The Battle Over Zion
Lance begins by highlighting Psalm 2 as a messianic psalm, prophetic of the coming of Jesus Christ, the Lord’s anointed. He emphasizes that the psalm reveals a spiritual battle centered on God's purpose, which is ultimately to establish His King upon Zion, the mountain of His holiness. The nations and rulers rage against the Lord and His Messiah, devising vain plans to oppose God's sovereignty. However, Lance reassures believers that the real battle is between the Lord and His anointed, not against us personally, and that God's victory is assured because the enemy’s rage is directed at Christ. He explains that spiritual powers—principalities, powers, and wicked spirits—work behind flesh and blood to oppose God's plan, but believers are protected by God's grace. The psalm also underscores the divine purpose: to bring all nations and the earth under Christ’s rule, to establish Zion, and to fulfill God's plan of salvation and restoration. Lance stresses the importance of allegiance to Christ, warning against rebellion and compromise, and encourages believers to stand firm in faith, knowing that the Lord’s purpose will prevail. Ultimately, the battle belongs to the Lord, and His victory is certain, inspiring believers to trust and actively participate in His divine plan for Zion and the nations.
Outline of Main Points
- Psalm 2 as a messianic and prophetic psalm about Christ’s coming and reign
- The spiritual battle centered on God's purpose: establishing His King on Zion
- The rage of nations and rulers against the Lord and His Messiah
- The true enemy is spiritual, behind flesh and blood, working through principalities and wicked spirits
- God’s divine purpose: to bring all nations and the earth under Christ’s rule, to establish Zion
- Encouragement to believers: the battle is the Lord’s, victory is assured
- Call for allegiance to Christ, warning against rebellion and compromise
- Believers are protected by God's grace and called to actively participate in His plan
1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. 4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. 5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. 6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. 8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. 9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
1 For Zion’s sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth.
9 Having made known unto us the mystery of his will, according to his good pleasure which he hath purposed in himself:
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;
