Reflections on the Psalms

Psalm 2

If it wasn’t so pathetic, the first three verses of Psalm 2 would be very funny. “Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, ‘Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!’" The picture that comes to mind is like a very small dog challenging a full-grown lion. The small dog runs around busily barking and barring its’ fangs, while the lion lays in the shade ignoring the antics of the foolish dog. The lion can end the entire situation with a simple snap of its jaws, but the dog seems to be completely unaware of the peril.

The same holds true for any nation, any movement, any power base that pretends that it can challenge the power and authority of God. Verses 4-5 clearly shown the futility of resistance, “He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them. Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury, saying…” People, even Christians, need to be reminded that the opposition to God is not a civil war where the outcome is in doubt. God is, and has always been, the Victor. Those opposed to God have already lost!

The god of this world is the Devil, and the power of the Devil and his forces can seem to be so unstoppable. And yes, there are times when the forces of the Devil seem to be winning, but those times are never permanent. The Devil is already defeated, but he is completely evil, and his goal is to try to pull down as many with him as possible. Note four descriptive words in verses 5-4: laughs, scoffs, anger, and fury. The image vividly shows God’s patience coming to an end, and the final result is judgment and destruction for those opposed to the Will of God.

The assurance of God’s victory is not simply an abstraction. In His great Plan, God provided a focus, a person, for people to see and understand. God provided a means for sinful men and women to gain forgiveness and eternal life. The focus of God’s Plan is, or course, Jesus Christ, the Son of God. When did Jesus Christ come into the world? When did the Gospel spread quickly? It was not during a utopia-like peace and benevolence.

The events described in the New Testament occurred in a world that was held in the tight grip of a highly effective military empire. The birth of Jesus literally took place at a time of great danger, and in a world that was dominated by paganism and immorality. The plans of the Devil seemed to be supreme, but what happened? The world was changed! The final stage of God’s Plan of Redemption was enacted, and the mystery of the ages was revealed through the Good News - the Gospel.

The Psalmist wrote in verses 5-9, “Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury, saying, but as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain. I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, 'You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron, you shall shatter them like earthenware.'" Different writers have tried to dissect this passage to prove who the writer was describing, but there is no question that the ultimate figure was to be “the Anointed One”, “the Messiah”, “the Christ; the Son of the Living God”.

The kingdom has been established, and the King sits on His throne at the right hand of the Father. Now is a time for the church to mobilize and rescue those that are lost. The hymn, “Rescue the Perishing,” describes the work of Christians today, and there is no better time.

Can this work be successful in a hostile nation or a hostile social and political environment? Of course it can. Will the Devil attempt to distract Christians from their roles by inner dissention? Yes, of course he will. Divide and conqueror has always been an effective tactic in war. Will he use complacency or discouragement to get Christians to quit serving the Lord? Again, the answer is yes. What better way to drain the energy out of commitment and focus than the attitude that “everything’s going fine, let’s not ‘rock the boat’”. If that doesn’t work, then “We can’t do that” can always be used to defuse a threat to the Devil’s plans.

So, what are Christians to do? The New Testament is very clear. Paul wrote to put on the whole armor of God. Christians are warned to stay on the alert, because the Devil is like a ‘prowling lion’. Christians are to grow in knowledge in order to grow in spirit, and to better understand how everything in the Bible fits together. Mature Christians have a purifying impact upon society. Their quiet service, faith and knowledge will make Christians fishers of men!

The final words of the Psalm are both a promise and warning, “Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; take warning, O judges of the earth. Worship the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling. Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled, how blessed are all who take refuge in Him!”

Jim Shelburn, Reflections on the Psalms