Today's Featured Psalm
Psalm 2

Read this Psalm

1 Why do the nations rage
   and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
   and the rulers take counsel together,
   against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us burst their bonds apart
   and cast away their cords from us.”

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;
   the Lord holds them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
   and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6 “As for me, I have set my King
   on Zion, my holy hill.”

7 I will tell of the decree:
The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;
   today I have begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
   and the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron
   and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
   be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear,
   and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son,
   lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
   for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Scripture taken from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Psalm Devotional
Christ, Our Only Refuge

For just a moment place yourself in the shoes of an Israelite who is in exile in Babylon. Imagine that you are reading a scroll containing Psalm 2. What would you think about the promises in Psalm 2 regarding a universal kingdom ruled out of Zion? You have no temple, no sacrifices, and David’s kingly line seems at an end. What would you think? Let’s look at Psalm 2.

The psalm begins with the psalmist positing a question. The reader gets the sense that the psalmist is, as it were, peering down from heaven and pondering the illogical behavior of men who rebel against the sovereign Lord.

Verse 2 reveals that this rebellion is not general in nature, but is targeted against the “Anointed One.” Our culture would like to believe that a person can serve God without accepting Jesus Christ as Lord, but the psalmist is no pluralist. Rejection of Christ equals rebellion against God.

Jesus proclaims in Matthew 11:30 that His yoke is easy and His burden is light, but verse 3 tells us that those who rebel against Christ view His rule as confining them in “chains” and “fetters.” Is this not the cry of the pro-choice (pro-abortion) movement and homosexual activists? However, lest you get too comfortable, is this not representative of your own attitude at times? Are you in any way raging against the rule of Christ?

Listen to this Psalm

King of Kings album art Why Do Gentile Nations Rage? (Psalm 2B)
The Book of Psalms for Worship | King of Kings
Zion album art Why Do Gentile Nations Rage? (Psalm 2C)
The Book of Psalms for Worship | Zion
Messiah album art Why Do Gentiles Rage? (Psalm 2D)
The Book of Psalms for Worship | Messiah