Psalms 2:1

The Bible says in Psalms 2:1, “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?” That is a good question. It does not make any sense that a mere mortal would be angry against God. Who is going to win that contest? “The heathen” were all the people who were not Jews and thus did not know God. “The people” refers to the people of God: the Jewish people. They might not be involved in the tumults and the turmoil of the heathen, but the people of God have their issues too. The people of God too often “imagine a vain thing.” Believers are supposed to be dedicated to the Lord, thinking about the Lord, and loving the Lord Jesus. But the world can crowd its way into the mind and heart of a believer. That is why the Bible says in Romans 12:2, “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God.”

Psalms 2:2-3 gives the answer to the question posed in the first verse “Why do the heathen rage?” It says, “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,[3] Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.” The unbelievers are “against the LORD, and against his anointed.” God’s anointed one is the Messiah: Jesus Christ. These people are anti-God and anti-Christ. They are against God and against Jesus. That is their problem. It is a spiritual problem. Notice that it says in verse 3 that these unbelievers say, “Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.” The unbelievers are “against the LORD, and against his anointed.” These people view God’s commandments as restrictions that limit them. They view God’s will as oppressive. Of course, they are completely wrong. God’s will leads to success and happiness and goodness.

How does God respond to these unbelievers who resist Him and oppose Him? The answer is given in Psalms 2:4-5, “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.[5] Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.” The judgement is going to be very interesting. It says here that God will laugh at the wicked. How foolish are people to think that they will oppose God and benefit from it. God will laugh at them, and after He laughs, He will be angry with them and He will “vex them in his sore displeasure.” Now is the time of opportunity to escape the wrath of God and to know the love of God. But if you do not escape the wrath of God through faith in Christ, then you will face the wrath of God against sin at the judgment.

We have heard in the previous verses that the kings of the earth and the rulers (with a few exceptions) are in opposition to God and they think they can cast off God’s authority. But God has a plan about who will rule this earth. That plan is stated very well in Psalms 2:6-8, “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.[7] I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.[8] Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” Zion is Jerusalem. Jerusalem is not only the capital of Israel, but it will also be the capital of the entire world. There is someone who has already been designated to be the king and the ruler of the world: Jesus Christ the Son of God. When the Father said in verse 7, “Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee,” He is talking about the virgin birth. The Son of God has always existed with the Father, but Jesus became man at the virgin birth and thus was the God-man, the One who came in the lineage of King David, and thus was the Messiah and the fulfillment of all the Old Testament passages about the Messiah. The way that Jesus will be given the heathen for His inheritance and the uttermost part of the earth for His possession is because Jesus will be King in Jerusalem upon the throne of David. A Jew will rule the world, and all of those vying for control will lose everything.

What will happen when Jesus returns to the earth and takes control? The Bible says in Psalms 2:9, “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.” In what way will this “rod of iron” of Christ and this dashing “in pieces like a potter's vessel” be manifested? One place where we are given the answer is in the book of Revelation. The first time that Jesus came, He came as a Lamb, but the second time He comes, He will come as a lion. Describing what happens at the battle of Armageddon, it says in Revelation 14:14-20, “And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.[15] And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on the cloud, Thrust in thy sickle, and reap: for the time is come for thee to reap; for the harvest of the earth is ripe.[16] And he that sat on the cloud thrust in his sickle on the earth; and the earth was reaped.[17] And another angel came out of the temple which is in heaven, he also having a sharp sickle.[18] And another angel came out from the altar, which had power over fire; and cried with a loud cry to him that had the sharp sickle, saying, Thrust in thy sharp sickle, and gather the clusters of the vine of the earth; for her grapes are fully ripe.[19] And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God.[20] And the winepress was trodden without the city, and blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a thousand and six hundred furlongs.”

But Jesus has not come back yet, and of course, the Battle of Armageddon has not happened yet. That means there is still a chance for some to escape the wrath to come. The Bible says in Psalms 2:10, “Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.[11] Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.[12] Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” A wise person will turn to the Lord: that includes the rulers of nations and every citizen in those nations. Verse 11 tells the rulers of the earth to “serve the Lord.” That is the reason that everyone was put on the earth: to serve the Lord. We were born to serve the Lord. When a person comes to Christ for salvation and forgiveness, part of that motivation is a desire to start serving the Lord Jesus. Verse 11 mentions “fear.” A wise person will fear hell and judgment, and that will motivate them to serve the Lord. The last phrase of verse 11 says, “rejoice with trembling.” Once you turn to the Lord Jesus and get saved, you certainly will want to rejoice. It will be the greatest rejoicing that you will ever have. Heaven will rejoice with you because another soul will be saved to live with God forever. It says to rejoice “with trembling” because you will be shaken to the depth of your soul if you truly get saved by the Lord Jesus and are born again.

Verse 12 says, “Kiss the Son.” Of course, the Son is Jesus. To kiss the Son means to love Him. God wants our love because He loves us. What happens to those who reject God’s love? The middle of verse 12 tells us, “lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little.” You do not want to make God angry. Think of what God did to win your favor: He sent His only begotten Son to suffer torture, to take the sins of the world upon Himself, and to die for you on the cross of Calvary. And then throughout your life, the Lord kindly and gently invites you to turn to Him. Everyone who rejects Christ will experience the anger and wrath of God. But there is an escape from such a future. It says at the end of verse 12, “Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” Turn to Jesus while you have a chance, and trust Him to save your soul and forgive your sins.

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