Fear of Death

“that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death…and deliver them who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage” (Heb 2:14-15)

Our “walk” with Christ will take each of us through various trials and tribulations. The promise of God in Scripture is to use these trials to strengthen us: “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing” (James 1:2-4). Even David, the man after God’s own heart struggled with such trials, most notably with lust and detailed in 2^nd Samuel chapter 11 as he pursued Bathsheba to the point of using his position to affect the death of her husband. However, David repented and ultimately expressed his faith in God to carry him through such trials in the future: “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me” (Ps 23:4).

The ultimate work of God to provide hope for His adopted sons and daughters is detailed in the 2^nd chapter of Hebrews. Jesus, who “was made a little lower than the angels” (Heb 2:9), now has “all things in subjection under his feet” (Heb 2:8) and is “crowned with glory and honour; that by the grace of God [He] should taste death for every man” (Heb 2:9). As the Creator God, Jesus, “for whom are all things, and by whom are all things” (Heb 2:10) became one of us – “partakers of flesh and blood…that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death” (Heb 2:14). Now that the devil no longer carries the power of death, we can “come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need” (Heb 4:16). For God “hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love and of a sound mind” (2 Tim 1:7). We, therefore, have no need of fear of things like trials and death, for Christ “took on him the seed of Abraham” (Heb 2:16) so that “he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.” (Heb 2:17). RST

The Rod of Iron

"I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee...Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." (Ps. 2:7,9)

The book of Psalms consists of individual works revolving around particular aspects of Jewish culture, life and worship. The psalms of ascent, or degrees (120-134), for example, were tied to the annual pilgrimage of Jews to the Temple in Jerusalem. A few psalms were for very particular times or events, such as Psalm 92, which is a "Song for the Sabbath day."

The second psalm falls into the category of Enthronement Psalms. These were originally part of the ceremonies surrounding the coronation of a king. They have, however, found their full meaning through Jesus Christ as the final king in the line of David.

When a king was crowned in Israel, it was said that God had adopted him as His son (Ps 2:7). From that point forward, the king was understood to be working as God's representative as ruler over the house of Israel. When Jesus rose from the baptismal waters of the river Jordan, God declared in the fashion of Psalm 2: "This is my beloved son, in whom I am well pleased" (Matt 3:17).

In the Revelation of John, the apostle is given a vision of the circumstances surrounding the birth of Jesus. He sees a woman, giving birth to "a man child, who was to rule all the nations with a rod of iron" (Rev 12:5). At the culmination of the events of the apocalypse, we again see this man child, now a victorious king named Faithful and True:

"His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule over them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God." (Rev 19:12-15)

This would be marvelous enough fulfillment of the prophetic word of Psalm 2 for Israel's future king Messiah, but Jesus Himself applies that promise not just to Himself, but to believers as well. Listen as Jesus commends believers in Thyatira with the specific words of our text applied to them directly: "But that which ye have already hold fast till I come. And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father" (Rev 2:25-27). When the True king of Israel adopts us as his own, we truly "are more than conquerors through him that loved us" (Rom 8:37). RST