“I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, ‘You are my Son; today I have begotten you.'” Psalm 2:7
Devotion:
On one level, this “decree” reveals the covenant that God established with David and all of Israel’s kings. Covenant refers to the binding nature and the terms governing a relationship with God. David and his descendants entered into a unique kind of relationship with God, where God promised that someone from their lineage would reign forever and ever. God chose David and his family to be the special lineage through which the Messiah would come and establish God’s kingdom on earth. This was God’s decree.
However, on a deeper level, this decree mirrors the covenant that God made with Jesus. The Eternal Son of God would enter this world and assume humanity. The one who had been God’s Son from all eternity in His Divinity would step into time and become God’s Son in time through His humanity. This decree makes sense of the gospel. Jesus Christ fulfills both the covenant made with David and the covenant that God the Father directly made with Him. He is the king destined to sit on David’s throne forever, and He is the perfect Son of God who lives His entire life in absolute obedience to God the Father.
For us, this means that the covenant relationship God invites us into is based on the covenant relationship between God the Father and Jesus the Messiah. Because Jesus was willing to be born into this world, live obediently, endure death under the wrath of God, and rise from the dead, we can now be called sons of God. When we place our faith in God’s Son, we are identified as adopted sons. Through faith in Jesus, we hear God say to us, “You are my son.” Our salvation and sonship come through God’s gracious decree.
Prayer:
Father, we love knowing You as our Father. But we acknowledge that the only reason we can come to You as sons is because of what Jesus has done for us.
Your gracious decree fills us with joy. We recognize that you did not have to save us. So, fill us with the gratitude that is worthy of such a gift.
As we trace your saving plan, help us cherish our sonship. We desire intimacy with You. We long to walk with our heads held high under the pleasure of Your smiling face. When doubts or questions about Your love arise, remind our hearts of Your covenant. In Jesus’ name, we worship and pray.
Amen.
