The Heathen Rage--So What?

THE HEATHEN RAGE--SO WHAT?

Text: Psalm 2:1-12

Intro: Whole Psalm. Shows us the nature of sin,

and the terrible results of it if it could rule.

Probably David wrote this Psalm after he had taken Jerusalem from the

Jebusites, and made it the head of the kingdom; 2 Samuel 5:7-9.

The Philistines,

hearing this, encamped in the valley of Rephaim, near Jerusalem.

Syria, Phoenicia (today’s Lebanon), and other warlike people united

their armies to those of the Philistines in order to destroy David

before he had strengthened himself in the kingdom.

David, having INQUIRED OF THE LORD, 2 Samuel 5:17-19,

totally overthrew his enemies.

First. we may suppose that this Psalm was written to celebrate the

taking of Jerusalem, and the overthrowof all the kings and chiefs of the

neighboring nations.

Second, we find from the use made of this Psalm by the apostles, Acts 4:27,

that David typified Jesus Christ; and that the Psalm celebrates the victory of

the Gospel over all opposition.

_______________Adam Clarke Commentary

Theme: This Psalm gives us hope in the fact that Jesus will reign

over all his enemies.

I. (This Psalm will be best understood if

it is viewed as a four fold picture.

1-3 The nations are raging.

4-6 The Lord in heaven derides them.

7-9 The Son proclaims the decree.

10-12 Advice is given to the kings to yield

obedience to the Lord’s anointed. )

A. (v.1) Why are the people from other nations so angry?

Why are they making foolish plans?

The zenith of human sin is man’s hatred of the Mediator.

"rage" outward agitation to which the verse refers.

May be a reference to the rolling and roaring of the sea,

often used as an emblem of popular commotion, both in the

Scriptures and the classics

_____________Treasury Of David

illu: man’s anger toward God...more disastrous than the following:

As a passenger boarded the Los Angeles-to-New York plane, he told the flight attendant to wake him and make sure he got off in Dallas.

The passenger awoke just as the plane was landing in New York. Furious, he called the flight attendant and demanded an explanation.

The fellow mumbled an apology and, in a rage, the passenger stomped off the plane. "Boy, was he ever mad!" another crew member

observed to her errant colleague. "If you think he was mad," replied the flight attendant, "you should have seen the guy I put off the

plane in Dallas!"

H.B. McClung.

B. (v. 2) Their kings and leaders joined together to fight against the Lord and against the king he chose.

1. When writing this Psalm David was like a man in a storm.

a. hearing only the roaring of the tempest

b. seeing nothing but the raging billows threatening destruction on every side

c. Yet his faith enabled him to say,

2. The people imagine a vain thing.

They cannot succeed.

They cannot defeat the counsels of heaven.

They cannot injure the Lord’s Anointed.

__________David Pitcairn, 1851

C. (v.3) {Those leaders said,} "Let’s rebel against God and against the

king he chose. "Let’s break free from them!"

1. Let us break their bands asunder.

2. "Let us be free to commit all manner of abominations.

3. Let us be our own gods.

4. Let us rid ourselves of all restraint."

5. With no shame, they continue to vocalize their rebellion

by adding -- let us cast away; as if it were an easy matter --

"let us fling off their cords from us."

6. illustrate rebellion: Rudeness is the weak man’s imitation of strength.

­­­_________Eric Hoffer, The Passionate State of Mind

The proud will sooner lose than ask their way.

-Charles Churchill

D. (v.4) But my Master, the King in heaven, laughs at those people.

(v. 5) Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath,

and vex them in his sore displeasure.

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1. They scoff at us. God laughs at them.

2. First a laugh then a smite

3. Try to mock the lightning, one may perish under its stroke.

4. Pharaoh mocked the parted sea only to be consumed by it.

5. God smiled at Dagon and Dagon fell down and broke into pieces.

6. The proud will sooner lose than ask their way.

_____________Charles Churchill, English Poet

II. (v. 6-9) God is angry and he tells those people, "I chose this man to be king!

And he will rule on Mount Zion. Zion is my special mountain."

And that makes those other leaders afraid. 7) Now I will tell you

about the Lord’s agreement.

The Lord said to me, "Today I become your father!

And you are my son. 8) If you ask me, I will give the nations to you.

All the people on earth will be yours! 9) You could destroy

those nations like an iron rod shattering a clay pot. "