“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.

Section One, THE REBELLION AMONGST THE NATIONS

We can, as Christians, share in the feelings of David (Acts 4:25) as he contemplates the scene of agitation and lawlessness amongst the nations. The nations mentioned here are specifically the ten nations that will make up Antichrist’s empire. Doubtless other nations will copy this wickedness!

“Why”, David asks in astonishment. There is more than astonishment in the question. There is anger. What grounds has man to rebel against the kindness and longsuffering of God? While we, who know something of the love and mercy of God, find it hard to understand the attitude of those who rebel against the Lord, let us remember what we once were, when we shared in this very rebellion against the Lord. The psalmist describes the conspiracy for us most graphically. Consider what he says.

THE PERSONS REBELLED AGAINST.

“Against the LORD, and against his anointed.” It is against God and His Christ. Peter interprets these words for us in Acts 4:26. The psalm is another example of the dual application of Scripture. There is a reference to David in this psalm. He was the Lord’s anointed king. There were those who conspired against him but he overcame them because it was God’s purpose to place David upon the throne of Israel.

But there is a higher and grander application of these words as Peter shows us. Here is a reference to the ongoing rebellion of man against God and His purpose in Christ.

1. How ignorant is man of God to think such a thing. Man thinks he can rid himself of God. He thinks he can end God’s eternal purpose. He, the Almighty Creator of all things, Ex 20:11, will not be overcome by sinful man.
2. How ignorant is man of his own weakness to attempt such a thing. The wise advice given by the Saviour in Luke 14:31-32, should be contemplated by all those who seek to fight God.
3. How ignorant of the consequences of such rebellion are all those who engage in such utter folly. How it will end is clearly outlined in God’s Word. “But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring hither, and slay them before me,” Luke 19:27. It can only end one way — in man’s utter and eternal ruin.