Rebellion against the Lord and His Messiah
April 17, 2023 - Monday, Second Week of Easter
Psalm 2:1-9
Psalm 2 together with Psalm 1 form an introductory part to the book of Psalms. Psalm 1 begins with beatitude and Psalm 2 concludes with one. In Psalm 1 blessed are those who meditate upon the instructions of the Lord and in Psalm 2 blessed are those who put their trust in the Lord. Both psalms also introduce us to the theme of enemies God and the righteous, either individual people (see Psalm 1) or the entire nations (Psalm 2).
Psalm 1 begins with a statement that blessed is the one who meditates upon the Torah of the Lord (see Ps 1:2). On the other hand, Psalm 2 begins with the nations who “meditate” on how to rebel against the Lord and His Messiah (see Ps 2:1-2). The contrast is shocking and perplexing. People can use their intellectual faculties either for or against God. What is it that the nations plan to rebel against in particular? The psalmist quotes them saying: “Let us break the cords of their yoke” (Ps 2:3). It is a rebellion against God’s authority, His commandments, and His rule exercised over the world through His Messiah.
The reaction of the Lord to that rebellion begins with laughter. The nations are no much for God’s power. Prophet Isaiah proclaimed that “the nations are like a drop from a bucket, and are accounted as the dust on the scales” (Is 40:15). But although the nations cannot compare with God’s greatness, their rebellion is a serious matter that has to be dealt with. And so, the Lord moves from laughter to terrifying anger that should make them reconsider their plots. Moreover, the Lord instructs the leaders of the nations that the king installed on His holy mountain is His representative to rule over the nations (see Ps 2:6).
Although written centuries ago, Psalm 2 reads as if it was written for our times. Today, many nations not only meditate on rebelling against the Lord and His anointed but put their plans into action. God’s commandments are replaced by man-made laws and rules that endorse sin and penalise virtue. The Lord’s anointed, Jesus Christ, is being opposed and ridiculed in our contemporary culture. One wonders how long it is going to last and what the outcome is going to be. And so like the first Christians in Jerusalem, we raise our voices to the Lord in prayer and say:
“And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and enable your servants to speak your word with all boldness, as you stretch forth your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are done through the name of your holy servant Jesus” (Acts 4:29-30).