◄ What Does Psalm 2:1 Mean? ►

Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing?

Psalm 2:1(NASB)

Verse of the Day

There are many times in history when the people of God could have asked this very question: "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?" It is certainly a question that many of us have asked over the years as we see an increasing hatred of God, a multiplication of sin and evil, and an ever greater distain towards those that believe in the death, burial, and Resurrection of Christ for the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting.

But asking why the heathen rage in this way, is not simply a question that we are asking as we live in this lost and dying world, with its increasingly corrupt world system. This is the question that God the Father told us that He Himself would ask in derision about those that oppose Him, especially during the fast-approaching Great Tribulation, as the armies of the world gather together to make war against Christ. In their anger and rage we read that they will try to prevent His glorious return to earth and His everlasting reign of righteousness, when He comes in power, with the armies of heaven, to set up His Millennial Kingdom.

The Bible tells us that a time of great distress and terrible trouble is coming, when a great global federation of ungodly rulers and corrupt nations will unite in passionate hatred against God. They will come together with a unified resolution to prevent the prophesied Second Coming of Christ. In their satanic hatred of God, these ungodly men will seek to wrench away Christ's legitimate authority, and His God-given sovereign right to rule the nations of the earth in equity and peace.

As we watch the frenetic desire of the globalist minority seeking to deceive the nations by calling that which is good 'evil' and that which is evil 'good', we see other prophetic scriptures being fulfilled. We read in Hosea: "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me." Isaiah mourns: "My people are gone into captivity for lack of knowledge." And although these Old Testament passages are addressed directly to the nation of Israel, all Scripture is profitable for the Church, for through it we can discover truths and principles that can comfort, encourage, teach, train, rebuke, and direct us in our Christian walk through this life.

Before the foundation of the world, God formed His plan of redemption, whereby the first creation in Adam (who fell) would be replaced with a new Creation in Christ (Who is our life). From the beginning, God's purpose for the human race was for man to have dominion over the earth. But Adam sinned, and when man fell, Satan stole man's authority over the earth. However, God purposed that His only begotten Son, the eternal Son of God and second Member of the Trinity, would be the one and only Man Who would restore what man lost. He would be His anointed King Who would govern His people Israel and become the Head of the mystic Body, which is the Church.

The content of Psalm 2, together with many prophetic passages about the Second Coming of Christ, gives much insight into God's attitude towards the raging heathens, the kings and rulers of the earth that plot against God, and those that imagine a vain thing against the Lord and His anointed King. The satanic plans of these foolish, prideful people is to break free from the sovereign rule of their Creator God. Their goal is to become independent of His plans and purposes. But we read that God holds these people in derision. He laughs at them in scorn, for God has never rescinded his original plan and purposes for man to rule the earth. And the Lord Jesus is the King, Whom God the Father has purposed will rule and reign, for ever and ever.

God is long-suffering towards the fallen race of man and is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to faith in Christ Jesus. Indeed, the gospel of grace has been preached to the nations for almost 2000 years and the invitation to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of our soul and life everlasting has been preached freely to whosoever will come by faith.

But knowing that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief, we are a people who by God's grace ought to walk in spirit and truth. May we seek to conduct ourselves in holiness of heart, as we look for the coming of the Christ, our blessed hope and great Redeemer.

My Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You that in Your grace You have told us the end from the beginning and have promised that we are safe and secure in Your gracious hands. Lord, there are many individuals, leaders, and nations, that are raging against You and conspiring against the Lord Jesus Christ, and the world seems to be spiralling out of control. Thank You that Your Word stands fast forever and that the day is coming when Christ will rule this earth with equity and justice. You will break those that oppose Your plans and purposes and dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel. Blessed are those that put their trust in You, and blessed is the Lord our God, for His mercy and grace endures forever and ever. In Jesus' name, AMEN.