“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us,” Psalms 2:1-3.
We are still considering Section One,
THE REBELLION AMONGST THE NATIONS
We will look today at: —
THE PURPOSE OF THE REBELLION.
“Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.”
1. Unregenerate man hates the yoke of Christ. How differently Christ describes it. “Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light,” Matthew 11:29-30. How the yoke of Christ feels to you tells the story of your heart.
2. They wish to be out from under God’s rule. Man hates God’s law and the restrictions it imposes upon his sinful nature. Here is what lies behind every church row and agitation against the standards of old. “Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be,” Rom 8:7. Consequently, the strongest of words are used when he speaks of getting rid of God’s rule. Cast away — Gen 37:20, Lev 14:40.
3. They wish to be gods. This is the ancient desire that arose in the heart of Eve and to which she succumbed. “Ye shall be as gods,” Gen 3:5. This will be embodied in the decree of antichrist, II Thess 2:4, Rev 13:8.
THE PECULIARITIES OF THE REBELLION.
There are features in this rebellion that we must notice for they will indicate the progress of the rebellion. They are to be found in three words used to describe the rebels and their rebellion.
1. Rage. The word is unique in the Old Testament, this being the only place it occurs. But Peter quotes this verse in the New Testament and the word he uses under inspiration gives us its meaning. In Acts 4:25 he uses a Greek word for rage that carries the meaning of warhorses impatiently prancing and stamping their hooves. Reined in and kept under control by their riders.
2. Imagine. This word has a great breadth of meaning. Meditate — Psalm 1:2. Mutter — Isaiah 59:3. Roaring — Isaiah 31:4 (unabashed). Thinking gives way to muttering which gives way to roaring out defiance. It is a ‘growing’ rebellion.
3. Saying. While there is no equivalent word in the Hebrew the word is placed in our translation in order to convey the meaning of the original. A proclamation is made. I believe a progression can be seen here. The world has long chafed under God’s yoke. Men have long imagined and meditated upon escaping. Attempts have been made throughout history. It is happening today with the laws that ban any denouncing of sin.
A day is coming when it will be God’s time to lift all restraint off mankind and the evil plan will then be enacted. II Thess 2:3-12. (Revealed v. 3, showing v. 4.)