How should Christians think about and respond to such things? I find Psalm 2 to be wonderfully instructive in that regard when my mind and heart threaten to become overwhelmed by earthly powers.
1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
This is not a request for information, but rather implies the futility of the people on planet earth seeking to accomplish their wills at the expense of God’s eternal plan. No matter what man resorts to, no matter how he rages and plots, all his machinations amount to nothing in the long shadow cast by the everlasting, omnipotent, and sovereign Creator God. Should we then fear the raging and plotting of men? Not, if we are among those who belong to Him.
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.”
Here it is not just the nations and peoples, but kings and rulers plotting to go their own way, to throw off the rule of Almighty God and His Anointed, His King. All people, including the rulers of this world, understand deep down that they are accountable to God (Rom 1:19-20). He alone is worthy of worship, praise, and service. But they wish to throw off the constraints that are theirs by virtue of creation.
Every time someone rages, seeks their own way, or plots for power, whether it is in Congress or a grocery store express lane, it is a person raging against God’s rightful authority over them. Fallen man wants to be king of his own kingdom. How does God respond?
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.
Consider how the psalmist describes God in both of these clauses. HE is the one who is enthroned in heaven, implying that man is not. He is the "Lord." This is not the word for Yahweh, but the normal Hebrew word for “master.” Man is not his own master; God is.
And He laughs at their raging and plotting. To hold someone in derision is to mock them. We may think of these people as mocking God with their actions, but He is mocking them. How? Their every act of rebellion against Him accomplishes His plan. That is not clear in this psalm but is attested throughout the Scriptures, most obviously in the cross itself. The cross, intended by the devil to defeat the Son, was used by the Father to destroy him who had the power of death. The very instrument the enemy used to bruise the Son’s heal crushed the serpent’s head.
The people of the world, with their scheming and raging, believe they are accomplishing their will and throwing off the reign of God, enjoying their own sovereignty. But in reality they are only doing the will of God. Every action, every word, every rebellion of heart, happens according to His sovereign decree. As they struggle against Him, they inadvertently serve Him. And He laughs.
Clearly, the God of all the earth is not troubled by the plotting of nations and kings. Why should we be?
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.”
There is one King reigning over all creation. His name is Jesus. To those who scheme to throw off the authority of God, the reign of Christ is a terror to them, and will only be worse when He comes again.
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.”
Here it is recorded that the Father has given the Son authority over all nations. Not just the Church, but all people everywhere. He is Lord of all…with the power to judge.
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.
Rather than fearing the ungodly rulers and peoples of this world, we should fear for them. Further, we should have the compassion to warn them as does the psalmist. Those who recognize the King’s authority and take refuge in Him from the wrath to come are afforded the joy of knowing Him intimately and serving Him. Those who refuse His authority in this life will be broken with a rod of iron on judgment day. They will perish. That is, those who continue to rage and plot, not only do so in vain, but they do so to their own eternal peril.
So how should believers think about and respond to the events unfolding around us?
First, we should think biblically. Therefore, we should not live in anger or fear. Man’s plans are accomplished only insofar as they coincide with God’s. In the privacy of our hearts, we should trust that God is on the throne. He is accomplishing all His holy will. And He is using kings and nations to do it.
Second, we should conspicuously trust the Lord. In other words, we should be vocal in our interactions with others about our biblical perspective on the things we see. We should use every conversation about current events to sow gospel seeds by indicating our trust in the True King who currently reigns over all. Our hope is not in any earthly institution but in the One moving all earthly institutions so as to accomplish His glory and our good.
Third, we should lovingly call others to allegiance to the King. In a nation where so many would identify themselves as Republican or Democrat, conservative or liberal, we should share the gospel clearly. We should demonstrate that allegiance to no political party or socioeconomic philosophy can address man’s greatest problem—alienation from God due to sin. Only the King can provide a refuge from the wrath to come. He has done so by the shedding of His own blood. Blessed are those who take refuge in Him.
What a help the Lord is in times of difficulty and confusion! His Word brings great clarity. May we cling to Him and be faithful for His glory in the coming days.
Comments