"Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little" (Psalm 2:12).

Psalm 2 is a lofty song of God's glory and the reign of his Anointed. The Millennial kingdom is described in verse 9 as one in which Christ will reign with a rod of iron, dashing His enemies in pieces like a potter's vessel. After laying that foundational message, the psalmist instructs the mighty of the earth to "Kiss the son." What is the point of this instruction? In the Middle East a kiss on the cheek signifies friendship and solidarity. But how could the kings and the judges of this world kiss a prophesied Messiah who was not yet born? The answer is that this Son is the eternal Lord Himself. "Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee" (v.7).

It is worthy of note that the common Greek word for worship in the New Testament is proskuneo, which literally means "to kiss toward." Many proudly refuse to kiss the humble carpenter of Nazareth. Others respond like the sinful woman in Luke 7. The Lord informed his Pharisee host, "Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet" (v.45). However, there is a third category of people, those who make a pretense of kissing Christ but whose hearts have never bowed to his Omnipotence. These follow in the footsteps of Judas who "drew near unto Jesus to kiss him" (Luke 22:47). But Christ saw through his deception and asked, "Judas betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?" (v.48). Judas kissed the door to heaven and within a few short hours dropped into hell.

What is our response to the command: "Kiss the Son!" Will we pass by in pride, put on a false show of friendship, or truly repent and humble ourselves in love for the Son of God? DW