JUST THINKING: Christ Our Refuge and Blessing
I was just thinking about how absolutely wonderful the Word of God is. Whether reading about His awesome creation, His plan of redemption or His fulfillment of His promises, His Word is sure and comforting. In this column, I want to share some thoughts from the Psalm 2, and I pray the words written several thousand years ago find lodging in your hearts, while recognizing that nations do not stand for the Lord, but in opposition to Him.
The Conspiring Rage of the Nations
We Americans tend to become complacent when it comes to considering the attitudes toward God by other nations. The truth is that very few nations on this planet acknowledge the presence of God or His power. Still, despite not believing in Him, they conspire with rage against Him and His Son, Jesus Christ. “Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, ‘Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles’” (Psalm 2:1-3 NIV).
This is not a new attitude. It was the same thousands of years ago when God told the people to scatter across the land. They refused and instead agreed to build a landmark they could see from a distance but still be disobedient. That landmark was the Tower of Babel.
Despite worldly power, those who are without God and His Son are burdened with the yoke of sin. No one can break those fetters but Jesus Himself.
The Laughter from Heaven
Some think God is an old man sitting on a throne and watching humanity, waiting for them to falter so He can judge them. Actually, God laughs at the high and mighty attitudes of the rulers of the nations who think they can thwart the Lord’s plans. “The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, ‘I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain’” (Psalm 2:4-6).
From before the beginning of this creation, the Almighty had planned for a Savior to take away the sin of the world. Prophetically, the psalmist was inspired to speak of a future time when the King of kings would impact the world like no other being ever has. This prophecy was no random thought. It was definitely God speaking about Him who would become like us, die, be resurrected, come again and rule Israel for 1,000 years.
The Continuity of God’s Word
“I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, ‘You are my son; today I have become your father. Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery’” (Psalm 2:7-9). For soon to be 60 years, I have been emphasizing this truth about God’s Word — it is a book of continuity.
John the Revelator was told to write about the coming again of Jesus. “Coming out of his mouth is a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. ‘He will rule them with an iron scepter.’ He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On his robe and on his thigh he has this name written: King of kings and Lord of lords: King Of Kings and Lord Of Lords” (Rev. 19:15-16).
We live in troublesome times. Nations not only rise against nations with the rumors of war, they still stand and oppose the One who created everything, thinking they have the power to overcome. They have been deceived by Satan and they follow him instead of the Lord. Here is another great truth: “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our ‘God is a consuming fire’” (Heb. 12:28-29).
The psalmist ended Psalm 2 with this: “…Blessed are all who take refuge in him” (Psalm 2:12). Jesus Christ is our refuge!
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Dr. Tom Mitchell
Dr. Tom Mitchell pens a column titled, Just Thinking, in which he addresses many topics relative to the Baptist Missionary Association. His Trailblazers series provides biographies of many BMA trailblazers from the past.
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