1 Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying,
3 "Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us."
4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.
5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
And distress them in His deep displeasure:
6 "Yet I have set My King
On My holy hill of Zion."
7 "I will declare the decree:
The LORD has said to Me,
You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
8 Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'"
10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear,
And rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,
And you perish in the way,
When His wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.—Psalm 2
What a joy Psalm 2 is to read this morning while the world around me splits and divides with so much hate and depravity. His truth truly goes marching on in its midst. My spiritual eyes can see through all the evil and unrest to the glory of his coming! The wicked will not prosper.
Psalm 2 reminds us that God is sovereign and sees all. The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
Verses 1-3 speak to human rebellion. Our hearts, Jeremiah reminds us, are desperately wicked. They devise violence, and their lips talk of trouble.
But God, in verses 4-6, is still seated in the heavens. He holds the wicked in derision and in His displeasure, distresses them. The end for the wicked and the rebellious is destruction. God’s King will be enthroned in Jerusalem. It is as good as done. Verses 7 through 9 speak to His divine rule. Paul says this in Romans 1:
concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be the Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations,including you who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, (Romans 1:3-6, ESV)
What is the right response to His Kingship? Verses 10-12 speak to this. Read them now and as You read, hear our God’s mercy. His tone is gracious as He warns us both as nations and as individuals. Immediate judgment does not occur. The Lord and His Annointed give us opportunity for repentance. God wants no one to perish, but for all to receive life in His Son.
Praying today that those who do not know the Lord would be wise...that they would give thought to His word and be blessed both temporally and eternally as they place their trust in Him.
The King of Kings rules! He is our Supreme Sovereign. Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless. May we grow together in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
Ending with Psalm 72...
1 Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son!
2 May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice!
3 Let the mountains bear prosperity for the people, and the hills, in righteousness!
4 May he defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!
5 May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!
6 May he be like rain that falls on the mown grass, like showers that water the earth!
7 In his days may the righteous flourish, and peace abound, till the moon be no more!
8 May he have dominion from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth!
9 May desert tribes bow down before him, and his enemies lick the dust!
10 May the kings of Tarshish and of the coastlands render him tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba bring gifts!
11 May all kings fall down before him, all nations serve him!
12 For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper.
13 He has pity on the weak and the needy, and saves the lives of the needy.
14 From oppression and violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight.
15 Long may he live; may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day!
16 May there be abundance of grain in the land; on the tops of the mountains may it wave; may its fruit be like Lebanon; and may people blossom in the cities like the grass of the field!
17 May his name endure forever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May people be blessed in him, all nations call him blessed!
18 Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel, who alone does wondrous things.
19 Blessed be his glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with his glory! Amen and Amen!
20 The prayers of David, the son of Jesse, are ended. (Psalms 72:1-20, ESV)
