1. Psalm 2:7. When did Jesus become the Son of God?

When the Virgin conceived from the Holy Spirit, the Son was begotten within her. This verse speaks either of that conception, or of the Eternal decree, the forever “today” of Heaven, or the public announcement of it at the beginning of the Millennium. We must not allow cultists to isolate this passage from all the other passages that speak of Jesus’ Sonship.

It is also important to note that in modern translations “begotten” is changed to “became your Father.” A clever ruse – in my opinion - to soften the power of what happened. One can become the Father of a Son by adoption. But the word is “begotten.” The Spirit came upon Mary and placed the Eternal Word in her. The Word became flesh at that moment. Sonship is forever. The Word was with God forever. The Word was God forever.

A huge mystery here. No one should claim to understand it. But proclaiming each item of the details we are given is crucial.

2. Psalm 6:5. Did David, like Job, believe there is no life after death?

We can understand some of Job’s lacking in the area of theology, and as we said there, the events that happened in Job’s life corrected his understandings. But can we have the same approach when dealing with David? Here he says that in death and the hereafter, there is no mention of God, no giving of thanks to Him.

There is truth in the passage. We should praise and bless the Lord now if we are to be useful on the Earth. When we die, we can no longer do that service here. And of course, all the unsaved will not be giving God glory in the pit any more than they did here. As far as it goes, the text tells the truth.

But of course it does not go far enough. We want David to tell us of the righteous who rise with Christ and glorify Him forever. Alas, this revelation has not yet been given him. Later in Psalms it will be there.

3. Psalm 9:19. Let the Gentiles [nations] be judged! Here and in many Psalms, David seems to rejoice in the world’s coming punishment. What to make of this?

We have spoken of this before. There is one nation and only one that is not under the eternal judgment of God. We must add, the righteous judgment of God. That nation is not America, nor any “good nation” of the West – as we like to characterize it. The nation is Israel, in its final glory, containing all the redeemed people of God from all the nations. Our job is to be busy proclaiming good news and a call to repent, to all the nations (Gentiles) and rejecting Jews. When they refuse the offer of salvation, we will join with David and all the others in rejoicing in the holy and good ways of our God.

4. Psalm 15:4. This is related to the last question. Should we despise anyone?

An unrepentant sinner is indeed to be despised, in his ultimate failure to repent. We offer sin and the sinner no hope, no feel-good message, as long as it and he defies the God of Heaven. We lovingly call to repentance, but hold on to no emotional attachment to one who is not attached to Christ and does not want to be. Consider Saul, and Samuel’s word from God to break off his commitment to the King, as he was to be replaced by David.

Not talking meanness and coldness here, only a clear viewing of the facts. Unsaved unholy people will not populate the Kingdom of God. With them we have no association now or eternally except to announce to them God’s message.

5. Psalm 16:6. “The lines.” What are they, what does this mean?

I think the “God’s Word” translation says it best:

“Your boundary lines mark out pleasant places for me. Indeed, my inheritance is something beautiful.”

Whether in material or spiritual blessing, God has marked out for us an abundant life, a territory that we can claim by faith if we will.

If this Psalm is exclusively Messianic, it refers to the worldwide reign of Jesus on Earth. It’s all His, by decree of heaven!

6. Psalm 16:10. So David did believe in resurrection after all?

The apostle Peter clarifies this passage for us by quoting it in his classic Pentecost sermon. There he explains that David, though he was indeed the author of this Psalm, was not speaking of himself, but of one of his descendants, namely the Messiah Jesus. Here it is clearly taught, through an “Old Testament” figure, that Messiah would die and be raised from that death supernaturally.

By extension, we can add that those who have been made holy with Christ will likewise rise after our bodies have been laid in a grave. Unlike Jesus, our physical bodies may first turn to dust, since there is nothing of God in our flesh. With Christ, the Word became flesh and could not be allowed to decay.