September 26 2022
Today, Monday September 26
The Voice of Rebellion
Psalm 2:1-3
“Why do the nations rage, And the people plot 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 bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.”
Thank you so much for your prayers this past weekend! By the time we got home late last night, or maybe I should say, early this morning, we had driven over 1,000 miles. God granted us safety on the road. As we were driving through Raleigh NC on interstate 40, a large wood beam that was at least 6” x 6” and 10 feet long fell off the truck in front of us. It could have easily bounced up and gone through our windshield but instead only rolled, and then rolled to right off to the side of highway. This happened in the construction zone where there was no place to go with barriers on both sides of the two lanes. We were truly thanking the Lord for your prayers and knew it was a miracle someone didn’t get killed!
The 50th Anniversary Celebration at the Shenandoah Valley Baptist Church was a great blessing. The first two pastors before me gave great testimonies about the very first days of the church reminding us how it was actually started, giving credit to Lord and His Holy Spirit for all the marvelous things that took place. The Lt. Governor of Virginia, Winsome Sears, gave a great word of encouragement as she spoke from her heart and the Bible reminding us how this great nation was founded on the truths and principles in the Bible. We were truly blessed to fellowship with so many old friends and remember how the Lord saved them and what He has been doing in their lives over the years! Thanks again for your prayers!!!!!
When we read these first 3 verses of Psalm 2, you would think that you are reading the headlines of today’s newspapers. We have the first of four voices as we hear the nations of the earth rage and rebel against the Lord and His Anointed One!. This is a voice of rebellion—the word "rage" means "to assemble tumultuously". It is the Gentiles that are in view ("heathen" and "people" in v. 1), and they are rebelling against God and His rule. The nations are led in rebellion by their kings, and all are resisting God and Christ.
David begins this Psalm with a question that really is an expression of astonishment: "When you consider all that the Lord has done for the nations, how can they rebel against Him!" God has provided for their basic needs (Acts 14:15-17), guided them, kept them alive, and sent a Savior to bring forgiveness and eternal life (Acts 17:24-31; see Dan. 4:32). Yet, from the tower of Babel (Gen. 11) to the crucifixion of Christ (Acts 4:21-31) to the battle of Armageddon (Rev. 19:ll), the Bible records humanity's foolish and futile rebellions against the will of the Creator.
The kings and minor rulers form a conspiracy to break the bonds that the Lord has established for their own good. The picture is that of a stubborn and raging animal, trying to break the cords that bind the yoke to its body (Jer. 5:5; 27:2). But the attempt is futile (vain) because the only true freedom comes from submitting to God and doing His will. Freedom without authority is anarchy, and anarchy destroys. The humanistic secular world view says that authority destroys creativity. What a lie and what folly!
Authority is what releases and develops creativity, whether it's a musician, an athlete, or a surgeon. Apart from submitting to the authority of truth and law, there can be no true creativity. Real freedom is not doing what I want to do but what I ought to do. The runner who disciplines himself every day to eat only healthy foods, sacrifices and works hard preparing his body for event, will be free to run the best race possible to gain the reward of winning. Jesus said that you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free, and if the Son sets you free you will be free indeed! (John 8:32-26)
Of course, this voice has been heard down through the centuries, but it is being heard in a greater way in these last days. As never before, there is a united voice of rebellion against the rule of God and Christ. What do the nations want? Freedom from God's rule! "Let us break their bands asunder!" According to Gen. 10:5, God divided the Gentile peoples into their lands and nations; see also Acts 17:26 and Deut. 32:8. History shows that the Gentile nations have rejected God's people (Israel), God's Word, and God's Christ. The nations do not want to submit to God's rule. Like proud Nebuchadnezzar, they want their own way, and they refuse to admit that God rules in the affairs of men. See Dan. 4:28-37. This Gentile rebellion grew more fierce with the establishing of the church (Acts 4:23-30). But in the last days, it will have its complete fulfillment as the "kings of the earth" unite to fight against God (see Rev. 1:5; 6:15; 16:12-16; 17:2, 18; 19:11-21).
May the Lord help each one of us today to submit the His authority and find the freedom we really need and are looking for!
God bless!