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By Paul Thompson

This is Part 2 of 5 looking at Psalm 1.
Part 1 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5

1 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.

Psalm 2

The Nations’ Foolishness

As we saw in Part 1, this Psalm denotes the calloused, purposeful rage that the unregenerate nations and rulers have towards the Lord, and His anointed.
In fact it’s not just rage and hatred, but intentional, collaborative, planned rejection of God.

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.”

Psalm 2:2-3

The kings are rulers of the earth plan together to oppose the Lord, and His Anointed – Christ. They aren’t just apathetic, or even ignorant – they, like all unregenerate people, set themselves against God.
They say: “Let’s throw off the rules, and restrictions – let’s get rid of this rule – we can rules ourselves”

But it’s not just kings and rulers with that attitude – its all people. All mankind since the Garden has tried to find ways to throw off the rule of God, and govern ourselves.