Well, good morning, East Point Church. We are glad that you are able to join us this morning. These are strange times, different times. And it is quite odd. We miss you. I miss in your faces, out there, your smiling faces. I miss your amen's and your hallelujah's. I miss the saints gathered seeing together in praise. But God and His grace and in His providence has made a way for us to gather in this unique situation as Pastor Tony mentioned. It is unique, but we thank the Lord because He is indeed good to us. While we can't see you, you can see us. And from what I am in, you can see us a little bit better this week. And for that, we thank you. I need to acknowledge both Pascuel and Wendell, who were up here multiple times this week giving of their time. I want to thank them, I want to thank their families for putting in the time to make sure that we could get out this live stream to you in both quality, with quality and with sound. So if you have an opportunity, shoot them a text, acknowledge them on Facebook. We are so thankful to them for their service to us. Well, if you joined us last week, you know that we began a new series in light of the events that we are undergoing right now, entitled Psalms for the season. We heard last week Pastor Tony's message that we are those who are blessed from Psalm 1. And this morning we come to Psalm 2. Many scholars believe that Psalm 1 and Psalm 2 actually go together. Hebrew scholars look at it and they see the verse in chapter of Psalm 1. Blessed is the man and they create what we call an inclusio. The last verse of Psalm 2, blessed is the man. And so it is right that we would take up these two Psalms together. But before we dive in, let's go to God in prayer and ask him for his help. And we'll know if there is a more appropriate cry this morning than Lord, we need you. Every hour we need you, you are our one defense and our righteousness. Oh God, how we need you. We need your comforting hand. We need your word to strengthen us. We need your grace to sustain us. We need Jesus to indeed be our refuge this morning. He is our king. He is our Lord. So we want to listen to him this morning. By your spirit come and teach us. Come and meet us. Oh may your name be praised in all the earth. In Jesus name we pray. Amen. Well, it's not hard to discern that we are experiencing unprecedented times. You know, it is often discussed among generations as they look at the events of their lives. They sometimes wonder and they sometimes contemplate what will make the history books about our generation. What will future generations remember about our generation? Well, the truth is that most events and news that we experience in our lifetime will not make the history books. But as I was thinking this past week about what we were going through, I have utmost confidence and I think I know for sure that 200 to 300 years from now, if the Lord should carry, this world pandemic will make the history books, the world, the brothers and sisters, the world. Not the country. The world has been significantly affected by these events. Countries have shut down their borders. Economies have been devastated. Healthcare systems overwhelmed. People have lost their lives. The pandemic and fear have swept over nations. And all this is happening not on a local level, but on a global level. Brothers and sisters, it is times like these. A pandemic of this magnitude. It requires that you and I pause. You don't just dismiss these moments. You can't be indifferent to these events. These are the times where we need to be contemplative. We need to be reflective. When a pandemic shuts down the world, I think it is appropriate and even prudent to ask, what does the Lord say? What is God seeking to teach us? Why has he brought the world to its knees? Perhaps many of you have asked these questions. I was meeting with a group of men this past week on Zoom, of course. We were practicing social distancing. But we were discussing that very question. What is the Lord doing? What is the Lord saying to us during these times? Now, my goal this morning is not to make any predictions about the world coming to an end. I don't know what we are experiencing right now means coming back sooner rather than later. No one knows the hour or the day the last time I checked. I am not sure what is bringing judgment upon the world. If you would like to ask these questions, you are free to. I don't have answers for you. But I do believe there is a question that this pandemic and these unusual circumstances begs of us. There is a question. It is always the question that we should be asking ourselves when we are forced to sit down when the world is brought to its knees. It is the question Psalm 2 asks its readers. And that question is, who is my king? Who is my king? Brothers and sisters, that is a permanent question in times of distress and uncertainty and when navigating unfamiliar territory. If you are like me, when you are presented with a situation like our world is experiencing, you want to know who is in charge. Who is trustworthy? Who can I trust in this situation? Who is competent? Who is going to lead us to calm waters? Sisters because the bottom line is we are exactly what the Bible says we are. We are sheep and sheep need to be led. And so when trouble rises, sheep, sheep look for a shepherd. Really, really, we were to boil it down. Life is one big game of follow the leader. Because brothers and sisters, when trouble rises in our world, we look for a king. Who is going to help us? Who is going to assure us? Who is going to provide safety for us? The world has been brought to a halt. You and I need to ask ourselves who is my king. Well, the Psalmist and Psalm 2 gives us two options. And brothers and sisters, there are only two options, but here is the deal. The king you choose matters. It matters just not for the next life, but it matters for this life. Who is your king? Who your king is today has import for your present reality situations right now. Who is your king? Is your king found among the kings of this world? Well, the Psalmist reveals for us the nature of these kings, the kings of this world. When he asks, when the Psalmist asks why do the nations rage and the people's plot in vain, he is asking why are the people and why are these nations rebelling? Why are they in opposition to God? Why is the world in turmoil? The answer is because they are following the lead of the rulers and the kings of this world. They are following their leaders. Psalm 2 verses 2 through 3. The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed saying. Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us. The kings of the earth, the Psalmist, are marked with pride and a desire for autonomy. Therefore, they demonstrate a blatant and utter defiance in the face of God. They are purposely setting themselves up against him wanting nothing to do to his commands or his ways. This is the MO of kings and nations in this world who set themselves up in opposition against God. I am reminded of Pharaoh King of Egypt who opposed God and his people, openly blaspheming and asking Moses and Aaron, who is the Lord that I should obey his voice? Do you hear the rebellion, the defiance in his words? I am reminded of the many judges who were supposed to lead Israel to righteousness but on the contrary they led the people to rebellion. Hence the common phrase we read in the book of judges and the people did what was right in their own eyes. This is the testimony of worldly kings and leaders and nations throughout redemptive history, rebellion and a pursuit for autonomy. Brothers and sisters, our world, our world is not littered with kings like the ancient world was. But we do have world leaders and presidents and authorities that operate in the same manner. This is declaring here that anyone that sets themselves against the living God falls into this category. Even those who think that they are an authority unto themselves. They see themselves as the captain of their own ships. This rebellion, brothers and sisters, is caused by sin. I think it was Thomas Watson who said sin left up to run rampant in the heart of man, makes it his aim to de-throw God. These are the wicked and the scoffers whom the psalmist speaks about in Psalm 1. And the point the psalmist is making here is don't walk in their counsel, don't stand with them or follow them. What aren't we to be doing in these unprecedented and strange times? What I do know is that we are not to follow and seek after those who set themselves against God. Why? Why don't we do that? Why don't we stand in the way of scoffers sit with the wicked? Because those who have set themselves against God have God against them, Psalm 2.4.5. He who sits in the heavens laughs. The Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath and terrify them in his fury. While these kings as they set themselves against God think that they are somehow striking fear in him or causing him to worry or to fret. Yahweh, he sits in the heavens and he laughs. He holds them in contempt. Now he doesn't laugh at them in some comic relief form. He laughs at the sheer foolishness of the idea. These kings, these nations, the people as they plot in vain as they seek to conspire against the sovereign God of the universe. They don't understand that they are no match for him. Isaiah 40 verses 15 and verse 17 speak of how God sees the nations. Behold the nations are like a drop from a bucket and are counted as the dust on the scales. Behold, he takes up the coastlands like fine dust. Here is how God sees the nations like a drop from a bucket. For 17 all the nations are as nothing before him. They are counted by him as less than nothing and emptiness. This is why God last and holds the nations in derision as they set themselves in opposition against him. Here's the point, the Psalmist is making. You don't oppose God and win. You don't oppose him and win. And those who try find destruction in the end. Choosing worldly kings who oppose Yahweh means you are choosing destruction. You are choosing the wrath of God. Verse 9, you shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessels. This is a reality of those who oppose God. Kings of this world who set themselves up against Yahweh and his anointed one will face judgment. Which means those who follow him follow them will suffer the same consequences. These are earthly kings that set themselves up against God. But there is good news brothers and sisters. You don't follow the kings of this world. You don't. You and I have another choice. You can choose to follow the king of kings. God's answer to the rebellion of these earthly kings and the opposition of nations is to set up his own king. Psalm 2 verse 6. As for me, I have set my king on Zion my holy hill. Oh, God knows that we are sheep. We are those who need to be led. Because answer to rebellion and wickedness and ultimate destruction is to set up his own king. It's a merciful king. And he's a good king. It's a king of God's own choosing. Perhaps you are asking like the psalmist asked in Psalm 2410. Who is this king of glory? The answer comes the most. He is the king of glory. Unlike the kings of this world who oppose God and are therefore at enmity with him. This king, he is the son of God. He's only begotten. The one in whom he is well pleased. The one who grew in wisdom and favor with God. The one who is called wonderful. Counselor, Prince of Peace, mighty God, ever lasting father. Who is the king of glory? Jesus is the king of glory. And he reigns, Presenceisters. He reigns. Jesus reigns. This is why it is foolish for the nations to rage. And for kings to conspire against God and his anointed one. For the kings of this world don't have ultimate authority. The power only goes so far. It is King Jesus in whom all power and authority rest. He is the king of kings. Some to wait. As for me, I will make the nations your heritage and the ends of the earth your possession. Hear this, brothers and sisters. All of us in heaven and on earth has been given to Jesus. All authority. The kings of this earth are no match for him. In fact, the judgment that is to be carried out on those who oppose God will be accomplished by King Jesus. He is the king of kings who reigns. And he does so with power and authority. Therefore, the choice should be clear. We know which king we should choose. The psalmist has made it plain for us. But the psalmist is not done extoling virtues of King Jesus. Jesus is also a king who is merciful and good. He is merciful. Oh, he offers forgiveness and extends grace to those who rebel against him. Look at verses 10 through 12 of our texts. Now, therefore, O kings, be wise. Be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the son, lest he be angry and you perish in the way for his wrath is kindled quickly. This is a warning, brothers and sisters, a warning to the nations. And God and his grace has every right to wipe them right out. But gives them a warning. Jesus is merciful. He is a merciful king. He offers forgiveness to all those who would repent and believe in him. He offers all. He offers grace to all those who would give up their desires for autonomy and surrender to him as the king of kings and the lord of lords. All in this morning, God shows mercy that his king is a merciful king. Not only is he merciful. Oh, he is good. He's a good king. As was mentioned last week, one of the hardest things to believe in difficult and unnerving situations is that God is good. When tragedy strikes our world, when death happens, it's hard to believe this. But he is good. Jesus is good. Listen to how the psalmist closes this last stanza. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. Those who choose Jesus are blessed. No matter what is going on in this world, what have we to fear except King Jesus? Those who find themselves in opposition to him should fear. They should fear the wrath of God against their sin. But those who choose Jesus as king fear him in a different way. Our fear is a holy reverence. It is a reverence. It is a holy reverence because we know him as the king of kings and the lord of lords. And all those who take refuge in him are safe. That is a promise, brothers and sisters, they are safe. Safe from the coronavirus? No, no, I can't promise that. But we are safe from the wrath of God against sin. Oh, brothers and sisters, who is your king this morning? As a sisters, choose the king who reigns. Choose King Jesus.