Psalm 2

Psalm 2 (NRSV)
Psalm 2
God’s Promise to His Anointed
(Acts 4.23—31)
1 Why do the nations conspire,
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and his anointed, saying,
3 “Let us burst their bonds asunder,
and cast their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord has them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6 “I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.”

Lord,
Laughing in derision, it’s not the image that I carry around most days. Tender, loving, sympathetic, kind, merciful; these are the words that come most often to mind when I think of you. But I seldom imagine you laughing in derision.
I think that I get it. It’s like the six year old who puts on boxing gloves and then challenges the heavy weight champion of the world to a fight. Even as the champ plays, he laughs.
I’m thinking of the kings, cultures, and peoples who challenge you are like six year olds in the ring with the champ. These people are drinking the potent cocktail of ignorance mixed with arrogance and the result is a demonic high that totally distorts reality. Ignorance and arrogance may indeed be the number one cause of spiritual death. Ignorance of you, your way, your son and your kingdom mixed with a self-focused arrogance that believes that I the king, or my culture, or my people, or my nation stand at the center of the universe and broker all power and all wisdom for all others.
Under the influence of this powerful demonic drug, enormous pain is inflicted on others and then, following a long spiritual illness, self-destruction.
Lord, I am thinking of America and I pray for my people. I pray for this nation that I love so dearly. I pray for our leaders. Take us to your holy treatment center and cleanse the toxic poison of the ignorance and arrogance drug. Grant to the people of our land a renewed allegiance to you as God and teach us your ways. Grant us a growing knowledge of your Christ-like kingdom and a profound humility in your presence.

Lift to God those for whom you have special concern.
Give thanks to God for at least 5 things.
Amen.

7 I will tell of the decree of the Lord:
He 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,
with trembling 12 kiss his feet,a
or he will be angry, and you will perish in the way;
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Happy are all who take refuge in him.
[1]

a Cn: Meaning of Heb of verses 11b and 12a is uncertain

[1] The Holy Bible : New Revised Standard Version. Nashville : Thomas Nelson Publishers, 1989