Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the LORD and against his anointed, saying,
“Let us break their chains
and throw off their shackles.”
The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
He rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
“I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain. ”
I will proclaim the LORD’s decree:
He said to me, “You are my son;
today I have become your father.
Ask me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
You will break them with a rod of iron;
you will dash them to pieces like pottery. ”
Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear
and celebrate his rule with trembling.
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.
As we sing this psalm, we acknowledge the futility of those who wage war against God and their ultimate defeat. When we look around us, we see godless leaders ruling over a godless world. This doesn’t happen only in politics but in every sphere of life, where powerful people hold sway.
Arrogant in their belief that they can do anything they want, they throw God out of their classrooms and courtrooms, thinking there won’t be any consequences. They set themselves up as mini-gods, making their own rules, turning what God says is good into something bad, and turning what he says is bad into something good. Consider abortion as one example. Or marriage as another.
We can be intimidated by people in power who try to bully us into submission or mistreat us. We need not fear. All these “rulers” will get their just desserts. God made David this promise at his coronation and to his successors. The promise was fully realized in his ultimate heir, Jesus. Jesus, who came to save us two thousand years ago and now sits at the right hand of the Father, will return very soon, but this time as a judge. All those who scoffed God will find themselves at the receiving end of the stick.
As for us, we are heirs of these promises too. We are God’s children by virtue of our baptism and anointed in his Holy Spirit. We have nothing to fear if we take refuge in Jesus, the only safe place to be in this wicked world. It isn’t going to be easy. Jesus warns: “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12). “But,” he continues, “the one who stands firm to the end will be saved” (Matthew 24:13).
Let us stand firm to the end, knowing that the faithful will dwell in the house of the Lord forever, where there will be no more mourning or crying or pain (Revelation 21:4).
God bless you.