WBC Daily Devotions May 30-June 3, 2011

Daily Devotionals for May 30-June 3

As we continue in our "Present Help in Present Trouble" series, preparing our hearts to hear Pastor Rob's next message on Sunday, we are focusing this week on Psalm 2, a psalm that puts our present troubles in the context of God's sovereign plan for the earth and for all of mankind. We thank Jeff Walser, Pastor of Adult Discipleship, for contributing to this week's devotionals.

MONDAY, MAY 30

1Why do the nations conspire

and the peoples plot in vain?

2The kings of the earth rise up

and the rulers band together

against the LORD and against his anointed, saying,

3"Let us break their chains

and throw off their shackles."

4The One enthroned in heaven laughs;

the Lord scoffs at them.

5He rebukes them in his anger

and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,

6"I have installed my king

on Zion, my holy mountain."

7I will proclaim the LORD's decree:

He said to me, "You are my son;

today I have become your father.

8Ask me,

and I will make the nations your inheritance,

the ends of the earth your possession.

9You will break them with a rod of iron;

you will dash them to pieces like pottery."

10Therefore, you kings, be wise;

be warned, you rulers of the earth.

11Serve the LORD with fear

and celebrate his rule with trembling.

12Kiss 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.

Throughout this series, we have returned again and again in our devotionals to the Psalms because this ancient poetry offers such rich insight into the reality of sin, pain, and loss in our lives and this world. Our title, Present Help in Present Trouble, itself, is taken from Psalm 46. While there are many other parts of the Bible that present God's powerful and comforting words to us, the Psalms often represent the honest words of men and women, learning and seeking to express themselves to God in the midst pain and loss. In essence, we get a chance to walk alongside others who have gone ahead of us into present trouble and to learn from their journeys.

This week, we look at Psalm 2 and the story it tells of turmoil and trials operating on a national scale. Here, David considers conspiracy and injustice in the nations surrounding Israel. In a gathering tidal wave of dissatisfied and discontented nations, the Psalmist sees a growing movement aligned against the purposes of the Lord and against His anointed One.

As we read David's observations, the ancient truth is as fresh as the stories that come into our living rooms through CNN and Fox News. Every night, we hear and see nations clash and collaborate against all that God honors and calls His people to honor. While our immediate human reflex is often to fear, David helps us to embrace a very different response. He speaks of God's perspective on the trouble (verse 4), the true destiny of all the nations (verses 8-9), and offers us a better path for life in this context: a godly fear and worship of David's greater Son, Jesus.

Read back through Psalm 2 right now and let David's words sink into your mind and calm you. Be reminded and comforted that the God we follow and serve is indeed the King of History and that each and every day can be entrusted to Him.

Father,
I praise you for reaching out to me in love and making a way for me to be part of Your family, Your Church, and Your Kingdom. Thank you for Jesus and how He gave Himself to rescue me. Help me to serve Him today as my Lord and my King, and to live looking forward toward the day when He will rule and reign over all creation.
Amen

TUESDAY, MAY 31

Today we are again turning to Psalm 2. The text below is taken from the New Living Translation, but feel free to read from the translation of your choice.

1Why are the nations so angry?

Why do they waste their time with futile plans?

2The kings of the earth prepare for battle;

the rulers plot together

against the LORD

and against his anointed one.

3"Let us break their chains," they cry,

"and free ourselves from slavery to God."

4But the one who rules in heaven laughs.

The Lord scoffs at them.

5Then in anger he rebukes them,

terrifying them with his fierce fury.

6For the Lord declares, "I have placed my

chosen king on the throne

in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain."

7The king proclaims the LORD's decree:

"The LORD said to me, 'You are my son.

Today I have become your Father.

8Only ask, and I will give you the nations

as your inheritance,

the whole earth as your possession.

9You will break them with an iron rod

and smash them like clay pots.'"

10Now then, you kings, act wisely!

Be warned, you rulers of the earth!

11Serve the LORD with reverent fear,

and rejoice with trembling.

12Submit to God's royal son, or he will become angry,

and you will be destroyed in the midst

of all your activities --

for his anger flares up in an instant.

But what joy for all who take refuge in him!

The book of Psalms, often thought of primarily as a book of poetry and prayers, can also provide valuable teaching about God and His dealings with men. That's what we find in Psalm 2, a psalm that connects the dynasty of Israel's King David with David's descendant, the coming Messiah, Jesus.

Psalm 2 (along with a number of other psalms) points our attention ahead to a day when the nations of this world will plot a rebellion against the plan and purpose of God. God's plan? To one day place the Annointed One, the Messiah -- Jesus Christ, His Son -- as the Supreme Ruler over all of creation. It is that plan, and the rebellion against it, that is described in Psalm 2:1-6.

The psalmist scoffs at the futility of the schemes of these rebels against the all-powerful God of the Universe, the very Creator of all. "Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?" he writes, acknowledging the absolute absurdity of their plots and schemes. The puny and foolish rebellion, by people who overestimate their own power, caused God to laugh!

We, too, would laugh, but are also sobered by the fact that outside of Christ -- and His work of redemption and rescue -- we would be right there among them, futilely shaking our fists at God.

If we are in Christ, however, we have quit the opposing team and aligned ourselves with the ONE who will win. Rather than rebelling against God's plan to place His Son over all things in heaven and on the earth, we pray as Jesus taught us in Matthew 6: "Our Father in Heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven." Bring it on! Make it so!

Rather than fearing and resisting that inevitable coming -- like those described in verses 1-3 of our Psalm -- we are looking to the future with hope, toward a day when wrongs will be made right, and true peace and justice will rule and reign.

Remember, it is only the love of God, offered to us "while we were yet sinners," was able to destroy the bonds of sin and death, and place us under the light and easy yoke of freedom in serving the true and living God.

Father,
Thank you for showing me who I was (and what I am when I allow my old nature and its rebelliousness to control me). Thank You that I have been rescued by Your Grace from my old nature that would be right in there fighting Your purpose and plan. Thank You for the truth of Your Word that reminds me how foolish it is to think I could know better than the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. I praise You for the hope I have in Jesus and the future that I will be part of. I want Your Kingdom to come -- soon!
Amen

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1

Today we are looking at Psalm 2, reading from the New Living Translation, but feel free to use the translation of your choice.

1Why are the nations so angry?

Why do they waste their time with futile plans?

2The kings of the earth prepare for battle;

the rulers plot together

against the LORD

and against his anointed one.

3"Let us break their chains," they cry,

"and free ourselves from slavery to God."

4But the one who rules in heaven laughs.

The Lord scoffs at them.

5Then in anger he rebukes them,

terrifying them with his fierce fury.

6For the Lord declares, "I have placed my

chosen king on the throne

in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain."

7The king proclaims the LORD's decree:

"The LORD said to me, 'You are my son.

Today I have become your Father.

8Only ask, and I will give you the nations

as your inheritance,

the whole earth as your possession.

9You will break them with an iron rod

and smash them like clay pots.'"

10Now then, you kings, act wisely!

Be warned, you rulers of the earth!

11Serve the LORD with reverent fear,

and rejoice with trembling.

12Submit to God's royal son, or he will become angry,

and you will be destroyed in the midst

of all your activities --

for his anger flares up in an instant.

But what joy for all who take refuge in him!

Even if we had never read or studied Psalm 2 before, the central story of this psalm, and the focus of this rebellion among the nations should sound pretty familiar to any of us who were part of the Ephesians studies we concluded earlier this year.

You may recall what Paul wrote in Ephesians chapter one about our "spiritual blessings in Christ," starting with the incredible reality that we were chosen "before the creation of the world," to be part of God's eternal purpose and plan. And what is His plan? As Ephesians 1:9-10 explains, "He made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment, to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ" (Ephesians 1:9-10). This is the same event, the Psalmist tells us, that will cause such an uproar among the nations.

As we read Psalms 2, we may be troubled by the terrifying picture we find here, as the writer warns of how God will respond to those who willfully rebel against Him and His Chosen King. If these truths seem harsh, it is helpful to read 2 Peter 3, where we are reminded that, "He [God] does not want any to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent" (2 Peter 3:9b, NLT).

We serve a God Who patiently warns -- including the message of this Psalm. But it is important, Peter tells us, to not confuse patience with slowness. As we read in the first half of 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

As we read and reflect on Psalm 2 this week, we can be reminded of the reality that events on God's timetable are moving forward. This Psalm we are reading this week and other texts throughout Scripture have issued the warning of what is to come.

Father,
Thank You that I have no need to fear what the future will bring. Thank You that I can "make my refuge in You," both in my present troubles and in that future day when Jesus will come to reign over His Kingdom -- over all things in heaven and on earth."
Amen

THURSDAY, JUNE 2

This week we are reading and reflecting on Psalm 2, focusing today on verses 10-12. The text below is taken from the New Living Translation, but feel free to read from the translation of your choice.

1Why are the nations so angry?

Why do they waste their time with futile plans?

2The kings of the earth prepare for battle;

the rulers plot together against the LORD

and against his anointed one.

3"Let us break their chains," they cry,

"and free ourselves from slavery to God."

4But the one who rules in heaven laughs.

The Lord scoffs at them.

5Then in anger he rebukes them,

terrifying them with his fierce fury.

6For the Lord declares, "I have placed my

chosen king on the throne

in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain."

7The king proclaims the LORD's decree:

"The LORD said to me, 'You are my son.

Today I have become your Father.

8Only ask, and I will give you the nations

as your inheritance,

the whole earth as your possession.

9You will break them with an iron rod

and smash them like clay pots.'"

10Now then, you kings, act wisely!

Be warned, you rulers of the earth!

11Serve the LORD with reverent fear,

and rejoice with trembling.

12Submit to God's royal son, or he will become angry, and you will be destroyed in the midst

of all your activities --

for his anger flares up in an instant.

But what joy for all who take refuge in him!

Our current series of Sunday morning messages -- Present Help in Present Trouble -- has made us profoundly aware of the reality that we live in a world permeated by evil and reeling under the consequences of sin. But Psalm 2 and other texts throughout Scripture affirm that our Sovereign God has a plan. He is in control. We may not be aware of the specifics of His timing, but in His Word we can find a thorough record of His past dealings with mankind and what He has planned for the future.

In Psalm 2, we have a clear picture of God's intent to enthrone His Royal Son (v. 12) -- His Chosen King (v. 6) -- to rule and reign over all the earth. For those nations -- and individuals -- who refuse to acknowledge Jesus as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, the outlook is grim. Verses 5, 9, and 12 are graphically clear.

But to those of us who have already bowed our hearts and lives under the authority of Christ, who are even now the royal subjects of King Jesus, this coming reign is an amazing, hope-filled reality. We look forward to the day when our "present troubles" will be a thing of the past and when God's Kingdom will come, and His will, His truth, and His justice will reign "on earth as it is in Heaven."

Father,
Keep this revealed wisdom in the forefront of my thinking, and help me to act on any opportunities You provide for me to share this message with others. Guide my steps today and help me to live and speak and act in ways that represent You well. Thank you that Your grace has brought me to make You my secure refuge today and for all of eternity!
Amen

FRIDAY, JUNE 3

1Blessed is the one

who does not walk in step with the wicked

or stand in the way that sinners take

or sit in the company of mockers,

2but whose delight is in the law of the LORD,

and who meditates on his law day and night.

3That person is like a tree planted by streams of water,

which yields its fruit in season

and whose leaf does not wither --

whatever they do prospers.

4Not so the wicked!

They are like chaff

that the wind blows away.

5Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment,

nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

6For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous,

but the way of the wicked leads to destruction.

Over the past few days, we've been looking at Psalm 2 and processing how we can biblically face into a world filled with constant turmoil and injustice. In many ways, Psalm 1 and Psalm 2 (which we've been reading this week) are two pieces of an integrated introduction to the whole book of Psalms. While Psalm 2 takes a look at the big picture, God's sovereignty acting through human history and the
interaction of nations, Psalm 1 focuses on the individual. Living in a world filled with sin, pain, and people who are not following God, what does it look like to live a fruitful and blessed life? Given the unsettling reality that, in many ways, this is not a safe place or our ultimate home, how are we to navigate our days?

In this psalm, David tracks two possible lifestyles -- two patterns of choices. In one, he describes a person walking in the counsel of the wicked, then standing in the way of sinners, and finally sitting in the seat of mockers. This is a lifestyle progressively focused on choice and associations that are more and more opposed to God. It is a lifestyle, he warns, that will ultimately produce worthless "chaff that the wind blows away."

On the other hand, he also describes a lifestyle characterized by delight and meditation on the ways of the Lord. David's words remind us of Jesus' response to the Pharisees in Matthew 22: 35-38:

"One of them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: "Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment."

Sometimes, it is startling to consider the directness and practicality of the Scripture. Here at the beginning of the whole book of Psalms, the psalmist distills all of human life into a simple, yet profound reality: Whether or not we will we be fruitful and standing strong -- even in the midst of the wind that blows or weather that withers -- will depend on which of these patterns characterize our lives. As you read through this psalm one more time, be honest with yourself and with the Lord. Which pattern of choices and associations characterize your life? On a daily basis, where are you rooted? Minute by minute, where are you walking, standing and sitting?

Father,
I ask You today for wisdom. Show me the "course corrections" You want me to make. Help me to be sensitive to where and with whom I am sitting, walking, or standing. Help me to make good decisions about my companions and where I spend my time. Direct me to the people who can help me to be firmly planted where I can grow in You.
Amen