Text: Psalm 2
Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.” “I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.'” Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
Devotion
“The world tolerates and allows all kinds of false, ungodly doctrine and all kinds of idolatry, but the Lord in heaven and His Christ it does not tolerate” (Luther). The kings and princes of earth who now take counsel against the Lord’s Anointed are scholars, “kings” in writing and speaking. Christianity is outdated to them. Our age is too “grown up” for the faith of children and the God of the Bible, and they sing the song of victory over the grave where they have buried doctrine and faith, just as the Jewish authorities did over Christ’s crucifixion. But prematurely! The plan of heathen spiritual leaders is vanity. Again, Luther says: “But this is written to teach us that we should have hope through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures (Rom 15:4). For what is written there about Christ is true for all Christians. Every upright Christian will have his Herod and Pilate who rage and speak most vainly and take counsel together against him. So every Christian must be ready. If this doesn’t happen now through the attacks of men and the devil and our own conscience, then it will indeed happen in our dying pain. Then it will be very necessary to use such a comforting passage: ‘He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision.’ With such hope one must stand fast and let nothing in heaven or hell move him from it.
“No matter how strong and mighty they may seem to human eyes, still their speaking is surely in vain and their plan nothing, so that God doesn’t consider it worthwhile to oppose them, as would be necessary in a great and important matter. But He laughs and holds in derision those who are engaged in but a poor despised thing not worth His notice. O but what great power of faith this Word demands! For when Christ suffered, and the Jews triumphed, who believed that God was laughing at them? And when we suffer and are oppressed, how can we believe that God is laughing at our enemies and holding them in derision? It really seems and feels as though we are mocked and oppressed both by God and men.” But He who sits in the heavens speaks judgment on the enemies and salvation to His believers.
“He cares for us and He lives ?rm and secure without all fear. If we are restless and af?icted, still He who considers us is untroubled. We are tossed here and there, but He is ?rm and will never let the righteous be shaken. But all this happens in such a hidden and secret way that you might not know it, unless you were in heaven. On earth you must suffer and no creature can help you. You must not expect any comfort in your suffering and tribulations, until you leave everything else in faith and hope and come near to Him who lives in heaven. Then you also live in heaven, but in hope and faith. Therefore in our need, af?iction, trouble, and opposition we must ?x our heart on Him who lives in heaven. Then this world’s misfortune, anguish, and distress shall not only become little for us, but they will become great joy.”
Closing Prayer
Blessed are You, Lord, our mighty Fortress! But give us the Spirit’s grace to believe and to entrust all our affairs to You, to serve You and obey only Your voice. Amen.
Hymn
Lord, keep us steadfast in Thy Word:
Curb those who fain by craft or sword
Would wrest the kingdom from Thy Son,
And set at naught all He hath done.
Lord Jesus Christ, Thy pow’r make known;
For Thou art Lord of lords alone:
Defend Thy Christendom, that we
May evermore sing praise to Thee.
O Comforter, of priceless worth,
Send peace and unity on earth;
Support us in our ?nal strife,
And lead us out of death to life.
Luther: L 29 ELH 589 tr. C. Winkworth;
tune: Erhalt uns, Herr