God Speaks
1 Why are the nations so angry?
Why do they waste their time with futile plans?
2 The kings of the earth prepare for battle;
the rulers plot together
against the Lord
and against his anointed one.
3 “Let us break their chains,” they cry,
“and free ourselves from slavery to God.”
4 But the one who rules in heaven laughs.
The Lord scoffs at them.
5 Then in anger he rebukes them,
terrifying them with his fierce fury.
6 For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the throne
in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.”
7 The king proclaims the Lord’s decree:
“The Lord said to me, ‘You are my son.
Today I have become your Father.
8 Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance,
the whole earth as your possession.
9 You will break them with an iron rod
and smash them like clay pots.’”
10 Now then, you kings, act wisely!
Be warned, you rulers of the earth!
11 Serve the Lord with reverent fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Submit to God’s royal son, or he will become angry,
and you will be destroyed in the midst of all your activities—
for his anger flares up in an instant.
But what joy for all who take refuge in him!
Source: New Living Translation: BibleGateway.com
We Respond
Reflection: Psalm two moves from the individual righteousness and wisdom of Psalm one to dealing with God’s sovereign reign over nations (people groups). Here God is calling out their corporate rebellion and sin against His Son, Jesus Christ (Messiah, the Anointed One). These nations are seeking freedom from His holy, righteous rule. At first, He laughs at their utter foolishness, but there is a point where He can no longer tolerate their wanton sin and rebellion. Then he rebukes them and terrifies them with His fierce discipline. The Lord God sets up His Son to rule from Jerusalem and to set things right. When the Son does so, the Father rewards Him with all the nations as His rightful possession. He will have the power to break them like pottery. The only hope these sinful rulers have is to appease the Son, serving Him with reverent fear and praising Him while trembling at His great power. If they are wise, they will submit to God’s royal Son or be destroyed, but happy are those nations and their leaders who serve Christ out of love and run to Him for rescue and safety.
Prayer: Dear Lord God, thank You that You exercise tough love. You put up with human foolishness (whether individual or corporate) only to the point where it becomes sinful rebellion. Then You must deal with it. I come to You on behalf of myself and my nation. Please exercise judgment for my (and our) great sins so that we may be set free from slavery, not to Your Holy will but from sin, self, and Satan, who are truly cruel slave masters. May I (and my nation) willingly submit to the loving rule of God the Son from Jerusalem. Reward Jesus, Father God, for all that He has suffered on our behalf. Give Him the whole earth as His kingdom. He has earned it and deserves it. Holy Spirit, I ask You to help me (and my nation) to love the Lord God properly so that I (we) will not be destroyed. I want all Your people (including me) to be truly happy and blessed by taking refuge in God the Son, Christ Jesus my Lord. AMEN
Action: (Ask God, the Holy Spirit, if He wants you to work on the suggestions below or something else more personal that He points out.)
- I will pray for all God’s chosen people (around the world) to turn to Him and be saved and set free.
- I will lovingly warn someone of the consequences of their sinful rebellion against God.
- I will search the scriptures to find out what really makes God angry, then seek to avoid it because I love Him.
- I will confess my (and my nation’s) sinful ways and turn to Christ for the forgiveness He has made available to me (and us). Then I will thank Him for it by living my life in willing submission to Him.
Share: I plan to share what I’ve learned with __________.