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Day 8

"Why do the nations rage..." Psalm 2:1

Text: Psalm 2

THE RAGE OF NATIONS

It would seem as if nations have always been raging against each other from time immemorial. The observation of the rage of nations is not without significance, especially where Israel is concerned. From the Scriptures we note “the rage” of the following nations against Israel. Eight sets of enemies may be highlighted (the following list is not exhaustive)!

1. Egyptians Exodus 1

2. Amalekites Exodus 17:8-16

3. Mesopotamians Judges 3:8-11

4. Philistines Judges 3:31; 13:1-16:31

5. Canaanites Judges 4:1-5:31

6. Midianites Judges 6:1-8:32

7. Assyrians 2 Kings 17:1-41

8. Babylonians 2 Kings 25:1-30

It is terrible to have to live feeling the rage of nations all the time! How did the nation of Israel cope with these harsh realities? How did the author of this psalm cope with his reality of living under the rage of the nations?

AN AUTHORSHIP ISSUE

The apostle Peter identifies David as the author of this royal psalm (Acts 4:25-26), even though there is not a superscription that would indicate Davidic authorship. (We may believe that Peter had divine inspiration to make this statement). It would not be difficult to accept Davidic authorship, for the psalm reveals a sense of “tension” that we would expect a king to feel when the nation is under attack.

A SPIRITUAL PERSPECTIVE MAINTAINED

David managed to maintain a strong spiritual perspective even though he must have felt some tension for he was surrounded by nations that were hostile to Israel.

“Why do the nations rage, and the people plot
a vain thing?”

Psalm 2:1

David was unafraid of the rage of the nations! Their plots were “a vain thing”.