Ps 2:1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? ESV
Why, David asks, do those opposed to God “make noise” or are “violently agitated?” Why do they form a vain notion or idea in their minds and meditate and plot on it? They can’t overthrow God, no matter how hard they try to believe it.
The world is still raging against God and we see it in many in America, doing the same as those who surrounded David. They want no part of God’s plan for America, they have their own agenda … their own “vain thing” … I did in my way!
The world is in the hands of the god of this world and its leaders have “set themselves” (standing fast) in their own counsel. They have their own agenda and it doesn’t involve the Lord. This notion of following their own counsel has resulted in their acting to directly oppose God. Think about what elected leaders in America have done in just the past few decades. Ever since prayer was removed from the school room in 1962 man has continued to challenge more and more of God’s moral principles; the very principles upon which our country was founded. It has progressed so far that here in the 21st century we have leaders that are acting as if they were gods.
But all that is going on down here doesn’t surprise or alarm God. His answer to those who rage against Him was to set His Son on His throne. Our bridegroom is in charge, and the world’s battle against Him is only a temporary one. Creation can’t win in a war against its creator?
As the bride of Christ, we have been given a mission, a command to reach out to those who rage, to those who are lost, and to those who are hopeless until Jesus returns. God has opened the road back to His house and He has thrown the door wide open … yet still the “heathen rage.”
As Jesus’ bride we are being groomed to reign with Him, and we have the responsibility to serve Him. J.I. Packer put it this way:
Serve the Lord … Kiss the Son. There is no real evangelism without both. We must tell the people what God has done, and we must tell them what they must do in response.
God has set up His kingdom in the world and that is the very thing that causes the heathen to rage against Him. It’s our mission to dispel their “vain notion,” and if we do there is a great reward awaiting us upon His return. If we continue in our faithful service during our betrothal, we will be the overcomers and be rewarded with the blessing of shepherding with His royal scepter as we rule and reign with Him.
That’s the blessing. If we step up now and reach out with His love and His message, we will be blessed with the fruit of our labor, the salvation of the lost. As Jesus promised the church at Philadelphia (the bride today), if we will step through the door He opens for us He promises that He will reward us with “more open doors. In our weakness all we need to do is trust in His Spirit and honor His name and He will do all the rest …
Rev 3:7-8 “And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write: ‘The words of the holy one, the true one, who has the key of David, who opens and no one will shut, who shuts and no one opens. 8 “‘I know your works. Behold, I have set before you an open door, which no one is able to shut. I know that you have but little power, and yet you have kept my word and have not denied my name. ESV