Living in the Spirit
June 10, 2015

Scripture Reading: Psalm 2

I will tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to me, ‘You are my son;
    today I have begotten you.
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
   and the ends of the earth your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron,
   and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.’

 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
   be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear,
   with trembling kiss his feet, or he will be angry,
and you will perish in the way;
   for his wrath is quickly kindled. 

  Happy are all who take refuge in him. –Psalm 2:7-12

The words you are my son from this Psalm celebrating the anointing of David is picked up by the three gospels reporting Jesus’ baptism with the words in you I am well pleased.* The tie that binds David and Jesus is strong. The Psalm goes on to promise power and wealth at the hands of violence to the new king. The Psalmist warns though the new king to maintain his connection with God throughout his reign as God is the source of the King’s strength. Psalm 2 is attributed to David. While modern students of the Bible question such attributions, it is interesting to consider David’s authorship.

David was a great warrior, leader of the army of Israel. He probably acquainted his military success to his fidelity to God. It is an incomplete logic test. When I am doing God’s will, I succeed. I succeed as a military leader thus doing battle is God’s will. This is an ancient form of faith followed by peoples of many cultures worshiping many gods. How often do we back into our own faith choices in this way? How often does the results of such faith choices result in injustice?

Christ specifically challenged such a logic test. He called us to love. We are doing God’s will when we are loving God and loving our neighbors as we love ourselves. This is the only test we need to run against our actions to determine God’s will.

Prayer: Lord, focus my relationship with you so that your priorities establish my priorities no matter how enticing power and wealth may be. Amen

*Matthew 3:13-17, Mark 1:9-11, Luke 3:21 All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights reserved.