Pastor’s Thoughts – 01-25-2026

The placement of the Psalms in the Bible has a purpose in God’s Holy Word. Psalm 1 is an overview of the righteous in contrast to the wicked. It sets the foundation for all the other Psalms. Psalm 2 also has a significant role. It is about God’s promise to bring the rule of the earth under His Son. So in these first two Psalms of the inspired Word, we have the essential contrast of the righteous compared to the unrighteous, and that the righteous will stand in the day of judgment, but not the unrighteous. Psalm 2 begins, “Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing” (Ps. 2:1)? Think how practical and how relevant this has always been, but now more than ever. This addresses the restless rebellion of people all over the world. The “why” amplifies the idea that this rebellion does not make sense. It is like a summary of watching our news channel.

People on the earth have never had so much abundance. Yes, I know there are poor countries, but most of the greater degrees of lawless behavior is not confined to the poor countries, but in our own nation and other more affluent nations. What are the masses of people doing? They are in an uproar and devising vain things. The word for “uproar” means to be in agitation. They are against the police, and antagonistic to authorities, and some appear to not know what they are against, but are merely angry. The word for “devising” means they are spending energy deliberating against something, and the something is called “a vain thing.” This word “vain” means empty, futile, or a nothing of a thing. The world is spent as a dog chasing its tail. The flow of all this, whether recognized or not is against God, the supreme authority who has set all things in order with purpose and design.

The Psalmist does not stop with the people in general, but says, “The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His anointed, saying, Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us” (Ps. 2:2-3). This second statement draws us into the last times and also adds clarity to what the uproar and vanity is all about. Now we have the leaders of nations in their rebellion being irresponsible at their levels of influence. And we see this rebellion is aimed directly and clearly at God. All actions and causes that are dedicated against righteous behavior and authority are not acting innocently, but in opposition to God as He is the One who established government for the purpose of curbing evil (Rom. 13:1-2). These violent protests, seen on the news, are a reflection of restless anger harbored in many people, and in a significant portion of our nation’s leaders and many in the world.

The Psalmist adds, “and against His Anointed.” This is focused on the promises of God through His Son, the Messiah and particularly at His second coming. Just as in Christ’s day, His own people would not have Him and ordered Him to be crucified, today the promise of His rule is rejected both in the immediate and the future. It is rejected in the immediate by rejection of His Word and His Gospel. It is rejected in the future because the Bible promises that He will return to rule. What does the world in general do? They say, “Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us” (Ps. 2:3). This is the people who refuse any right for God or Christ over them. They will not listen to His commands for righteousness but fully reject the authority of God as God.

What will the Lord do in regard to this rebellion? We read on and have a full picture of the second coming of Christ and His promise of correcting these wrongs. “Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury, saying, ‘But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain,’ I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord; He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You, ‘ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession” (Ps. 2:5-8). Do you see the detail of this? Man is rejecting God, but God has a plan to restore the rulership of the earth to His Son. The foolish rebellion going on today is from the heart of mankind loving darkness and rejecting God’s right over His creation and His promises. This rejection is seen in great antagonism.

After giving severe warning of the coming wrath of God and His judgment, the Lord makes this plea in closing Psalm 2, “Worship the Lord with reverence and rejoice with trembling. Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him” (Ps. 2:11-12). Our reception of the Son is necessary for our daily living and for our future. Seeking Him, repenting, and taking refuge in Him as stated in this Psalm is the very definition of the blessed state of Christianity. The intensity of the sinful behavior of mankind grows and grows all because of direct rebellion against God. But this is all temporary. Christ will purge the earth in His wrath, and He will reign on Mount Zion. He alone is the answer to the world’s problems and our only true hope. He is coming as Psalm 2 promises. This is why we meet on Sundays to worship and learn of Him. Christ alone is our peace! Praise His name!