The Rage of Nations

The revolt against God is not simply restricted to individuals who are in moral rebellion. The conflict between the city of man and the city of God inevitably becomes institutionalized. We already have seen that the city of man grew out of the desire of two people to throw off the “restraints” placed upon them by God, then manifested itself in Cain’s construction of a city for his own honor and strength, and finally showed itself in the attempt by an entire people to build a city and tower in order to make a name for themselves. But the conflict is deeper and broader still. Psalm 2 depicts national hostility, nations so enraged that they agree to come together against their common enemy, God. Kings “set themselves” and the peoples plot together.

What is the source of this national hostility? Two things provoke it—the Lord and His Anointed, or God and the Messiah (Jesus). The nations of the world do not wish to submit to God or to the one He has designated as King of kings. Just as the Israelites rejected God and called for a human king to rule them, the nations wish to be self-ruling. They want to “break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords.” In other words, they feverishly desire to be freed of God’s just commandments and the requirement that one must come to Christ in order to be saved.

But all this plotting and rebellion is as vain as Adam and Eve’s grasp for autonomy, as vain as Cain’s bid for glory, and as vain as the people’s self-exaltation at Babel. Though the revolt depicted here is on a larger scale than any yet attempted by the city of man, it is still no threat to God. The psalmist declares that God simply laughs in derision at the scheming of men. But He doesn’t laugh for long; as the psalmist hastens to add, God speaks to those who oppose Him in wrath and brings distress upon them. The bottom line is that God has established Jesus as King of kings and Lord of lords. He is God’s Anointed ruler, and God will not permit anyone to oppose Him or to escape the requirement of submitting to Him. God is not in the business of authorizing national referenda on leadership of the cosmos. Christ has been enthroned and has taken up His rule. And all knees will bow to Him, both of individuals and nations, or they will suffer the wrath of almighty God.