Have you ever felt like everything is going downhill in this country? In many cases, I feel like the church members think this way. We are dealing with the western, woke, post-modern, anti-church culture. The pro-sin agendas of our culture are progressing, and it seems that the forces are gathering around the church. Sometimes these thoughts can be defeating. Like Elijah, we think we are the last remaining beam of light in an increasingly dark world.
Do you ever ask the question, why do these guys hate the church so much? Why does it feel that our government is actively trying to push out religion? The answer is It doesn’t matter. What!? How can we say that?! Of course, it matters! Everything is going terribly, and the righteous will be persecuted and eradicated soon!
That is not what God says in Psalm 2. Davids asks the same question.
Why are the nations in an uproar
And the peoples devising a vain thing?
The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
“Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”
Unlike our question, David is asking his question rhetorically. David wants to know why people would try to go against God in vain. He goes on to say:
He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
“But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”
See, despite our concern, God is still in control. In our context, the king installed is Jesus. Praise God the King reigns!
Because we know that Jesus is king, we should be able to let go of our anxieties about the world situation. I know firsthand that watching the news or reading about current events is a quick way to get tense. Knowing that God is truly in control of the situation should bring us great comfort.
In addition to receiving comfort, however, recognizing Jesus is king demands a response. David finishes his psalm with
Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
Worship the Lord with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!
By understanding who rules, we also understand who needs to be served. We need to heed the warning and worship God with reverence. So the next time you think the world is going downhill, remember who is in control and who we need to worship and serve. Then you can take refuge in him and find blessing.
Brian Ketchem