Psalm 2:1–2

Memory Verse

Why do the nations rage and the people mutter emptiness? The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD and against His messiah, Psalm 2:1–2.

The psalmist prophetically describes the nations and people acting against Jesus, the LORD’s Messiah. Although Jesus was a righteous man, and Pilate saw no justification for punishment (John 18:38), Israel’s leaders demanded that He be put to death. They did not want Jesus to be the Messiah. Even Pilate knew that the Jewish leaders handed Christ over to him out of envy (Matthew 27:18). The chief priests and elders did what the psalmist prophesied: they counseled together against the LORD’s Messiah. Jesus performed so many incredible signs that they could not deny who He was. To prevent the Romans from coming and taking their place as leaders, they sought to end Jesus’ life (John 11:47–48).

In response to the rage of the nations and the muttering of the rulers of Israel against the Messiah, the One who sits in heaven laughs at them. They put Christ to death, but He raised Christ from the dead so that He could die no more (Romans 6:9). If the rulers of their age had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory (1 Corinthians 2:8).

The LORD has set His king on Mount Zion. When the Son asks, He will give Him the nations as His inheritance and the earth for His possession (Psalm 2:8). The Son will then crush the world system and set up a righteous kingdom (Psalm 2:9; Matthew 13:41).