Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?

Psalm 2:1

There will undoubtedly be times in life we will ask this question. If God is in control, why does it seem like sometimes He is not? The chaos of the world, the godlessness of the present age, the havoc wreaked by those in power — why do the nations rage? 

The context of this psalm is a royal coronation for the King of Israel. It was written as an assurance that, although the surrounding nations plot against Yahweh and his “Anointed” one (v.2), the LORD’s chosen King will be established. God tells this King: “You are my Son; today I have begotten you…I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession” (vv.7-8). The other kings of the earth will “Kiss the Son,” and serve God with fear, and “rejoice with trembling” (vv.11-12). Clearly, God’s appointed King is in control. The nations and people rage in futility, for the King of Israel has command.

But when we read the Old Testament, we know that the kings of Israel—whoever may have fit into this psalm—fell short of it. David, Solomon, and all those who followed him, were not the King who would sit on the throne forever. This psalm must not refer to them, therefore, but to Someone greater, Someone stronger—the better and truer King of Israel. 

Yes, this psalm is all about Jesus. 

He is the “Anointed” one, the Messiah who comes to rescue his people. He is the only-begotten Son, truly God and truly man. He is the King, the One who sits on Zion, God’s holy hill (v.6). His kingdom will never end, for He is risen from the grave. His authority will never be matched, for He sits at the right hand of the Father.

Now we see the reason why the nations rage and the people plot in vain. They “set themselves…against the LORD and against his Anointed” (v.2). They despise authority, saying “let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords” (v.3). A heart in love with sin will do everything it can to throw off the yoke of Jesus’ rule. We have all found ourselves in this raging, in this plotting: at some point before Jesus broke the brittle kingdom of our own hearts, we sought to reject God and live for ourselves. In other words, we acted as our own kings. A heart so puffed with pride will avoid God at all cost.

But praise be to God that He has invaded our lives. Jesus, the rightful ruler, crushed our crown of self-dependence by wearing one of thorns. He squelched our pride by humiliating himself. He took our sin by bearing the cross. This Jesus, this King, loves us. In response we “kiss the Son” (v.12). We bow down in trembling awe and joy. While the nations rage in rebellion, we rejoice in reverence. We know who is in control of our lives. We know who is in control of the world. 

Reader, is Jesus your King? Either you plot in vain against Him, or you surrender in love to Him. Daily He calls you to bring your petty, shifty, shaky kingdoms to Him, and bow to His firm, eternal, loving reign. There is nothing greater than to serve Him, to love Him, to worship and adore Him. For all who know this King, the promise is clear: “blessed are all who take refuge in him” (v.12).

 Trade your raging for refuge today in the rightful rule of Jesus. Amen.