Bible Prophecy Fulfilled: Psalm 2 “You are my son, today I have begotten you”

Midrashic dual prophecy of Psalm 2 as a template to decode the Olivet Discourse:

“You are my son, today I have begotten you” Dual prophecy Psalm 2
David	Jesus
God’s anointed king 1 Samuel 16:13	God’s anointed king Acts 13:32-37; Isa 42:1; Mt 28:18
God’s begotten son Psalm 2:7; 89:20-27	God’s only begotten son 2 Sam 7:14; Jn 3:16; Heb 11:17-19; Mt 17:5
Nations angry 2 Samuel 5	Jews angry Acts 4:25-26
Age 30 in Hebron 2 Samuel 5:4	Age 30 at baptism Lk 3:23; Mt 3:17; Isa 42:1

Introduction:

1. Psalm 2 is a classified as a Royal “coronation” Psalm that was written by David.

a. Although Ps 2 lacks the title “Psalm of David” Acts 4:25 confirms David was the author.

b. Psalm 2 is spoken in the first person and 100% of it applies to David.

c. Not until the New Testament do we learn that Ps 2 is a messianic prophecy that applies first to David, then finally to Christ!

2. “Only begotten” is used of both Isaac and Jesus in the New Testament: Hebrews 11:17-19

3. “Begotten” and “Firstborn” represent a special status and not birth order or origin.

a. Isaac was Abraham’s second son.

b. David was begotten as God’s son at his coronation at age 30.

c. Jesus was begotten as God’s Son at the resurrection.

d. This essentially refutes Jehovah’s Witnesses who misuse the designations of “Begotten” and “Firstborn” applied to Jesus in order to make him a creature.

I. David and Jesus were begotten by God at their coronation as kings:

A. David’s Coronation in Jerusalem in 1003 BC

1. God’s anointed king:

a. "Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came mightily upon David from that day forward. And Samuel arose and went to Ramah." (1 Samuel 16:13)

2. God’s begotten son:

a. “I will be a father to him and he will be a son to Me; when he commits iniquity, I will correct him with the rod of men and the strokes of the sons of men," (2 Samuel 7:14)

3. Nations angry:

a. "Now the king and his men went to Jerusalem against the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land, and they said to David, “You shall not come in here, but the blind and lame will turn you away”; thinking, “David cannot enter here.” (2 Samuel 5:6)

b. "When the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to seek out David; and when David heard of it, he went down to the stronghold. Now the Philistines came and spread themselves out in the valley of Rephaim." (2 Samuel 5:17–18)

c. "Then David did so, just as the Lord had commanded him, and struck down the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer." (2 Samuel 5:25)

4. Age 30 in Hebron:

a. "David was thirty years old when he became king, and he reigned forty years." (2 Samuel 5:4)

B. Jesus’ Coronation at Resurrection in AD 33

1. God’s anointed king at Resurrection:

a. "And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." (Matthew 28:18)

b. “And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers, that God has fulfilled this promise to our children in that He raised up Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm, ‘You are My Son; today i have begotten You.’ “As for the fact that He raised Him up from the dead, no longer to return to decay, He has spoken in this way: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings of David.’ “Therefore He also says in another Psalm, ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.’ “For David, after he had served the purpose of God in his own generation, fell asleep, and was laid among his fathers and underwent decay; but He whom God raised did not undergo decay." (Acts 13:32–37)

c. “Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations." (Isaiah 42:1)

2. God’s only begotten son at Resurrection:

a. “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

b. Notice Isaac is called Abraham’s “only begotten”: "By faith Abraham, when he was tested, offered up Isaac, and he who had received the promises was offering up his only begotten son; it was he to whom it was said, “In Isaac your descendants shall be called.” He considered that God is able to raise people even from the dead, from which he also received him back as a type." (Hebrews 11:17–19)

c. "While he was still speaking, a bright cloud overshadowed them, and behold, a voice out of the cloud said, “This is My beloved Son, with whom I am well-pleased; listen to Him!” (Matthew 17:5)

3. Jews angry:

a. "who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, ‘Why did the Gentiles rage, And the peoples devise futile things? ‘The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.’" (Acts 4:25–26)

4. Age 30 at baptism:

a. "When He began His ministry, Jesus Himself was about thirty years of age, being, as was supposed, the son of Joseph, the son of Eli," (Luke 3:23)

b. "and behold, a voice out of the heavens said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well-pleased.” (Matthew 3:17)

c. “Behold, My Servant, whom I uphold; My chosen one in whom My soul delights. I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the nations." (Isaiah 42:1)

II. Firstborn is a special status independent of birth order:

A. Firstborn is special:

1. Firstborn and the Passover:
1. "and all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of the Pharaoh who sits on his throne, even to the firstborn of the slave girl who is behind the millstones; all the firstborn of the cattle as well." (Exodus 11:5)
2. "Now it came about at midnight that the Lord struck all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, from the firstborn of Pharaoh who sat on his throne to the firstborn of the captive who was in the dungeon, and all the firstborn of cattle." (Exodus 12:29)
2. The firstborn men had to be redeemed:

1. "“Now when the Lord brings you to the land of the Canaanite, as He swore to you and to your fathers, and gives it to you, you shall devote to the Lord the first offspring of every womb, and the first offspring of every beast that you own; the males belong to the Lord. “But every first offspring of a donkey you shall redeem with a lamb, but if you do not redeem it, then you shall break its neck; and every firstborn of man among your sons you shall redeem. “And it shall be when your son asks you in time to come, saying, ‘What is this?’ then you shall say to him, ‘With a powerful hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt, from the house of slavery. ‘It came about, when Pharaoh was stubborn about letting us go, that the Lord killed every firstborn in the land of Egypt, both the firstborn of man and the firstborn of beast. Therefore, I sacrifice to the Lord the males, the first offspring of every womb, but every firstborn of my sons I redeem.’ “So it shall serve as a sign on your hand and as phylacteries on your forehead, for with a powerful hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.”" (Exodus 13:11–16)
2. "“Now, behold, I have taken the Levites from among the sons of Israel instead of every firstborn, the first issue of the womb among the sons of Israel. So the Levites shall be Mine. “For all the firstborn are Mine; on the day that I struck down all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, I sanctified to Myself all the firstborn in Israel, from man to beast. They shall be Mine; I am the Lord.”" (Numbers 3:12–13)
2. Firstborn animals redeemed:

1. "“Every first issue of the womb of all flesh, whether man or animal, which they offer to the Lord, shall be yours; nevertheless the firstborn of man you shall surely redeem, and the firstborn of unclean animals you shall redeem. “As to their redemption price, from a month old you shall redeem them, by your valuation, five shekels in silver, according to the shekel of the sanctuary, which is twenty gerahs. “But the firstborn of an ox or the firstborn of a sheep or the firstborn of a goat, you shall not redeem; they are holy. You shall sprinkle their blood on the altar and shall offer up their fat in smoke as an offering by fire, for a soothing aroma to the Lord." (Numbers 18:15-17)
3. Firstborn PLANTS had to be redeemed ("first fruits" of the harvest)

1. "“You shall celebrate the Feast of Weeks, that is, the first fruits of the wheat harvest, and the Feast of Ingathering at the turn of the year." (Exodus 34:22)
2. "‘As an offering of first fruits you shall bring them to the Lord, but they shall not ascend for a soothing aroma on the altar. ‘Every grain offering of yours, moreover, you shall season with salt, so that the salt of the covenant of your God shall not be lacking from your grain offering; with all your offerings you shall offer salt. ‘Also if you bring a grain offering of early ripened things to the Lord, you shall bring fresh heads of grain roasted in the fire, grits of new growth, for the grain offering of your early ripened things. ‘You shall then put oil on it and lay incense on it; it is a grain offering. ‘The priest shall offer up in smoke its memorial portion, part of its grits and its oil with all its incense as an offering by fire to the Lord." (Leviticus 2:12–16)
3. "“Speak to the sons of Israel and say to them, ‘When you enter the land which I am going to give to you and reap its harvest, then you shall bring in the sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest. ‘He shall wave the sheaf before the Lord for you to be accepted; on the day after the sabbath the priest shall wave it. ‘Now on the day when you wave the sheaf, you shall offer a male lamb one year old without defect for a burnt offering to the Lord. ‘Its grain offering shall then be two-tenths of an ephah of fine flour mixed with oil, an offering by fire to the Lord for a soothing aroma, with its drink offering, a fourth of a hin of wine." (Leviticus 23:10–13)

B. The pattern of the second born being blessed as the firstborn:

1. Abel over Cain:
1. "Now the man had relations with his wife Eve, and she conceived and gave birth to Cain, and she said, “I have gotten a manchild with the help of the Lord.” Again, she gave birth to his brother Abel. And Abel was a keeper of flocks, but Cain was a tiller of the ground. So it came about in the course of time that Cain brought an offering to the Lord of the fruit of the ground. Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.” Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him." (Genesis 4:1–8)
2. Shem over Japheth:

1. The Bible clearly teaches in all versions, both Greek Septuagint and Hebrew Masoretic, that Shem was second born of when Noah was 502 years old.

b. Japheth was firstborn when Noah was 500, Shem second-born when Noah was 502 and Ham the youngest. We know for certain that Shem was not firstborn as per Gen 11:10 and that Ham was the youngest as per Gen 9:24 which obviously makes Japheth the oldest.

c. While Genesis 5:32 says Noah was 500 years old when Shem, Ham, and Japheth were born, we learn from Gen 11:10 that Shem was 100 years old in the second year after the flood when Arpachshad was born. This proves to us that Shem was not born till Noah was 502 years old and younger than Japheth.

3. Abraham over Haran:
1. "Terah lived seventy years, and became the father of Abram, Nahor and Haran." (Genesis 11:26)

b. The New Testament tells us that Abraham left Haran at age 75 AFTER Terah dies at 205 in Haran:

c. “Then he left the land of the Chaldeans and settled in Haran. From there, after his father died, God had him move to this country in which you are now living." (Acts 7:4)

d. The New testament solves it for us because Abraham left Haran at age 75 when his father died at age 205: So Abraham was born when Terah was 130 years old.

e. So we know for certain that if Terah died at age 205 which triggered Abraham leaving Haran at age 77, that Abraham was born when Terah was 130 years old.

f. However the Septuagint translators in 282 BC did not have access to Acts 7:4.

g. “Furthermore, there are some warnings in the biblical text that if we add up these numbers, there will be distortions and errors. Take, for example, the last one in the series of twenty VIPs: Terah. It would appear that he lived 70 years and then had triplets born to him (Gen 11:26). His total life span was 205 years (Gen 11:32). However, something does not add up, for Abram left Haran after his father died (Gen 12:4; Acts 7:4), but he was only 75 years old at time and not 135, which he should have been had the figures been intended in a way that current usage would approve! Hence, had we added up the numbers in this part of the genealogy, we would already be 60 years in error, for the text must have meant that Terah “began having children when he was 70 years old,” but that Abram was actually born when his father was 130 and not when he was 70. He was not the eldest son, but his name is given first because he was the most significant figure.” (Hard Sayings of the Bible, W. C., Kaiser, P. H. Davids, F. F. Bruce, M. T. Brauch, p 49, 1996 AD)

4. Isaac over Ishmael:
1. "And Abraham said to God, “Oh that Ishmael might live before You!” But God said, “No, but Sarah your wife will bear you a son, and you shall call his name Isaac; and I will establish My covenant with him for an everlasting covenant for his descendants after him. “As for Ishmael, I have heard you; behold, I will bless him, and will make him fruitful and will multiply him exceedingly. He shall become the father of twelve princes, and I will make him a great nation. “But My covenant I will establish with Isaac, whom Sarah will bear to you at this season next year.”" (Genesis 17:18–21)

b. "Tell me, you who want to be under law, do you not listen to the law? For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the bondwoman and one by the free woman. But the son by the bondwoman was born according to the flesh, and the son by the free woman through the promise. This is allegorically speaking, for these women are two covenants: one proceeding from Mount Sinai bearing children who are to be slaves; she is Hagar. Now this Hagar is Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present Jerusalem, for she is in slavery with her children. But the Jerusalem above is free; she is our mother. For it is written, “Rejoice, barren woman who does not bear; Break forth and shout, you who are not in labor; For more numerous are the children of the desolate Than of the one who has a husband.” And you brethren, like Isaac, are children of promise. But as at that time he who was born according to the flesh persecuted him who was born according to the Spirit, so it is now also. But what does the Scripture say? “Cast out the bondwoman and her son, For the son of the bondwoman shall not be an heir with the son of the free woman.” So then, brethren, we are not children of a bondwoman, but of the free woman." (Galatians 4:21–31)

5. Jacob over Esau:

1. "Esau said, “Behold, I am about to die; so of what use then is the birthright to me?”" (Genesis 25:32)
2. "Then Jacob gave Esau bread and lentil stew; and he ate and drank, and rose and went on his way. Thus Esau despised his birthright." (Genesis 25:34)
3. "Then he said, “Is he not rightly named Jacob, for he has supplanted me these two times? He took away my birthright, and behold, now he has taken away my blessing.” And he said, “Have you not reserved a blessing for me?”" (Genesis 27:36)
4. "And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac; for though the twins were not yet born and had not done anything good or bad, so that God’s purpose according to His choice would stand, not because of works but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, “The older will serve the younger.” Just as it is written, “Jacob I loved, but Esau I hated.”" (Romans 9:10–13)
5.  "See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears." (Hebrews 12:15–17)
5. Joseph over Reuben:

1. Reuben was firstborn son of Jacob but lost the blessing for sleeping with his stepmother.
2. "Then Jacob summoned his sons and said, “Assemble yourselves that I may tell you what will befall you in the days to come. “Gather together and hear, O sons of Jacob; And listen to Israel your father. “Reuben, you are my firstborn; My might and the beginning of my strength, Preeminent in dignity and preeminent in power. “Uncontrolled as water, you shall not have preeminence, Because you went up to your father’s bed; Then you defiled it—he went up to my couch." (Genesis 49:1–4)
3. "Now the sons of Reuben the firstborn of Israel (for he was the firstborn, but because he defiled his father’s bed, his birthright was given to the sons of Joseph the son of Israel; so that he is not enrolled in the genealogy according to the birthright. Though Judah prevailed over his brothers, and from him came the leader, yet the birthright belonged to Joseph)," (1 Chronicles 5:1–2)
4. Joseph was firstborn of Rachel but not of Jacob.
6. Tamar's twins: Perez over Zerah who had the scarlet thread tied on this wrist but then pulled his hand inside the womb and his second born brother came out and got the blessing.

1. "Now Judah took a wife for Er his firstborn, and her name was Tamar. But Er, Judah’s firstborn, was evil in the sight of the Lord, so the Lord took his life." (Genesis 38:6–7)
2. "It came about at the time she was giving birth, that behold, there were twins in her womb. Moreover, it took place while she was giving birth, one put out a hand, and the midwife took and tied a scarlet thread on his hand, saying, “This one came out first.” But it came about as he drew back his hand, that behold, his brother came out. Then she said, “What a breach you have made for yourself!” So he was named Perez. Afterward his brother came out who had the scarlet thread on his hand; and he was named Zerah." (Genesis 38:27–30)
7. Rachel was first chosen and favorite wife of Jacob but unloved Lea usurped her and became the mother of David and Christ who bore Jacob 6 sons including Levi and Judah.
8. God chose the nation of Israel to be His firstborn son in spite of its late existence among many other nations that preexisted Abraham. (Ex. 4:22). “Then you shall say to Pharaoh, ‘Thus says the Lord, “Israel is My son, My firstborn." (Exodus 4:22)
9. Shimri over his older brother:

1. "Also Hosah, one of the sons of Merari had sons: Shimri the first (although he was not the firstborn, his father made him first)," (1 Chronicles 26:10)
10. David was not first king but was chosen by God to be the anti-type of the messiah, Jesus Christ: "“I have found David My servant; With My holy oil I have anointed him, With whom My hand will be established; My arm also will strengthen him. “The enemy will not deceive him, Nor the son of wickedness afflict him. “But I shall crush his adversaries before him, And strike those who hate him. “My faithfulness and My lovingkindness will be with him, And in My name his horn will be exalted. “I shall also set his hand on the sea And his right hand on the rivers. “He will cry to Me, ‘You are my Father, My God, and the rock of my salvation.’ “I also shall make him My firstborn, The highest of the kings of the earth. “My lovingkindness I will keep for him forever, And My covenant shall be confirmed to him. “So I will establish his descendants forever And his throne as the days of heaven." (Psalm 89:20–29)

Conclusion: 

1. Not until the New Testament do we learn that Ps 2 is a messianic prophecy that applies first to David, then finally to Christ! Many Old Testament texts were not understood to be messianic prophecies until the Holy Spirit identified them as such in the New Testament.

2. Jehovah’s Witnesses cannot use the terms “Begotten” and “Firstborn” to prove Jesus is a creature.

a. “Begotten” and “Firstborn” represent a special status and not birth order or origin.

a. Isaac was Abraham’s second son after Ishmael, yet he is called the “only begotten”.

b. David was begotten as God’s son at his coronation at age 30, long after he was born.

c. Jesus was begotten as God’s Son at the resurrection at the age of 33, not in Mary’s womb.

By Steve Rudd 2020: Contact the author for comments, input or corrections.

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