This psalm pictures rulers of nations leading and making plans together without any acknowledgment of God's rule over them.
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.’
They've forgotten that they're not the highest authority in the world - God is. The Bible calls him the "King of kings and Lord of lords".
Woody Allen once said the best way to make God laugh is to tell him your plans. And he was right. Look at God's reaction to people who try and run their lives or even whole nations without him as if they're the highest authority...
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.’
No-one ultimately gets to run things in place of God. It's so ridiculous it's almost funny. God is God. We are not. So why act as if we are? God's laughter at people's plans turns to anger in this psalm. God decides who will rule. At the time of this psalm - it was King David he had chosen to lead his people and this gives David confidence...
I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:
He said to me, ‘You are my son;
today I have become your father.
today I have become your father.
Ask me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
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.’
you will dash them to pieces like pottery.’
David never saw peace during his reign (the Bible says this was part of God's punishment for his sin) but nonetheless - even amidst all the violence and war - his reign was blessed by God. He was God's chosen one.
David was an imperfect shadow of the King who would come later - Jesus - the King of kings and Lord of lords. Jesus is the Greater King that God has "installed". Jesus is the "Greater Son of God" too.
The prophet Isaiah, 700 years before Jesus, described how Jesus would be the one of whom David was a pale shadow...
Isaiah 9:6-7
For to us a child is born,to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Of the greatness of his government and peace
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and for ever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
there will be no end.
He will reign on David’s throne
and over his kingdom,
establishing and upholding it
with justice and righteousness
from that time on and for ever.
The zeal of the Lord Almighty
will accomplish this.
Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear
and celebrate his rule with trembling.
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.
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.
God loves us but only he gets to be God. He wants to bless us too, but we won't be blessed if we run our lives or our nations without him.
Have you taken refuge in Jesus? Do you know his blessing? Are you living your life under God's perfect loving rule? Are your plans God's plans for your life?
Or should you be worried?
