2 – The Powers confront the Lord
Psalm 2 is a Royal Psalm. It was used at the coronation of the kings of Israel. It is frequently quoted in the New Testament because it speaks of the rule of King Jesus, God’s Anointed One in Zion. It begins abruptly with a question:
Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth take their stand
and the rulers gather together
against the Lord
and against his Anointed One.
“Let us break their chains,” they say,
“and throw off their fetters.” [Psalm 2: 1 – 3 NIV]
The picture here is of kings and rulers in revolt against the Lord and his Anointed One, against Christ. But there are people other than kings and rulers who exercise great power who could also align themselves against the Lord: CEOs of big corporations, Trades Union leaders and newspaper publishers to name but a few.
There are many in our world who would not want the Lord to reign over their area of influence. There are business leaders for whom Christian ethics would wreck their profit margins; there are journalists, for whom a Christian influence might endanger dubious ways of working; there are political leaders who resist the Christian message because it would harm their vested interests.
Many in our world, whether they articulate it or not, want to marginalise the influence of God and stifle his voice.
The question asked is ‘Why?’ [Verse 1] For all of us, there is a desire to be in control, to have power, to have our own way. But in having our own way, we reject God’s way.
N T Wright comments,
Most Christians in today's world have not begun to think how calling Jesus ‘Lord’ might affect the real world.
By saying that Jesus is Lord, we deny lordship to all other powers. We allow him to reign.
Lord, show me any areas in my life that are in rebellion against you, and help me to bring all of my life under your control. Amen.
David Long
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