Psalm Two…
February 22, 2022 – The first time I worked through the Psalms I decided to skip Psalm 2… not sure why. But this is a huge Psalm for our times, and we would have actually sung it if we were singing the non-Christmas songs from Handel’s Messiah!
Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
“Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.”
The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.
He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
“I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.”
I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:
He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father.
Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.
You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”
Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling.
Kiss his son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
The world around us is raging. We see it on TV and hear about it every day. From distant countries but also from our very own neighborhoods – things seem like they are going out of control. This song of Hebrew seems to limit this action to ‘Gentiles’ or non-Jews. We could say “Why do the non-believers rage against us?”
God set His people to be the anointed but the world around the early Hebrews were fighting against them. David wrote not only for his time, but this Psalm is also a prophetic ‘Messianic’ song that foretells the coming Messiah in David’s lineage. As the world rages against God and his people, what does God do about it? He’s not too worried, he laughs and scoffs – he rebukes them and lets them know he is in charge and has anointed his King to serve.
Four songs from Handel’s Messiah encompass this Psalm, #40-43. Take a guess at what comes next? Yep, number 44 and that should tickle your Christmas memories. The Psalm brings us once again to recognize not only the horrible conditions of the world we live in, but also of God’s proclamation about his Son and his inheritance. Then, our response should be ’44’…
Hallelujah! For the Lord God omnipotent reigneth!
The kingdom of this world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of His Christ…
and He shall reign forever and ever!