Why do the nations conspire
    and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth rise up
    and the rulers band together
    against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
3 ‘Let us break their chains
    and throw off their shackles.’

4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
    the Lord scoffs at them.
5 He rebukes them in his anger
    and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
6 ‘I have installed my king
    on Zion, my holy mountain.’

7 I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, ‘You are my son;
    today I have become your father.
8 Ask me,
    and I will make the nations your inheritance,
    the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will break them with a rod of iron;
    you will dash them to pieces like pottery.’

10 Therefore, you kings, be wise;
    be warned, you rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear
    and celebrate his rule with trembling.
12 Kiss his son, or he will be angry
    and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
    Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

‘When the world’s noise frightens you, turn to the Lord and let Him take over (Acts 4:23-31)…Over the noise of the nations, listen for the assuring voice of God’ Warren Wiersbe.

There is something wonderful about the word ”installed”. Regardless of the human rejection of God (the essence of sin), the Kingship of the Messiah, Jesus, is immoveable. No wonder ” The One enthroned in heaven laughs…” His Throne is safe. He is far above all the wicked schemes and machinations of those who hate Him and do not want Him. He, in His love, grace and mercy will be a ”refuge” to all who run to Him. But let all who refuse Him ”be warned”. ‘There is no refuge from him: only in him’ (Derek Kidner).

Charles Wesley wrote these majestic words:

”His kingdom cannot fail
He rules o’er earth and heav’n
The keys of death and hell
Are to our Jesus giv’n
Lift up your heart
Lift up your voice
Rejoice, again I say, rejoice’ (From the hymn: ‘Rejoice the Lord is King).

Alec Motyer, in the ‘New Bible Commentary’ provides this excellent summary: ‘The psalm is rooted in 2 Samuel 7, the promise to David of a supreme name, a relationship of sonship to the Lord, and an enduring line. Possibly the psalm was used to greet each succeeding Davidic king on his ascension as a reminder of the ideal, but its fulfilment came in ‘great David’s greater Son’ (Lk.1:31-33), just as the ever-pervasive refusal of the world to have ‘this man reign over them’ (Lk.19:14) reached its climax at Calvary (Acts 4:25-26; 1 Cor.2:8). The age in which we live, however bland and accommodating it may at times appear, essentially hates, opposes and rebels against God in Christ. Historically, the Davidic king was always under threat from the surrounding world; essentially, this reflects the world’s rebellion against God; prophetically, the psalm speaks of the rejection of Jesus.’

He later adds: ‘It is Satan’s delusion (Gn.3:1-5) to represent divine conditions of blessing as hostile restrictions holding mankind from proper freedom.’ (see v.3)

PRAYER: Almighty God, help me to see past the news, with its angles, distortions, half-truths, and even lies, to see things as they really are. Enable me to enjoy the view from ‘the heavenly realms’. Please give me an unclouded vision of spiritual reality