When we read these first 3 verses of Psalm 2, you would think that you are reading the headlines of today’s newspapers. We have the first of four voices as we hear the nations of the earth rage and rebel against the Lord and His Anointed One!. This is a voice of rebellion—the word "rage" means "to assemble tumultuously". It is the Gentiles that are in view ("heathen" and "people" in v. 1), and they are rebelling against God and His rule. The nations are led in rebellion by their kings, and all are resisting God and Christ.
David begins this Psalm with a question that really is an expression of astonishment: "When you consider all that the Lord has done for the nations, how can they rebel against Him!" God has provided for their basic needs (Acts 14:15-17), guided them, kept them alive, and sent a Savior to bring forgiveness and eternal life (Acts 17:24-31; see Dan. 4:32). Yet, from the tower of Babel (Gen. 11) to the crucifixion of Christ (Acts 4:21-31) to the battle of Armageddon (Rev. 19:ll), the Bible records humanity's foolish and futile rebellions against the will of the Creator.
The kings and minor rulers form a conspiracy to break the bonds that the Lord has established for their own good. The picture is that of a stubborn and raging animal, trying to break the cords that bind the yoke to its body (Jer. 5:5; 27:2). But the attempt is futile (vain) because the only true freedom comes from submitting to God and doing His will. Freedom without authority is anarchy, and anarchy destroys. The humanistic secular world view says that authority destroys creativity. What a lie and what folly!
Authority is what releases and develops creativity, whether it's a musician, an athlete, or a surgeon. Apart from submitting to the authority of truth and law, there can be no true creativity. Real freedom is not doing what I want to do but what I ought to do. The runner who disciplines himself every day to eat only healthy foods, sacrifices and works hard preparing his body for event, will be free to run the best race possible to gain the reward of winning. Jesus said that you shall know the truth and the truth will set you free, and if the Son sets you free you will be free indeed! (John 8:32-26)
Of course, this voice has been heard down through the centuries, but it is being heard in a greater way in these last days. As never before, there is a united voice of rebellion against the rule of God and Christ. What do the nations want? Freedom from God's rule! "Let us break their bands asunder!" According to Gen. 10:5, God divided the Gentile peoples into their lands and nations; see also Acts 17:26 and Deut. 32:8. History shows that the Gentile nations have rejected God's people (Israel), God's Word, and God's Christ. The nations do not want to submit to God's rule. Like proud Nebuchadnezzar, they want their own way, and they refuse to admit that God rules in the affairs of men. See Dan. 4:28-37. This Gentile rebellion grew more fierce with the establishing of the church (Acts 4:23-30). But in the last days, it will have its complete fulfillment as the "kings of the earth" unite to fight against God (see Rev. 1:5; 6:15; 16:12-16; 17:2, 18; 19:11-21).
May the Lord help each one of us today to submit the His authority and find the freedom we really need and are looking for!
God bless!
