Psalm 2

Good morning to all our Readers!

It is another cheerful, sunny morning here in northeast Ohio. We have bright yellow, vibrant red, deep gold, hot pink, and purple flowers blooming right now.

Psalm 2:1-12 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? 
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Psalm 2 leads us away from the Godly Man who stood in contrast to the Ungodly Man. We saw how the Godly man is blessed by his relationship with God and his desire to learn more of His word and to obey it. The Ungodly man is just the opposite because he is a rebellious sinner.

Psalm 2 pulls back the curtains of heaven to show us the all encompassing spiritual warfare that is going on. It moves us from two men presented in contrast and shows us that entire people groups and nations are at war with God. 

God asks a question. "Why do the heathen rage and the people imagine a vain thing?"

The way that the question is asked is meant to show us the utter futility of fighting against Jehovah. The heathen refers to all nations other than Israel. What are they doing? They are raging.

The word "rage" means that the heathen is plotting evil, devising plans of wickedness against God. It is a word that speaks of tremendous turmoil and constant commotion. It makes us think of rioting in the streets and massive civil disobedience. 

Their imagination is consumed with vain plottings. Every thought is focused upon things that are against God. 

Think about where you live today. Most places are dealing with large scale discontentment. Sometimes there are groups attempting to spread anarchy so that they can get what they want at the expense of law and order. All of these seem to illustrate imagining a vain thing. 

God then reveals the real issue at stake. "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, 

Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us."

The real issue is laid bare for all to see. The kings and rulers of this earth refuse to be ruled by God and they fiercely reject the claims of Christ as King of Kings and Lord of lords. It certainly seems odd that man the creature would seek to wage war against God the Creator. 

God made everything and He sustains everything. It all belongs to God yet man is always ready to try to govern the earth. They view the law of God as bands that need to be broken and the commands of God as cords to throw off. Hostility and rebellion of the creature toward the Creator seems to be the theme. 

Men are waging a war against all that is holy.

It is a united effort involving all nations, people, kings and rulers. They are joining together to fight against the Holiness of God. They are combing ideas and forces and strategies to wage this ware against God. 

They imagine things. They plan things. They collaborate in their efforts to wage war against God. It is a deliberate effort. It is a determined effort. It is a diabolical effort. Behind the scenes is Satan, the arch enemy of Jehovah. He is the unseen power behind all the unhinged lunacy that is being unleashed against God in Heaven.

God laughs at their schemes with derision.

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

The source of all the unrest, clamor and rioting has been revealed. God has used the Psalmist to fill in the details for us. The picture turns toward heaven. We see the reaction of Almighty, Infinite God to all the planning and scheming of evil men. 

Jehovah is seated on His throne. He is not disturbed nor perturbed at all by any of this overt rebellion against His authority over creation. Jehovah laughs at them! This is a word that means a glad rejoicing and celebration by making merry over their feeble plans. Then Jehovah holds them in derision. This is a word that means He views them with great contempt. He righteously ridicules the kings, rulers and heathen.  

This is why the Christian can remain calm during a time of crisis. God is still on His throne. He is not taken by surprise. He already knows the beginning from the end of all things. There is no power that can stop the plans of Jehovah from going forward. There is no weapon that can have any effect upon our Great God. 

God will do what He says He will do in His word.

"Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure."

"Thus saith the LORD" are the words of triumph over any and all schemes against Him. When God speaks His word is the final authority. No one can dissuade Jehovah from keeping His promises. This alone will bring great quaking, fear and terror in the hearts of the people, kings and rulers. Jehovah's anger against their rebellion will be unleashed and it will accomplish establishing the kingdom of God with Jesus Christ, the Son of God on the throne. 

The text tell us what the reign of Jesus Christ will be like in verses 6-9. 

• Christ's reign will be universal. Every person in the world will be subject to King Jesus.
• Christ's reign will be sovereign. King Jesus will perfectly execute the will of His Father as He reigns. His will shall be done on earth as it is in heaven.
• Christ's reign will be irresistible. He will wield all authority and power because the Father has given it to Him.
• Christ's kingdom is meant to save souls and bless the people. The grace of God will still be on display.

Jehovah tells us He will send His only begotten Son into the world and Christ will rule all nations with a rod of iron. Jesus the Son of God will dash them into useless pieces like fragments of broken pottery. 

Jehovah still extends an invitation for man to respond to the gospel of Christ. 

Psalm 2:10-12 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. 
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Here we see the essential elements of the message of King Jesus.

• Christ calls people to be teachable when His says for them to be instructed. 
• Christ calls His people to service by being governed by His holy laws and by living in obedience to HIs Word.
• Christ calls people to worship the King for He alone is worthy.

This Psalm concludes with an invitation to the people, kings and rulers to stop their madness and serve the LORD with fear and trembling. He tells them to "kiss the Son lest He be angry" and they perish from off the earth. This means they will do what Paul and John wrote about in the New Testament. Every knee shall bow and every tongue shall confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of Lords and King of kings for the glory of the Father. 

Points to Ponder....

• Two Kingdoms are vying for supremacy in the world. The Kingdom of God will prevail and the kingdom of darkness will be shattered.

• The criminal conduct, rebellion and resistance to God's moral law reflects the Ungodly Man from Psalm 1.

• The ultimate battle is over the holiness of God, God's right to rule over us and man's desire to sin.

• Jehovah's Kingdom includes an invitation to all people to repent, sit and learn at the feet of Messiah. Those who refuse will be judged and cast into outer darkness. 

The final victory is assured through Christ. The world will be filled with confusion and chaos until the Kingdom is established by the work of Christ. God's law will be the holy standard that all men must meet. Jehovah invites us to be a part of His kingdom. I hope that each of you have come to repentant faith in Christ and are anticipating the coming Kingdom of Christ with me!

Bob