Bible League: Living His Word Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling.— Psalm 2:10-11 NIV God has installed His King over the earth (Psalm 2:6). It is Jesus Christ, the Messiah. It doesn't matter what the rulers of the earth think. It doesn't matter what they do. They are under the authority of King Jesus whether they want to be or not. Some may totally ignore His rule. If they don't ignore it, some may try to cast it off. Either way, the Lord God laughs at them and scoffs at them (Psalm 2:4). Their pitiful attempts to extricate themselves from their subservience to King Jesus come to nothing. That means the Lord God's King will fulfill His purposes for the earth. No one will be able to stand against Him and survive. The rulers of the earth may have their own plans and purposes, but they cannot come to fruition apart from the will of the King. The Lord God has made the nations Jesus' inheritance, the ends of the earth His possession. He will break rebellious nations with a rod of iron and He will dash them to pieces like pottery (Psalm 2:9). No ruler or nation will be able to resist His rule with impunity. If the nations wish to prosper, it follows they should do what our verse for today says they should do. They should be warned. They should be wise. They should acknowledge their subservient position in the great scheme of things. Only fools fail to see these things, and try to cast off the restraint of the King. They fail to see that the price they pay for their insolence was meant to turn them back. They fail to see that the wars, the poverty, the strife and turmoil were designed to pound some sense into their heads. If the nations wish to prosper, they must also serve King Jesus and celebrate His rule with trembling. They should "kiss the Son" lest He get angry with them and bring destruction on them (Psalm 2:12). The evidence of the folly of their forerunners is there. The sands of the earth are littered with the buried remains of fallen nations. It's for good reason, then, that the Apostle Paul says the church should pray for those in authority, "... that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness" (1 Timothy 2:2). For every ruler and nation that acknowledges King Jesus can take refuge in Him and can be blessed by Him (Psalm 2:12). Bible in a Year Old Testament ReadingPsalm 99-102 Psalm 99 -- The Lord reigns! Let the peoples tremble. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 100 -- Shout for joy to the Lord, all you lands! NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 101 -- I will sing of loving kindness and justice. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Psalm 102 -- Hear my prayer, O Lord! Let my cry come to you. NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB New Testament Reading Romans 13 Romans 13 -- Submit to the Authorities; Love fulfills the Law NIV NLT ESV NAS GWT KJV ASV ERV DRB Reading Plan Courtesy of Christian Classics Etherial Library. Tyndale Life Application Daily Devotion They kept demanding an answer, so he stood up again and said, “All right, but let the one who has never sinned throw the first stone!”Insight This is a significant statement about judging others. Because Jesus upheld the legal penalty for adultery, stoning, he could not be accused of being against the law. But by saying that only a sinless person could throw the first stone, he highlighted the importance of compassion and forgiveness. Challenge When others are caught in sin, are you quick to pass judgment? To do so is to act as though you have never sinned. It is God's role to judge, not ours. Our role is to show forgiveness and compassion. Morning and Evening by Spurgeon Psalm 92:4 Thou, Lord, hast made me glad through thy work.Do you believe that your sins are forgiven, and that Christ has made a full atonement for them? Then what a joyful Christian you ought to be! How you should live above the common trials and troubles of the world! Since sin is forgiven, can it matter what happens to you now? Luther said, "Smite, Lord, smite, for my sin is forgiven; if thou hast but forgiven me, smite as hard as thou wilt;" and in a similar spirit you may say, "Send sickness, poverty, losses, crosses, persecution, what thou wilt, thou hast forgiven me, and my soul is glad." Christian, if thou art thus saved, whilst thou art glad, be grateful and loving. Cling to that cross which took thy sin away; serve thou him who served thee. "I beseech you therefore, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service." Let not your zeal evaporate in some little ebullition of song. Show your love in expressive tokens. Love the brethren of him who loved you. If there be a Mephibosheth anywhere who is lame or halt, help him for Jonathan's sake. If there be a poor tried believer, weep with him, and bear his cross for the sake of him who wept for thee and carried thy sins. Since thou art thus forgiven freely for Christ's sake, go and tell to others the joyful news of pardoning mercy. Be not contented with this unspeakable blessing for thyself alone, but publish abroad the story of the cross. Holy gladness and holy boldness will make you a good preacher, and all the world will be a pulpit for you to preach in. Cheerful holiness is the most forcible of sermons, but the Lord must give it you. Seek it this morning before you go into the world. When it is the Lord's work in which we rejoice, we need not be afraid of being too glad. Daily Light on the Daily Path Nehemiah 8:10 Then he said to them, "Go, eat of the fat, drink of the sweet, and send portions to him who has nothing prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not be grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."Isaiah 49:13 Shout for joy, O heavens! And rejoice, O earth! Break forth into joyful shouting, O mountains! For the LORD has comforted His people And will have compassion on His afflicted. Isaiah 12:2 "Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the LORD GOD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation." Psalm 28:7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped; Therefore my heart exults, And with my song I shall thank Him. Isaiah 61:10 I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Romans 15:17 Therefore in Christ Jesus I have found reason for boasting in things pertaining to God. Romans 5:11 And not only this, but we also exult in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation. Habakkuk 3:18 Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation, La Habra, Calif. All rights reserved. For Permission to Quote Information visit http://www.lockman.org. |
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