Psalms 2:7

I will declare the decree.

The Lord’s decree

There is nothing in the economy of life and civilisation that is haphazard. Before all things and round about them as a glory and defence is the Lord’s “decree.” Under all disorder is law. The law is first beneficent, and then retributive. It is beneficent because it contemplates the recovery and sanctification of the heathen and the uttermost parts of the earth. It is retributive because if this offer of enclosure and honour is rejected, those who despise it shall be broken with a rod of iron, and dashed to pieces like a potter’s vessel. In the study of the world’s constitution and movement, look first of all at the Lord’s “decree,” the Lord’s idea and purpose. Settle it that the decree is good, merciful, redemptive, and then judge everything in the light of that fact. If you were judging of a national constitution you would not pronounce it bad became of its prisons; you would, on the contrary, pronounce it good for that very reason. You would know that there was a strong authority in that land, and that the authority was good, because it imprisoned and rebuked the workers of evil. So the rod of iron attests the holiness of God, and hell itself shows that virtue is honoured of heaven. (Joseph Parker, D. D.)

The Lord hath said unto Me, Thou art My Son.--

Demonstration of sonship

At the beginning of the Book of Psalms God gave to the Church a vision of the triumphs of Messiah before that of His sufferings and death. The prospect cheers as we enter the gloom. “My King” was also “My Son.” This was determined by the resurrection, as the crowning act of redemption. It was the resurrection which made manifest to the world that Jesus of Nazareth was the Eternal Son of Jehovah.

I. The resurrection of the blessed Lord was the final attestation of His Divine mission and in one sense the strongest. Proof after proof was afforded that He was the Son of God; but without the resurrection the chain of evidence was not complete. The life was restored, not through the instrumentality of a prophet, but because He was the Son of God.

II. The resurrection is the life of the Church. The disciples were scattered by the storm of the crucifixion. The dispersion would have been final had it not been for the word He had said, “The third day He shall rise again.” A new departure was taken at the sight of the living Lord. The commission of the apostles was given in the light of the resurrection. They were to be accompanied by both His power and His presence. There must be the living Christ in the sermon, to make the truth effectual; in the ordinances, to render them spiritual; in the services, to inspire them into life; and in the conduct, to cause its light to shine on a dark world.

III. The resurrection of the blessed Lord is the Christian’s strength and hope. A very exalted conception of redemption should be entertained. It is the gift of God to the Eternal Son. When the living Saviour is at our side we have power to carry our burdens, and to resist the devil. (Weekly Pulpit.)

Preaching the law

I. The general matter of the sermon. It is a law. What manner of law? A law to be preached, as other laws used not to be. A law concerning what God said. Which is the reason why it is to be preached. Not a law at large, but a statute law (Elchok), which but by publishing none can take notice of.

II. The text itself. Or the body of the law. In these words, “Thou art My Son, this day have I begotten Thee. The points in it are five. Of a son. Of My Son, (that is) the Son of God. Genui, the Son of God begotten. Hodie, the Son of God this day begotten. And “dixit genui,” (that is) “dicendo genuit,” begotten only by saying. Only said the word and it was done, and the word became flesh.

III. How can this (Thou art My Son) be called a law? It does not look like one. There be but two laws--

1. Lex fidei; a law limiting what to believe of Him: of His person, His nature, and His offices.

2. Lex factorum; setting out first, what He doth for us; and then, what we are to do for Him. What He doth for us is, convey all filial rights. What we are to do for Him is, return to Him all filial duties. (Bishop Andrewes.)