SEEKING REFUGE IN THE GOD WHO RULES

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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

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

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

I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

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

Therefore, you kings, be wise;  be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear  and celebrate his rule with trembling. 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.

Psalm 2 

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

For as long as there has been kings and rulers in the world, there has been a problem of people falling prey to the seduction of power and pursuit of selfish ambition at the expense of the people they lead and in direct violation of God’s expectations. A big part of the problem is that these leaders don’t even factor God into their thought process. Their rule has nothing to do with His will and everything to do with theirs. This psalm was largely written for these rulers and for anyone for that matter who would choose to not acknowledge God’s rule over their lives, deciding to pursue their desires over the Lord’s.

The Psalmist starts with a simple question: Why? Why do nations and people act in ways that defy the Lord, with an end goal of breaking free from His restrictive expectations, when those actions are all in vain? Don’t the nations and peoples know who they are dealing with – namely, the Almighty God of all?

It’s little wonder that the Lord is portrayed as less than amused at the disobedience and disrespect shown Him. Scripture tells us He laughs, scoffs, and rebukes all who would rebel against Him, causing them to be terrified of His wrath. Indeed, none of us should want to find our nation or ourselves in the hands of an angry, Almighty God – the God who is the King of all Kings and Lord of all Lords.

This God of all authority was, is, and always will be in full control. Even those He placed in power, like the kings of Israel, were subordinate to God’s rule. He may have given them their position but they were to still ask Him before He would grant any nation as an inheritance or any part of the earth as a possession. It was all about God’s will being done. Leaders were expected to be submissive and seek the Lord as their refuge, a very present help in times of trouble. If the kings and peoples needed help, all they had to do is call on the name of the Lord. If the kings and the peoples needed guidance, wisdom, and direction, all they needed to do is call on the name of the Lord. All were to be totally reliant on God the Father and serve Him with fear and trembling out of respect and acknowledgment of His omnipotence and majesty. Choosing otherwise would result in wrath and judgment.

Friends, submission is not a weakness when it comes to living for and serving the Lord. Contrary, it is one of the greatest strengths we can display. Showing our steady reliance on His reign over everything we do shows Him our realization that we can’t rule ourselves. We need God and His Son Jesus in our lives more than anything and we’re expected to live reflecting that attitude.

When we do, something incredible happens.

God becomes our refuge.

We all need someone we can turn to in good times and in bad – someone who will always be there for us, no matter what – someone who is always ready to listen and provide counsel and comfort and, most of all, love.

Friends, Psalm 2 ends with an absolute truth: Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord. You may try and find happiness in a lot of different places, chasing after the desires of your own heart, but you will never find a contentment that brings you complete peace until you choose to make the Lord your refuge.

Paul, in his letter to the Philippian church wrote that he had found the way to be content in any circumstance of life, whether in good times or bad, in plenty or in want. What was the way? It was through the Lord who provided him the strength to do all things.

Indeed, the Bible exhorts us to make the joy of the Lord our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). The only true strength we can find is in the refuge of the Lord who will grant us the strength to do all things in accordance with His perfect will.

Will you seek your refuge in the God who rules your life today?

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

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