Oxygen from Psalm 2

1 Why are the God-haters so angry?
      Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
 2 The kings of the earth prepare for battle;
      the rulers plot together
      against the Lord
      and against his Christ.
 3 “Let us break their chains,” they cry,
      “and free ourselves from slavery to God.”

 4 But the one who rules in heaven laughs.
      The Lord scoffs at them.
 5 Then in anger he rebukes them,
      terrifying them with his fierce fury.
 6 For the Lord declares, “I have made my King a sin offering
      on Zion, my holy mountain.”

 7 The king proclaims the Lord’s decree:
   “The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son.
      Today I have become your Father.
 8 Only ask, and I will give you Empires as your inheritance,
      the whole earth as your possession.
 9 You can break them with an iron rod
      and smash them like clay pots.’”

 10 Now then, you kings, act wisely!
      Be teachable. you Earth Rulers!
 11 Open yourselves to the awesome Lord,
      and let your fear become rejoicing.
 12 Be reconciled to God’s royal Son, or face his destructive wrath,
      unexpectedly as you are going about your every day activities—
      in an instant it will all be gone.
      But what joy for all who know Him as Savior!
(Psalm 2 - My translation)

Holy and Omnipotent God:

These Psalms are not always what they seem.
Like footprints of a dove in snow,
they bear the imprint of Your Spirit,
prophesying through David's song,
slashing the curtain of our space-time,
glimpsing from our cold estate
Heaven's eternal Now.

How could David or his listeners know
the second Psalm, like number twenty two,
portend events on one Paschal Friday
ten centuries hence.
Six hundred years before any crucifixion
Psalm 22 describes in detail the infliction
of the punishment upon the Son.
This second Psalm portrays
the injustice of that awful day
from the perspective of the Father.
How could Bronze Age singers comprehend
that what seemed to them a coronation hymn
was the God's eye view of Calvary,
like Christ of St. John of the Cross by Dali?   (see above)

You opened David's mouth to sing
and, like a dove, words took wing
to describe Your unfathomable grief
while we were killing Your only Son,
and what you did when the deed was done.
You laughed in derision at our prideful lust,
thinking You would abandon Your Son to dust.
Then in anger your fury roiled,
dark clouds above the cross unfurled,
an earthquake tore the Temple veil,
lightening, wind and rain, and hail
sent the gawking mob running from the flood
that washed away the Savior's blood
that ran down Zion's slopes to cover every sin.

But neither death or rugged stone
could deny Your Christ the throne,
vindicated by his resurrection,
made King of Worlds to put down all insurrection.
He was not cursed for hanging on the tree;
King David issued Your decree,
"You are my son. To You I bequeth
the whole created realm to do with as you please."

But your Son, to Whom You gave permission
to unleash the raptors of destruction,
stays his hand, grants temporary reprieve,
and to the rebels in mercy pleads,
"While there's still time, 'Kiss the Son,'
be reconciled before Judgement comes!
Escape your deserved destruction.
Be wise and worship with instruction.
Repent of your unjust and malicious behavior
There's mercy waiting with the Savior."

Most holy God, some hear Your call,
those, who by Your grace prepared,
accept Your peace, put down the sword.
Your Word, transcending time, reveals
the love that You most surely feel.
We hear the Gospel call, "Come and see,"
offering not mere escape, but clemency;
restoration to our rightful minds and place
as you convict, correct, and cultivate
the rebel heart and make it whole.
Pry open the secret places of my soul
where hurt and anger and resentment plot,
rid my soul of every blot,
repenting of all un-Christlike behavior,
I turn to You, my only Savior,
and sing with joy the Song of Love,
and see Your imprint upon my heart.

Amen.