debates about science and origins can hijack our reading of Genesis so that the book only becomes a source of ammunition in the debate.

Read more: In the Beginning: Studies in Genesis 2011

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Parent Category: Bible Resources

Category: Studies for Groups and Individuals

Who is the King?

A Short History of God and his People

Sermons and Studies July—September 2013

Would it make any difference if Jesus had been born in another place, at another time, of another race, as long as he was born of a virgin, lived a sinless life, died and was raised again?  Was the fact that he was born as a descendant of Abraham and David just an arbitrary fact?  Or was he a vital part of the story of Abraham and David?

Or to ask it a different way, is the story of the Old Testament people of God a necessary part of the story of Jesus? Could we skip the Old Testament and still make sense of Jesus?  Many Christians think so.

Another question is related to this: what is the point of all the stories of Jesus in the gospels? Are they there just for interest, or are they a necessary part of the gospel story?

These studies and sermons are meant to help us understand better how Jesus comes as the fulfillment of an Old Testament  story. This means that it is Jesus who helps us make sense of the Old Testament, but it is also the Old Testament which helps understand who Jesus is and what he does.

They will help us see that the coming of Jesus is the return of God the King to his people to do what he promised to do long ago. I hope you gain from them.