Click here to watch my reflection on Psalm Two or keep reading to read my thoughts:

Today’s readings have within it one of my favorite Psalms, Psalm 2.  I think its words are always encouraging, but no more so than today.  Listen to what it says: 

Why do the nations conspire,
and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers take counsel together,
    against the Lord and his anointed, saying,
“Let us burst their bonds asunder,
    and cast their cords from us.”
He who sits in the heavens laughs;
    the Lord has them in derision.

I believe it asks in the King James, “Why do the nations rage…”  I love that line so much, and I think it points to a constant truth: the discord and the division upon the earth.  This desire by early leaders to believe that they are the true source of power.  

The nations rage.  People plot.  Division, angst, anger, fear, worry all these things.  

Any of this sound familiar?  Pretty much sounds like the news nowadays.  But notice what it says, the Lord is in heaven laughs.  God laughs because He knows how finite, how small, all the conflict of earth is compared to heaven.  

He knows small the power of earth is compared to the power of heaven.  He knows that while we humans like to think that we are all-powerful and know all and see all, we are simply specks in the vastness of eternity.  

That is why the Psalmist asks, “what is man that you are mindful of him (Psalm 8:4)?”  

So, let us not turn today to the path of earthly turmoil, but let us turn instead to the path of heavenly peace.  Peace will never come from this world.  It will only come from looking to the King of Kings and Lord of Lords.  

Why do the nations rage?  The Lord in heaven laughs.  He knows that He is God, above any earthly power.  May we know the same truth today.  

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