Rage of the Heathen

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.

Psalm 2:1-12

“the nations” (Hebrew: goy—heathen. Foreign, Gentile nations) “conspire” (ragash—gather tumultuously—riot? Assemble in rebellion—rage. “people” (leom--a gathering, a community—Israel.)

Mankind is in open rebellion against the authority of God the Father and His Son, the Messiah. They love their religions. They love their agnosticism. They love evil. They do not love God’s grace. It is God’s grace that saves and sustains His people. It is God’s grace that rules the universe. It is God’s grace that will triumph over evil, in spite of all the heathen can do.

This spiritual warfare intensified with the death, burial, resurrection and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ. When the Satanic hordes saw that He was not defeated by death, their rage heated into a frenzy. They could not destroy Him, so they scorn and ridicule Him. They blaspheme Him and hate His believers.

God is not impressed with their rage. His happiness is total, and depends on nothing else. His happiness is like His love; it originates from within Himself and is unconditional. He is the sovereign One. The One in charge. He is not affected by the rage of the heathen, but they are. They receive the consequences of their rebellion against His King. Like it or not, they will be subject to the Son. With or without their approval, the Son will inherit the nations and possess the earth. He, Who came as a human baby and served with gentle compassion, submitting to death on the cross for us, will rule with absolute authority (royal scepter) and total control. They who resist Him will be broken against Him. Submit to His authority and be protected, or rebel and be destroyed. In your rebellion, you will not win. Receive Him as Lord, or you will meet Him as Judge.

“Kiss the Son” –worship Him in reverence or suffer the consequences of unbelief. He is the eternal refuge for those who believe in Him.

This psalm of David indicates David’s understanding of the Holy Trinity and the essence of God. God reigns supreme, is absolutely righteous and fair, having provided salvation for all men who are willing to receive it; His love is unconditional and eternal, He is all-knowing, all-powerful and limitless. He is perfect truth and He never changes.

Fallen, unbelieving humanity is skeptical of, and afraid of such perfection and authority. Their sinful response to such a being is rejection and hatred which eventually becomes violence. This is the crowd who will be recruited by Satan to actually do battle against the Lord of Lords in the final confrontation at Armageddon.

It won’t be much of a battle. We know the victor, and He is ours.