Sunday Sermons
Nations in an Uproar
Nations in an Uproar
The second psalm is very familiar to students of the New Testament. The Apostles cited it in Acts 4:25-26, and attributed the authorship of the psalm to the Holy Spirit, who had spoken it through David. It is also quoted by Paul in Acts 13:33, as being a psalm which predicted the resurrection of the Messiah. In fact, the New Testament calls it the “second psalm” (Acts 13:33).
The kings against the King
This Psalm starts with a profound “why”? It is the same why asked by many believers today. Why are people rebelling against God? Why don’t they serve Him? What's not to absolutely adore and appreciate about our Creator, the very one who has all answers? And yet, the nations are in an uproar, they are agitated like the ocean, and are in a rage. I know that even Christians can get very discouraged by the uproar and upheaval in the world and ask, “When will things settle down?” The truth is that, just like in one's personal life, the life of any nation that ignores God will surely be unsettled.
Devising a Vain Thing
Both rulers and subjects are together in this uproar. In the context the empty thing they are planning is to reject the authority of God and His Messiah (2:2). The revolt will not be successful because God has already decided that Jesus is the King of Kings (2:6).
The Kings of the Earth
More than one nation is in revolt—they are all in revolt. In fact, this is the one thing most nations have in common— the unspoken, yet sure agreement that they will not submit themselves to the rule of Jesus. The Holy Spirit says that they take their stand against…the Lord. Let's be honest. Ignoring Jesus is a deliberate decision to oppose the Father as well as Jesus. When one takes a stand against the Father, one is also taking a stand against His Son, against the Creator.
They Take Counsel
They actually assist one another in justifying their destructive decision, and reinforce their common unbelief in Him. They support and endorse theories and arguments against His existence or His right to rule. In Acts 4:27 the initial application of this passage was made. The “rulers and kings” included Herod, Pontius Pilate, and even rulers in Israel, such as the High Priest Annas and Caiaphas, the ruling religious parties, the Sadducees and the Pharisees. Yet even today, the verse explains why it is that the elite in our culture, the powerful in politics, finance, entertainment and so on, are so often in agreement when it comes to their opposition to Jesus and the Bible. And often what they are trying to do is convince us to join them in their opposition to the Lord and His Anointed. Understand that when the voices in the culture are encouraging you to reject the idea of absolute truth, or are encouraging you to be tolerant of sin or embrace macro evolution as a fact of Science, that you are being invited to join in this rebellion.
Let us tear their fetters apart
Instead of viewing the rule of God for what it really is: beneficial and protective, they instead view it as oppressive. The goal of the revolt is complete independence from God. If you question the use of the term uproar, just be outspoken in your disagreement with the cultural view of abortion, hell, sex prior to marriage, divorce and remarriage or homosexual marriage—and you'll soon learn the clear meaning of the word "uproar".
Besides telling it exactly like it is and feeling like this Psalm was written yesterday, is God’s reaction in this Psalm also is quite impressive. As Christians it is easy to fret, worry or even lose faith as we witness the collected rebellion against God. We feel that things are out-of-control and it may even look like at the moment that the revolt is succeeding or will succeed to the point that no one will serve Him in the next generation. But what is God’s reaction?
He who sits in the heavens laughs
God is not rattled. He is seated firmly and is in control of the situation. When it says that He laughs, such does not imply that this revolt is no big deal or that God is downplaying their rebellion. “It becomes very plain that the only laughing matter is the arrogance itself—not the suffering it will cost before it ends” (Derek Kidner p. 51). God also grieves over the decisions of such people (Genesis 6:6). God mocks, scoffs and ridicules the vain plans of such unbelievers. He also providentially confounds those who claim to be wise (1 Corinthians 1:20). “God’s laughter, as we face the terror of our history, keeps things in perspective. It reminds us of the answer to the question, ‘Who is in charge?’ Ultimately, neither ecological disaster nor nuclear nightmare (nor politicians) are in charge; God is!” (Williams p. 34).
He will Act
God is said to laugh, scoff, and speak to them in His anger; terrify them in His fury (2:5). “The very vagueness of the term (or time frame) carries something ominous in it: you can never tell when His anger will flash forth” (Leupold p. 48). Then there is a contrast between their plans and His decision. He says that in the face of such rejection, He has installed His King (2:6). In the First Century, the powers at be could not stop Jesus from ascending to God’s right hand and sitting down as King (Acts 2:36; Ephesians 1:20-23). Neither can the powers at be today stop Jesus from ruling.
I Will Tell
God’s decision is firm, He has “set” or “installed” His King, and then we have a conversation recorded happening between the Father and the Son. How will Jesus rule? Will He try to appease the nations? No! He will faithfully speak God’s decree. And beware of ignoring Him. He is not just another king, He is the Son of God (2:7), and His Sonship was clearly demonstrated by His resurrection, when God says “today I have begotten Thee”. This is the One to whom the Father has given all authority (Matthew 28:18). The very nations owe their existence of Him and are accountable to His rule. In the end, He will break any that persist in their rebellion. And this is no idle threat, for He broke Egypt, Babylon, Assyria, Edom, Moab, the Canaanites and others in the Old Testament. Nations, with all their institutions may consider themselves very resilient and strong, but they are like cheap pottery that can be easily shattered. All those nations in the Old Testament had roads, layer after layer of government officials, thriving economies, large populations, centers of learning and science—and even still they fell! In verse 10 it is almost as if the Psalmist is speaking after the fact of Jesus being rejected, and installed and the nations of the time falling. It is as if all other nations to come are witnesses of this and are called upon to learn a very valuable to lesson. All future rulers, whether they are kings, prime ministers, or presidents and exhorted to show wisdom in this area.
Take Warning O Judges of the Earth
Wise leaders never ignore the will of the Creator in decision making. Wise judges will not come up with a standard of justice that fails to factor in His absolutes. Prudent judges do not condemn the innocent, and at the same time, do not endorse the sinful. Before a judge renders a decision from the bench or writes an opinion, astute judges make certain they are not oppose the Lord and His Anointed—for all judges will appear before this Judge!
Worship the Lord with Reverence
Do not reject God, do not ignore Him, do not even give Him lip service— worship Him! No matter how powerful you might be—you are not exempt from serving Him. Being a ruler, or even a judge does not mean you are supposed to remain neutral in reference to Jesus.
Do Homage to the Son Do not ignore Jesus! If you do, you will perish (2:12).
Mark Dunagan | mdunagan@frontier.net
Beaverton Church of Christ | 503-644-9017
www.beavertonchurchofchrist.net
