LEARNING DAILY

Psalm 2:1-2, Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision. Then he shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure.

This Psalm begins with the Psalmist asking why “nations and people” reject and plot against God’s rule. The Psalmist is amazed that anyone can think he can fight against God, believe they can challenge Him in any way or escape the will of God. Yet, nations and people reject God and are intent on following evil. The Psalmist writes that these people plan to get rid of, overthrow “the Lord and His Anointed One”; but their planning is in vain. The word “rage” is a fitting description of people’s response to God; rage and anger are accurate responses toward God and all who follow Him.

When I consider these verses, I think of Pharoah’s attempts to reject God. After plague after plague, Pharoah eventually allowed the Hebrews to leave with Moses. You know what happened when the Egyptians caught up to them at the Red Sea. Moses told the people to stand and watch the glory of the Lord, that He would fight for them. He did. Note that God laughs at those who believe they can oppose His will.

The question written by the Psalmist is one that could be asked many times over the course of history by God’s people. Believers today should be very aware at the growing hatred of God and disrespect of His son Jesus Christ. Throughout the world Christians are persecuted and killed for following and worshipping Jesus Christ. In the United States the Bible has been taken out of the schools, the Ten Commandments taken down from most public places, and the influence of ungodliness, immorality, and evil has been promoted. Increasing persecution and the mocking of Christians is becoming too normal.

The increasing growth of evil is being flaunted and I wonder how much longer God will allow this to happen! Yet, He tells every Believer to stand and see His glory, just as He did for those Hebrews at the Red Sea. I wonder how close we are to the leaders of the world gathering together to plot in vain their attempts to remove God and His Son from the earth, along with all those who follow Him. I wonder how close the time is for the seven years of tribulation to come upon the earth that will see the Antichrist set himself in the temple as God.

There is no doubt a prevailing belief today is “good is evil and evil is good”; it is a growing thought. There is another verse of Scripture that causes me great concern in this regard. “My people are destroyed by their lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I will also reject you from being priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children.” (Hosea 4:6). God wanted Israel to not only have knowledge of Him but to experience Him by faithfully walking with Him. All Believers must spend time with Him each day in His word, in prayer, and walking faithfully with Him on His narrow way.

Psalm 2 gives Believers insight to God’s attitude to what is happening around us. The satanic plans of the foolish, prideful people who think they can break away and prevent the sovereign rule that is coming is laughed at by Him. The Lord Jesus Christ is coming back as “the King of kings and Lord of lords. Every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord.” Just think about the Gospel being preached for over 2000 years. God does not want anyone to perish. But with the ever growing evil and continued opposition towards everyone and everything godly, is the return of Jesus near? “The day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night!” Believer, you are a child of God by His grace alone. Walk the narrow way with Him daily, walking in His truth, safe and secure as you do! Stay ready, so you don’t have to get ready! (Pastor Ed Newton).