Why Do The Nations Rage?

The Western world’s political landscape has become even more polarised over the past few years. And it seems that just when it can’t get any more so, another event or opinion crops up that causes people to divide even further over that particular situation’s resolution. Battle lines are drawn so readily nowadays that it can be hard in some circumstances to work out who is arguing with who over what.

Whilst I try to limit the amount of news, views, and reviews I peruse on a daily basis, I was feeling particularly troubled about several current affairs one morning as I sat down to read my Bible. Providentially, I had just started reading Acts, and got to chapter four. Transported into this scenario, my present-day troubles seemed somewhat minuscule. The disciples have just started preaching regularly, with Pentecost fresh in their memory. The church is just being established, and so of course, meets with opposition.

To be clear, when we say ‘opposition’, that means being seized and thrown into jail by the same religious authorities that just oversaw the death of Jesus. A tad more reason for alarm than just reading the newspaper.

Fast forward to verse 25. Peter and John have been released (for now) and are reporting back to the other believers. Raising their voices in prayer, they quote from Psalm 2:

Why do the nations rage 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 one. Acts 4:25b-6 quoting Psalm 2:1-3 (NIV)

I’ve heard a few sermons on Psalm 2, and it’s become a passage that I’ve often returned to when I have been troubled by the actions of those in authority. It’s always spoken to me about the sovereignty of God over the affairs of humanity. I particularly like verse 4:

The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. Psalm 2:4 (NIV)

The very idea of mere humans counselling together against God, as if they can so much as lay a finger on Him, is laughable to the Almighty. What a concept. More likely that a lamb could trouble a lion, or a minnow could wallop a whale.

In Genesis 11, when people sought to make a name for themselves, their thoughts turned to building a tower so high that it reached the heavens. Perhaps they thought elevation would make them like God. I love that in verse 5, it says “The Lord came down”. What an aside. These people are straining to reach up into the sky that they can see, and there is this picture of God, who is above the highest heaven, having to come down all the way just to look at what they’re doing.

But the overriding omnipotence of God was not really what stood out to me in my reading of Acts 4. I know that there’s a large part of Psalm 2 that has to do with a future triumph. It speaks of a day when nations will tremble, kings will kneel, and all peoples will bow and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

But why then this quote in the context of Acts 4? What does Psalm 2 have to do with the formation of the church?

The answer is the Gospel. Because while of course we look forward to the consummation, there is much joy to be had, even in this life. Joy in the overarching power of the Gospel to reach into every circumstance, every nation, every stronghold, and do its saving work. Rulers try to quash it, cynics try to ridicule it, sinners try to resist it, and yet the Lord holds them in derision, because for the past two thousand years, the Gospel has been uncontainable, unstoppable, irresistible. And so it will ever be. This is indeed Good News. Better than anything you’ll ever read in any newspaper. And it’s available to read every single day.

Those who have hope only in this life, in that leader or this political party, are of all men most miserable. That’s a lot of people right now.

But there is real hope. The older I get, the less I desire to enter debates about this fiscal plan and that economic measure. Just preach Jesus. He is the hope of the world. That’s not to say as Christians we shouldn’t engage in conversations, or try to influence the culture for good by upholding Biblical values in society. But we don’t do it out of a desire to win arguments or score points. We do it because our entire outlook on life has been affected by this Good News, and it is that, first and foremost, that we want to see change the hearts and minds of those around us.

And there’s one more promise. Right at the end of Psalm 2. It’s a promise for now and for eternity. It’s for those who don’t seek solace in anything else, but trust simply in the saving power of the Gospel in their lives, and in its ability to transform the world around us.

Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.

Written for First Magazine, published by The Faith Mission