Psalm 2
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.
For our church:
Please pray that the members of our church would, in effect, “kiss the Son,” by submitting to his authority, increasing in their love for his person and devotion to his service. [Charles Simeon, Horae Homileticae, 11.] Pray that the kings of the earth, the governing authorities would yield themselves willingly to Christ and that their leadership would enable people to enjoy peaceful and quiet lives.
Our teaching moment:
Prayer is not our refuge. The psalmists don’t make that assertion. Prayer is a pouring out of our hearts to God who is our refuge. (Psalm 46:1; 62:7-8; 73:28; 141:8; 142:5) The unbelieving world foolishly seeks refuge or protection in the accumulation of wealth or powerful political leaders. (Psalm 52:7; 118:8-9; Isaiah 30:2) But the people of God know that blessing is found in seeking refuge in God and his Anointed, Jesus Christ. (Psalm 2:12; 34:8, 22) To make God your refuge today is to discover afresh his strength, deliverance, and faithfulness. (Psalm 28:8; 37:4; 91:4) Is it any wonder that David wrote, “But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy…” (Psalm 5:11, ESV) Rejoice today in the Lord! I will say it again, rejoice!
A prayer from the past:
Thou God of all grace, thou hast given me a saviour, produce in me a faith to live by him, to make him all my desire, all my hope, all my glory.
May I enter him as my refuge, build on him as my foundation, walk in him as my way, follow him as my guide, conform to him as my example, receive his instructions as my prophet, rely on his intercession as my priest, obey him as my king.
May I never be ashamed of him or his words, but joyfully bear his reproach, never displease him by unholy or imprudent conduct, never count it a glory if I take it patiently when buffeted for a fault, never make the multitude my model, never delay when thy word invites me to advance.
May thy dear Son preserve me from this present evil world, so that its smiles never allure, nor its frowns terrify, nor its vices defile, nor its errors delude me.
May I feel that I am a stranger and a pilgrim on earth, declaring plainly that I seek a country, my title to it becoming daily more clear, my meetness for it more perfect, my foretastes of it more abundant; and whatsoever I do may it be done in the Saviour’s name.
[Arthur Bennett, ed. The Valley of Vision, 44.]
