Scriptures: Psalm 2: Galatians 3:16-18;26-29
There are two worlds, as Pastor Paul has been emphasising lately. There’s the world of what appears to be going on; and the world of what is actually going on. Jesus said ‘my Kingdom is not of this world.’ The world of the visible and apparent is the world which influences and persuades a majority—even though temporary and fading (‘the world and its desires are fading away. 1 Jn. 2:17). In fact, visible creation is but a temporary (and fragile) construct put in place for a time to accomplish Father’s purpose of preparing a Bride for His eternal Son! These two worlds are constantly colliding and are at enmity with each other and are championed by opposing mind-sets. One engages only with the temporary & apparent—and the other engages primarily with the real and eternal. They are travelling in opposite directions and therefore in constant collision.
Self-appointed OR God-installed? Psalm 2 reveals these worlds in collision. One is characterised by self-appointed men (in V.2 the Hebrew word is YATSAB=to present yourself) intent on breaking away from imagined strictures imposed by God and His people; ‘Let us break their bonds and cast away their cords’. The casting away of restraint characterises fleshly, self-appointed liberators. But God laughs at the futility produced by self-aggrandising men. They have been deceived by the world of the apparent and of the flesh.
Over against that is the world in which God appoints and installs His order and authority: ‘I have set (Hebrew word, this time, NASAK=establish or install) my King on my holy hill of Zion.’ That’s where the real government is going on!
The installed King’s ‘decree’: This Psalm is Messianic and from David’s heart and speaks both of him and of the One to come. God was installed on Mt Zion (pre-temple, but David had brought the ark in and installed it in a tent at Gihon Spring) so the ‘Presence’ was there, over the mercy seat and between the wings of the cherubim! And here is the King’s first decree after enthronement! (v.7) ‘…. Yahweh has said to me, “you are my son, today I have begotten you…’” Those who flow with His government are made sons. Can you see what is important to the King? I want us to see today that in Him—in the enthroned Messiah, as with David, we have all been ……?
Made Sons! By decree of the King—made sons—yes, sons! What Paul teaches in Galatians 3 has been abused and lifted from its context to mean what it never meant. The entire context is INHERITANCE. In the ancient world of Abraham and of the Jews, who could inherit? The criteria were: 1. You must be free (that is, not a slave) 2. You must be male – that is, a son (preferably firstborn) and 3. You must be a Jew (not Gentile)
Paul says that in the New Order, these criteria have all been met for everyone—whether slaves or women or Gentiles! Yes—all met in THE Free, Male, Jew—Jesus Christ. Believers have been brought into Him! He is the ‘Seed’ (singular) of Abraham (v.16) and we in Him, can inherit, whoever you are! This is important. We have all been qualified to inherit because we are in The Son/Inheritor. (As far as inheritance goes, in Him all are FREE; all SONS; all JEWS—Abraham’s sons). Galatians 3:28 has nothing to do with gender equality, and everything to do with inheritance, so Paul concludes in vv26 and 29 ‘so you are all sons of God through faith in Jesus Christ …. you are Abraham’s seed and heirs according to the promise.’!! (Translations that play with this, with ‘children’ miss the point. Paul intentionally says ‘sons’, Grk. Huoi—nominative, masculine, plural!)
Entitlement & Privilege: Having been declared ‘sons’ we get privilege and entitlement—and what He says to the Son, He says to you! Is saying to you! After ‘I have begotten you, He says, ‘ask of me—and I will give you …’! Now that’s as remarkable as it is significant. Being brought in brings immediate benefit of being beneficiaries of the Father who owns the game! Heir-ship, wherein we ask and receive, seek and find, knock and it is opened! And He says that He will ‘give the nations as your inheritance.’ The ‘nations’ here represent all that is flowing in the opposite direction; all that is self-appointed against the government of God; all that is raging against His purpose (v.1 ‘why do the nations rage?). Whilst I don’t want to encourage presumption, once we understand our position in Jesus, we are lifted out of one context into another.
Pastor Paul has been encouraging us to ‘be there’, with Him in that place which is ours, by faith. And—look at what we are entitled to ask for and receive; it is conquest of the other stream—the ‘goyim’ of v.1 becomes ours in v.8. ‘This is the victory that overcomes the world—even our faith’ (1 Jn.5:4).
When we ask and believe, He is laughing at the futility of that other stream—and bringing His government to bear over it, neutralising its works and product. (Like a tidal bore running into and over-riding the flow of a river). As we learn to go there and to ask from within that position in the Son, we ask according to His will and He is pleased to give.
Ian Heard: Feb 19, 2017