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Chad Werkhoven

Psalm 2 - Learn To Laugh

Don't let the media get you worked up. God is laughing at them.


 

Psalm 2 (NIV)


¹ Why do the nations conspire

and the peoples plot in vain?

² The kings of the earth rise up

and the rulers band together

against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,

³ “Let us break their chains

and throw off their shackles.”


⁴ The One enthroned in heaven laughs;

the Lord scoffs at them.

⁵ He rebukes them in his anger

and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,

⁶ “I have installed my king

on Zion, my holy mountain.”


⁷ I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;

today I have become your father.

⁸ Ask me,

and I will make the nations your inheritance,

the ends of the earth your possession.

⁹ You will break them with a rod of iron;

you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”


¹⁰ Therefore, you kings, be wise;

be warned, you rulers of the earth.

¹¹ Serve the Lord with fear

and celebrate his rule with trembling.

¹² Kiss his son, or he will be angry

and your way will lead to your destruction,

for his wrath can flare up in a moment.

Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

 

Listen to passage & devotional:


 

Belgic Confession of Faith, Article 36: The Civil Government


We believe that

because of the depravity of the human race

our good God has ordained kings, princes, and civil officers.

He wants the world to be governed by laws and policies

so that human lawlessness may be restrained

and that everything may be conducted in good order

among human beings.


For that purpose he has placed the sword

in the hands of the government,

to punish evil people

and protect the good.


And being called in this manner

to contribute to the advancement of a society

that is pleasing to God,

the civil rulers have the task,

subject to God’s law,

of removing every obstacle

to the preaching of the gospel

and to every aspect of divine worship.


They should do this

while completely refraining from every tendency

toward exercising absolute authority,

and while functioning in the sphere entrusted to them,

with the means belonging to them.


They should do it in order that

the Word of God may have free course;

the kingdom of Jesus Christ may make progress;

and every anti-Christian power may be resisted.


Moreover everyone,

regardless of status, condition, or rank,

must be subject to the government,

and pay taxes,

and hold its representatives in honor and respect,

and obey them in all things that are not in conflict

with God’s Word,

praying for them

that the Lord may be willing to lead them

in all their ways

and that we may live a peaceful and quiet life

in all piety and decency.


And on this matter we denounce the Anabaptists, other anarchists,

and in general all those who want

to reject the authorities and civil officers

and to subvert justice

by introducing common ownership of goods

and corrupting the moral order

that God has established among human beings.

 

Summary


The second Psalm, along with the first, set the tone for all of the Psalms that follow them. Psalm 2 sets forth two competing realities, but it also makes clear that only one of these realities will ultimately prevail.


You didn't need Psalm 2 to tell you about the existence of the first reality: that all of the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain... banding together against the the LORD and His anointed one (mā·šîaḥ). The kings of the earth rise up against the very God who established them (Romans 1). You didn't need Psalm 2 to tell you this because you see evidence of it everywhere you look, whether it's 'kings' operating at the local level or 'kings' who have tremendous geopolitical power.


What you need Psalm 2 to be reminded of is what's in store for these wicked and corrupt rulers. You need to be reminded often that despite how much you worry about policies and proclamations that seem so backwards, the One enthroned in heaven laughs and scoffs at them! He's not laughing because He thinks their attempts are so funny, but because He knows their rebellious efforts are so pathetic.


The One enthroned in heaven can be so confident because He knows who the true King is: the one He installed on Zion, His holy mountain, and He knows that this King - His Son - will break the rebellious nations with a rod of iron and will dash them to pieces like pottery.



Dig Deeper


We let the media get us so spun up and uptight. Whether you get your information from sources aligned with the political left or right, understand that both have the exact same goal: to work you up into a tizzy, because angry people consume more and more of their content.


It's certainly not wrong for you to be upset about things you think your government are doing that are contrary to God's Word. In fact, you have an obligation to warn your neighbors that God's wrath can flare up in a moment against ungodly governments.


You also have a duty to encourage the 'kings' in your life to be wise, and to serve the LORD with fear and celebrate His rule with trembling. This is what our Confession means when it states that good governments completely refrain from every tendency toward exercising absolute authority, but instead function in the sphere entrusted to them, with the means belonging to them.


But you must resist the continual anxiety the media wants you to have. Remember that your Father in heaven is laughing at the feeble efforts this world musters in rebellion. So every so often be sure to just sit back and chuckle at the silliness of it all as well, knowing that He has installed His King on Zion, and that blessing comes to all who take refuge in Him.



  • ACKNOWLEDGE WHO GOD IS: Our Father, the One enthroned in heaven;

  • ALIGN YOUR LIFE WITH GOD'S WILL: Pray that your faith in the LORD's anointed One will overcome your anxiety about the kings in your life;

  • ASK GOD FOR WHAT YOU NEED:

 

Read the New Testament in a year! Today: Revelation 1

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