Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
“As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill.”I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
Psalm 2
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
This psalm should provide great comfort to the believer – especially in the world we face today. While it can (and should) be read in the context of Israel and the Davidic kingship – it can also be applied to us and the world we live in today.
When we look at the things going on in the world it can be easy to slip into a mindset that they are out of control. That the “powers that be” in governments and the unbelieving, God-rejecting culture at large are winning the day.
But as we see beginning in verse 4, the Lord is not thrown off, discouraged, or at a loss. He laughs. The fury of man as he rages against the Lord is not a concern to Him. We can trust that God’s justice will come to pass. We can trust that Christ will one day return to make all things right and bring judgment upon the “prince of the power of the air” and all of those who choose to follow him. God is in control of the nations, the governments – all of it. And though we may not understand the “why” – we trust the “Who”.
And just as the psalm states at the end:
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Psalm 2:12b
So take refuge in He who is seated in the heavens. He is worthy of all our trust, praise, worship, honor, and obedience.
Sola Deo Gloria!
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