How Blessed Are Those Who Take Refuge in God’s Son

In Acts 4:25, Luke reveals that David wrote Psalm 2. David began this psalm expressing his consternation at the nations of the world and their leaders as they rebelled against “the Lord and against His Anointed.” The expression, “anointed one,” means “messiah” in Hebrew. The Greek of the New Testament translates the word, christos, which in English is “Christ.” David foreshadowed in a limited way what the Lord Jesus Christ would accomplish and be in an ultimate way. Therefore, Psalm 2 anticipates the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ and provides a description of our human inclination to rebel against the rule of God the Father and His Son.

Verses 4-6 describe God’s response to such foolishness. The King in heaven mocks them with laughter and ridicule because of the absurdity of their intentions. These temporary kings who rule nations with boundaries cannot succeed against the King who sits enthroned in heaven who eternally rules over all creation. This reality is clear when the Lord “will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury,” emphatically declaring, “I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain.” Therefore, the rulers of the earth have no rightful claim to authority within themselves. They are usurpers. But God has installed his king, the Lord Jesus Christ, who has complete authority and rules over the nations. It is for this reason Jesus could say to his disciples “All authority has been given Me in heaven and on earth” (Matt 28:18).  He will rule from Mount Zion, the place where God chose to display His manifest presence to His people Israel at the tabernacle and temple. Therefore, it is God’s holy mountain, devoted to worship and the manifest presence of God on the earth.

What’s more, in v. 7 the Anointed One declares His legitimacy to rule is based upon “the decree of the Lord.” In contrast to earthly rulers, He had no need to assert Himself to grasp the throne. Instead, the Lord invested His enthronement upon Him. The Anointed One is the legitimate King because He is the Lord’s Son. When the Lord established His covenant with David, promising David that David’s house and kingdom will endure before God forever and that David’s throne would be established forever, God stated concerning the king that “I will be His father, and he will be My son” (2 Sam 7:13-16).

There is only one descendant of David who fulfills this promise. Hebrews 1:5 indicates it is the Lord Jesus Christ, God’s Son. But there’s more. The Lord then told his Anointed One to “Ask of Me, and I will surely make the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as your possession.” In whom is this realized? Hebrews 1:2 reveals “in these last days (God) has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.” Consequently, as the King who inherits rule over every nation, the Anointed One—the Lord Jesus Christ, will “break” and “shatter” the rebellion against God and judge the nations (Rev 2:27; 12:5; 19:15). In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus describes how He will judge the nations stating that some people “will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life” (Matt 25:46).

Therefore, the conclusion of verses 10-12 collectively serves as an exhortation and warning. It exhorts those in rebellion against the Lord to be wise and choose to receive instruction, to serve the Lord by worshipping and obeying Him. This is the way to live a happily blessed life. Conversely, if the nations continue their path of rebellion, they will discover it is the path to their doom, for no one will be able to survive the wrath of God’s Son, who will uphold the honor of His heavenly Father (see Rev. 19:11-21). This warning may appear harsh, but in truth, it reveals a patient, merciful, and gracious God. Even though they deserve God’s judgment, He chooses to warn them and thus give them the opportunity to come to their senses and wisely choose to listen to instruction and experience a truly blessed life by taking refuge in the Son.

So, what does it mean to take refuge in the Son? The original meaning of this word “refuge” in Hebrew is “to take cover” or “to hide oneself.” There are at least two ways we should think of this biblically. First, the Scriptures teach that those who are unbelievers will experience the wrath of God’s judgement (Rom. 1:18). The only way to be saved from God’s wrath or to hide oneself from it is by grace through faith in the person and work of the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom. 5:8-9; 1 Thess. 1:10). Thus, for unbelievers, to take refuge in the Son is to repent of their sins and place their trust in the substitutionary sacrifice and atonement of Jesus Christ for their sins. Therefore, those who do so become believers who are taking refuge in the Son for their salvation from God’s wrath.

However, a second way believers in the Scriptures take refuge in the Son is by trusting in Him to be their Protector in times of distress and affliction (Ps. 16:1; Prov. 30:5). In fact, when we take refuge in the Son, we can join the psalmist who declares,

The LORD is for me; I will not fear; What can man do to me? ⁷ The LORD is for me among those who help me; Therefore, I will look with satisfaction on those who hate me. It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the LORD Than to trust in princes (Ps. 118:6-9).

Consequently, what does it look like for believers to take refuge in the Son?

• Rest in the perfect sacrifice of the Son as He bore the wrath of His Father for your salvation (1 Thess. 3:9).
• Resist the temptation to be afraid or to doubt that the Son is your refuge (Ps. 62:8).
• Remember the Lord is sovereign and is in control (Ps. 22:28).
• Recognize that even the wicked unwittingly are pawns and serve God’s purposes (Ps. 16:4).
• Rely on the Lord to deal with both the righteous and the wicked in the right way, at the right time (Eccl. 3:17).
• Resolve to be a faithful witness of the Lord Jesus Christ (Ps. 73:28).
• Rejoice in the Lord who is your refuge (Ps. 5:12).

The conclusion of Psalm 2 is indeed true. “How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!”

– Dr. T.J. Betts

Dr. Betts is Professor of Old Testament Interpretation at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. We are often blessed with Dr. Betts’ preaching here at Ninth & O and he teaches our Wednesday night Open Bible Study.