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Psalm 2 - "Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?" Have you ever asked the question 'Why'? Why is this happening? Why, O God, am I in this situation? Why are these things happening? Why do people rage against God and conspire against the people of God? Why do people plan and plot to outwit God - and become furious with those who name the name of Jesus Christ?

It is not always easy to give an answer to certain questions people raise – but in Psalm 2 the answer to the main question is clear.

Rebellion is a fact of life. This is a vivid true description of the hatred of human nature - agitation and anger - against the Christ of God - and the people of God.

Psalm 2 is quite dramatic and full of power and poignancy – it is frequently quoted in the New Testament – therefore was popular and well known in the early Church. See the quotation ascribed to David in Acts Chapter 4 verses 25,26 – and 13verse 33 - and Hebrews 1verse 5 .

In verses 1to 3 we hear the voices of the nations. There comes across a deep spirit of restlessness and rebellion - because man is frustrated – yet on he goes resisting God, and God’s anointed one – Jesus. We see here the fallenness and corruption of man. – It is a picture of man’s sinfulness.

We read of the kings of the earth standing against God - and the rulers of the peoples gathering together against the Lord and His Anointed One. It is what we would class as a clique. Hostility leads to plots and plans.

It is usually those who are against Jesus Christ who conspire together - and not those who are believers in Jesus. They say - "Let us break their chains and throw off their fetters." Let us get rid of this religious yoke - and free ourselves from all this slavery to God. They do it deliberately. But there is no safety in such numbers. Let us get rid of these restricting and limiting chains.

There is this struggling to be independent of God – conflict is very real - so people run from the Christ whose desire and longing is to love and save and forgive and heal – and impart peace and wholeness and blessing.

One thing that can unite people is a coming together to stand against God and His word and His Jesus – our Saviour and Lord. We are reading of something that has not changed for hundreds of years - and is very much the theme of many governments today. It is NOT temporary.

Here we see something of the hatred of human nature against the Christ of God.

It is not who we are that matters - but whose we are. This was true in the days of the Psalmist - and so very true as soon as Jesus was born.

Men's hatred was hot - they were so full of self-confidence that they could get rid of Jesus once and for all.

That is why they plotted to have Jesus betrayed and arrested and crucified.

Man actually thought it was possible to get rid of Jesus - and to be rid of GOD. There is a futility of fighting against the rule of God. It doesn't make sense - because it leads men away from God and His Ways.

Have you noticed how frequently the word ‘proud’ has been used recently?

Man has had this desire to be independent of God - and to live without God and His Word. There have been times when restraint has been thrown off. Let's just live as we please - and believe whatever we choose to believe. So many have tried to shake off any dependence upon God - and giving any heed to God's ways.

Roman Emperor Diocletian, in 313tried to extinguish the name of Christ and abolish this superstition of Christ. Diocletian has gone – a long time ago – but Jesus Christ our Saviour and King remains and reigns and rescues and loves.

And so today we are moving into what the Bible describes as a reign of lawlessness.

Resolutions of Rebellion are doomed to failure. The rebellious view submission to God as imprisonment - but it is the very opposite according to Jesus.

Verses 4to 7 - We hear the Voice of God and read of how God reacts - turning our eyes from men to the throne room. God laughs at the puny efforts of man. God is above the malice of man. Man resists feebly, only to do himself much harm.

It can be good to laugh – but there is no humour here. It appears a harsh word at first sight. It is not that God finds something funny about men’s sins – no – He sees the serious and damaging nature of sin – as man sometimes boasts about his abilities.

God will establish His king and will have His king reign and rule.

In spite of men GOD will have HIS KING. Despite plots and plans and schemes, GOD will appoint and anoint His man.

His King cannot be destroyed. God has set His king and established him in a solid secure position. He will reign sovereignly and majestically. God has set in motion a plan that cannot be thwarted or stopped - nor can it fail - because there is a precious relationship between Father and Son.

In verse 7 we have the voice of the Messiah himself – the voice of Jesus.

“This is My Son in Whom I am well pleased - listen to Him”. Rulers of the earth – you can put him to death – but I will raise him up – this is My Son!

Verse 8 - Ask of me. Right in the middle of this Psalm we have this call and invitation to pray. It is a gracious offer.

Verse 9 - We look from the council chamber of the wicked, to the throne of God and see the destruction and judgement of those who wanted to destroy the Lord and His Anointed - these rebels and traitors.

If a man will not bend - he must break - and it is certain, irresistible, terrible, complete and irretrievable - like a clay pot.

Our risen living Jesus has authority and some people do not like to think of God as having authority.

It is the picture of the potter taking an iron rod and breaking the marred flawed pots.

Verse 10 – There is a single voice singing gently – the words of the Psalmist.

Be wise – come to your senses - be instructed - be open - learn.

Here is another gracious appeal. There is only one way out. He warms - and rulers and people do not seem to want to give serious heed to these warnings - but in His mercy there is another inviting opportunity.

Verse 11 - Serve the Lord reverently - with respect - and rejoice with trembling.

Verse 12 - Kiss the Son - God warns - and explains what the outcome will be if we don't. “Kiss” here is an expression of love and submission - like meeting the Sovereign. Samuel kissed Saul when he anointed him king.

There is an illustration of this in Luke Chapter 7 verses 37 to 38 .

The contrast in the first Psalm is between the righteous man and the sinner - now it is between tumultuous raging disobedience of the ungodly - and the righteous exaltation of the risen and living Lord Jesus Christ, the King.

In Psalm 1 we read of that righteous man – in Psalm 2 we read of the righteous King of Kings . Peace will never be the product of human effort – peace will be the consequence of a Divine event – the coming again of Jesus Christ the King.

Blessed are all who take refuge in HIM. How beautifully the Psalm ends.

Here we see again that our God desires to bless His People.

God is always speaking about how He wants to bless people.

This promise remains, as we remain in Christ. John 15 verses 1to 12.

Our Holy God has prepared a holy way to bring rescued saved sinners into His Holy Presence – to discover that He is our shield and our protector – and the One who sets us free – free from sin – free from frustration – free from rebellion – free, as only Jesus Christ can make us free.

Kiss the Son – submit, and surrender to the God, who loves us, and cares for us.

“Lord God, we pray for others at this time of the year – with the dangers of debt increasing and when further opportunities for adultery arise. Protect those for whom we pray. Help us to resist temptation and to so NO to sin. We so need the help of the Holy Spirit. We pray in Jesus Name. Amen.

Psalm 2 - "Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?" Have you ever asked the question 'Why'? Why is this happening? Why, O God, am I in this situation? Why are these things happening? Why do people rage against God and conspire against the people of God? Why do people plan and plot to outwit God - and become furious with those who name the name of Jesus Christ?

It is not always easy to give an answer to certain questions people raise – but in Psalm 2 the answer to the main question is clear.

Rebellion is a fact of life. This is a vivid true description of the hatred of human nature - agitation and anger - against the Christ of God - and the people of God.

Psalm 2 is quite dramatic and full of power and poignancy – it is frequently quoted in the New Testament – therefore was popular and well known in the early Church. See the quotation ascribed to David in Acts Chapter 4 verses 25,26 – and 13verse 33 - and Hebrews 1verse 5 .

In verses 1to 3 we hear the voices of the nations. There comes across a deep spirit of restlessness and rebellion - because man is frustrated – yet on he goes resisting God, and God’s anointed one – Jesus. We see here the fallenness and corruption of man. – It is a picture of man’s sinfulness.

We read of the kings of the earth standing against God - and the rulers of the peoples gathering together against the Lord and His Anointed One. It is what we would class as a clique. Hostility leads to plots and plans.

It is usually those who are against Jesus Christ who conspire together - and not those who are believers in Jesus. They say - "Let us break their chains and throw off their fetters." Let us get rid of this religious yoke - and free ourselves from all this slavery to God. They do it deliberately. But there is no safety in such numbers. Let us get rid of these restricting and limiting chains.

There is this struggling to be independent of God – conflict is very real - so people run from the Christ whose desire and longing is to love and save and forgive and heal – and impart peace and wholeness and blessing.

One thing that can unite people is a coming together to stand against God and His word and His Jesus – our Saviour and Lord. We are reading of something that has not changed for hundreds of years - and is very much the theme of many governments today. It is NOT temporary.

Here we see something of the hatred of human nature against the Christ of God.

It is not who we are that matters - but whose we are. This was true in the days of the Psalmist - and so very true as soon as Jesus was born.

Men's hatred was hot - they were so full of self-confidence that they could get rid of Jesus once and for all.

That is why they plotted to have Jesus betrayed and arrested and crucified.

Man actually thought it was possible to get rid of Jesus - and to be rid of GOD. There is a futility of fighting against the rule of God. It doesn't make sense - because it leads men away from God and His Ways.

Have you noticed how frequently the word ‘proud’ has been used recently?

Man has had this desire to be independent of God - and to live without God and His Word. There have been times when restraint has been thrown off. Let's just live as we please - and believe whatever we choose to believe. So many have tried to shake off any dependence upon God - and giving any heed to God's ways.

Roman Emperor Diocletian, in 313tried to extinguish the name of Christ and abolish this superstition of Christ. Diocletian has gone – a long time ago – but Jesus Christ our Saviour and King remains and reigns and rescues and loves.

And so today we are moving into what the Bible describes as a reign of lawlessness.

Resolutions of Rebellion are doomed to failure. The rebellious view submission to God as imprisonment - but it is the very opposite according to Jesus.

Verses 4to 7 - We hear the Voice of God and read of how God reacts - turning our eyes from men to the throne room. God laughs at the puny efforts of man. God is above the malice of man. Man resists feebly, only to do himself much harm.

It can be good to laugh – but there is no humour here. It appears a harsh word at first sight. It is not that God finds something funny about men’s sins – no – He sees the serious and damaging nature of sin – as man sometimes boasts about his abilities.

God will establish His king and will have His king reign and rule.

In spite of men GOD will have HIS KING. Despite plots and plans and schemes, GOD will appoint and anoint His man.

His King cannot be destroyed. God has set His king and established him in a solid secure position. He will reign sovereignly and majestically. God has set in motion a plan that cannot be thwarted or stopped - nor can it fail - because there is a precious relationship between Father and Son.

In verse 7 we have the voice of the Messiah himself – the voice of Jesus.

“This is My Son in Whom I am well pleased - listen to Him”. Rulers of the earth – you can put him to death – but I will raise him up – this is My Son!

Verse 8 - Ask of me. Right in the middle of this Psalm we have this call and invitation to pray. It is a gracious offer.

Verse 9 - We look from the council chamber of the wicked, to the throne of God and see the destruction and judgement of those who wanted to destroy the Lord and His Anointed - these rebels and traitors.

If a man will not bend - he must break - and it is certain, irresistible, terrible, complete and irretrievable - like a clay pot.

Our risen living Jesus has authority and some people do not like to think of God as having authority.

It is the picture of the potter taking an iron rod and breaking the marred flawed pots.

Verse 10 – There is a single voice singing gently – the words of the Psalmist.

Be wise – come to your senses - be instructed - be open - learn.

Here is another gracious appeal. There is only one way out. He warms - and rulers and people do not seem to want to give serious heed to these warnings - but in His mercy there is another inviting opportunity.

Verse 11 - Serve the Lord reverently - with respect - and rejoice with trembling.

Verse 12 - Kiss the Son - God warns - and explains what the outcome will be if we don't. “Kiss” here is an expression of love and submission - like meeting the Sovereign. Samuel kissed Saul when he anointed him king.

There is an illustration of this in Luke Chapter 7 verses 37 to 38 .

The contrast in the first Psalm is between the righteous man and the sinner - now it is between tumultuous raging disobedience of the ungodly - and the righteous exaltation of the risen and living Lord Jesus Christ, the King.

In Psalm 1 we read of that righteous man – in Psalm 2 we read of the righteous King of Kings . Peace will never be the product of human effort – peace will be the consequence of a Divine event – the coming again of Jesus Christ the King.

Blessed are all who take refuge in HIM. How beautifully the Psalm ends.

Here we see again that our God desires to bless His People.

God is always speaking about how He wants to bless people.

This promise remains, as we remain in Christ. John 15 verses 1to 12.

Our Holy God has prepared a holy way to bring rescued saved sinners into His Holy Presence – to discover that He is our shield and our protector – and the One who sets us free – free from sin – free from frustration – free from rebellion – free, as only Jesus Christ can make us free.

Kiss the Son – submit, and surrender to the God, who loves us, and cares for us.

“Lord God, we pray for others at this time of the year – with the dangers of debt increasing and when further opportunities for adultery arise. Protect those for whom we pray. Help us to resist temptation and to so NO to sin. We so need the help of the Holy Spirit. We pray in Jesus Name. Amen.

"Voice of Inspiration" from Andy Castro

Pretzel Love-Psalms 91:14