Jesus & Politics | Rage & Laughter | Psalm 2

PART I | Rage & Laughter | Psalm 2:1-12

Psalm 2:1-12 |Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 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.” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 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.” 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.” 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.

WE ARE MADE FOR WORSHIP

We were made for worship, to reflect God’s glory and respond to God’s leadership. From rejecting the first commands in the garden, revolting in the wilderness, to the regicide of King Jesus on the cross; humanity has consistently chosen to respond to God’s good provision and purpose with rage over worship. This has been the disposition toward God the King from the beginning. The first vote we ever made as humanity was to declare our independence from God. The issue on the table was will we, or will we not, submit to God. The first declaration of independence:

“We the people of the Garden in an effort to form a more perfect union declare our independence from our Creator and do so though casting off the totalitarian restrains of His one oppressive law of refraining eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”

We have collectively formed nations and governments seeking independence, not from tyranny or evil, but from God. With the promise of freedom (breaking from bondage) and flourishing, nations plot to overthrow the one true source of life and joy. Is it any wonder that our current political discourse is filled with such vitriol? We need to recognize how our rage plays itself out on a national, global, and political scale so we can be reorientated to worship for our joy. It says the nations rage? Which nations? All of them. Persia, Egypt, Rome, UK, North Korea, Canada, and the USA. There is great unity for the purpose of opposition to God’s authority in their individual and collective lives and the assertion that self-rule would lead to greater flourishing.

The rejection of God is also a rejection of Jesus as God‘s anointed. “Anointed” is where we get the concept of Messiah and of “Christ” It’s the Savior-King of God’s People. Jesus can be just about anything but King. God leads His people through His Son Jesus so to be against Jesus is to be against God. World leaders gathered together are asking “how are we going to overthrow the Good God the Creator” who they’ve recast as the evil emperor we can easily forget who the good side is in this conflict. The reason for the rebellion is our wrong understanding of who God is and what His rule looks like in our lives and our world. It is believing an old but effective life that “We can do it better than God.” and twisting God’s character so to be under the rule an authority of God is to be in some sort of bondage to be cast off. They see and feel the tension of brokenness lives and world and they have placed the blame for the burden and sin on God. Yet, it’s God desire and character of compassion to bring abundant life and joy.

God is not the one who puts us in bondage, He is the one who brings freedom.  Rage and Rejection is a group effort but a foolish one. Ultimately all their intentionality, unity, and plotting is in vain. What a comfort in the first sentence of the first verses all of this conspiring, all of this turmoil and raging against God will be for nothing. They can plan all they want.... in vain.

God responds to their plot not with fear and concern but with laughter and derision. God is looking at all this plotting misunderstanding of who He is and His reaction is laughing. He’s ridiculing their plan (overthrow God’s authority) He’s mocking their purpose (to have our independence). Because it’s worthy to be mocked.  Are you kidding me? You think the God who created sex, chocolate, and sunsets is too oppressive so you plan is wage war to set yourself against this God for the purposes of your independence will lead to greater joy? You fool! Your party platform is faulty from its inception, let the incumbent lay out God’s plan.

God has a counsel, a plot, a purpose as well. "Ya’ll want to be king? The throne is not vacant, but that seat is taken. I’ve got a king for you I’ve already established. So you’re trying to come together and unify in opposition of God and His Anointed and I am telling you He’s already been set on His holy hill." Who is the King? God’s Son who is commissioned to possess and rule the whole earth!

Jesus is God and Jesus is King, these two truths require either reception and response of humble worship or rejection and opposition. The nations want unity, God wants unity too UNDER the authority of Jesus the strong warrior King.

God’s answer for our rage is our repentance from our rebellion and pledging allegiance to King Jesus for our peace and savior as our refuge.