The Bible Keeps its Promises—The Birthday of a King
The Birthday of a King
10 Now then, you kings, act wisely!
Be warned, you rulers of the earth!
11 Serve the Lord with reverent fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry,
and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities—
for his anger flares up in an instant.
But what joy for all who take refuge in him!~ Psalm 2:10-12
It should be endlessly interesting that when the Old Testament speaks of the coming of the Messiah it has as much to say about His kingly rule as it does about His atoning death. And notice how clearly Christ’s victory over the world is presented in this psalm. God laughs at the attempts of impotent human beings to thwart his purpose (Ps. 2:4). Despite all attempts to prevent Christ from taking authority, God says, “I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill” (Ps. 2:6). And at the end of the Psalm he warns the rulers of the earth to “Kiss the Son,” i.e., make peace through submission to Him, before it is everlastingly too late. But some may ask, “What has any of this to do with Christmas?” Many commentators suggest that when God says in verse seven, “You are my Son, today I have become your Father,” he is referring to Jesus’ miraculous conception in Mary’s womb. “Made man,” writes Adam Clarke, “born of a woman by the creative energy of the Holy Ghost, that thou mightest feel and suffer for man, and be the first-born of many brethren.” Parting thought: We ought to be thankful at Christmas, that the little baby born in Bethlehem grew up as one of us, so that now He is King of Kings He is still with us, still able to sympathize and enter with us into our joys and sufferings.