‘I will declare the decree of YHWH.
He said to me, “You are my son,
Today I have begotten you.”
“Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance,
And the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.
You will break them with a rod of iron,
You will dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”
And after Jesus had been baptised as the representative of the new Israel (Matthew 2:15), He came up out of the water and the decree of YHWH was declared, ‘You are My Son, My Beloved, in Whom I am well pleased'. He had passed His probation with flying colours, and was now set on course to fulfil God's purpose for Him. And on the mount of Transfiguration His Kingly glory was revealed, with Moses on one hand and Elijah on the other, and again the heavenly voice declared' ‘This is My Beloved Son, hear Him' (Mark 9:7). And we need not doubt that He asked of His Father precisely this, that He would give Him the nations for His inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for His possession. Indeed we are told how this began to happen at Pentecost when men were present ‘from every nation under Heaven' (Acts 2:5), and from then on through Acts we have the description of how He triumphed until at last He came to Rome itself where Paul proclaimed His Kingly Rule and taught the things concerning Jesus (Acts 28:31).
But there is also another side to the King, for there are those who will refuse to accept His rule, and concerning them God declares, “You will break them with a rod of iron, You will dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.” For He has committed all judgment to His Son (John 5:22), and those who reject Him must finally face their judgment.