Psalm 2: Part Three
INSANE: ‘Unsound in mind or intellect; mad; deranged in mind; delirious; distracted’ (Noah Webster, 1828).
CONSPIRACY: ‘A combination of men for an evil purpose; an agreement between two or more persons, to commit some crime in concert; particularly, a combination to commit treason, or excite sedition or insurrection against the government of a state; a plot; as a conspiracy against the life of a king’ (Noah Webster, 1828).
VAIN IMAGINATION OF THE HEATHEN
Psalm 2:1 “Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
Unattainable imagination—The heathen rage, because: “There is no peace, saith the LORD, unto the wicked” (Isaiah 48:22; 57:21; John 14:27).
The scripture declares: “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness; Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them [their conscience]; for God hath shewed it [the creation] unto them. For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse: Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened. Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools” (Romans 1:20-22).
When the heathen give heed to seducing spirits and doctrines of devils, their conscience is “seared with a hot iron” (1Timothy 4:1-3)! Unto the heathen “that are defiled and unbelieving is nothing pure; but even their mind and conscience is defiled” (Titus 1:15). The imagination of these raging heathen is vain, unprofitable, and unattainable. David declared that the LORD will destroy them (Psalm 21:8-10), “For they intended evil against thee: they imagined a mischievous device, which they are not able to perform. Therefore shalt thou make them turn their back, when thou shalt make ready thine arrows upon thy strings against the face of them” (Psalm 21:11-12).
THE HEATHEN’S INSANE COUNSEL
Psalm 2:2-3 “The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.”
Foolish counsel—The “crafty counsel” (Psalm 83:3; 15:7) of these ignorant and blinded heathen is preposterous and unreasonable. The heathen are the descendants of “the first man Adam” (1Corinthians 15:45), who was made of dust (Genesis 3:19; Psalm 104:29). They are members of the nations, who before God “are as nothing; and they are counted to him less than nothing, and vanity.” (Isaiah 40:17)! These kings and rulers imagine to go against the counsel of “the almighty God” (Genesis 17:1; Revelation 1:8), by whom “were all things created” (Colossians 1:16), whose “greatness is unsearchable” (Psalm 145:3), whose “understanding is infinite” (Psalm 147:5), and who has “all power…in heaven and in earth” (Matthew 28:18)!
An evil confederacy—Asaph wrote that the LORD’S heathen enemies “have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate [To unite in a league; to join in a mutual contract or covenant] against thee” (Psalm 83:5). Notice that this ridiculous counsel is given by kings and rulers, who are normally the deceivers of many ordinary heathen. Speaking of the unbelieving ruling Pharisees (John 3:1; Acts 14:15), Jesus said: “Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch” (Matthew 15:14).
Speaking directly to these rulers, Jesus said: “Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves” (Matthew 23:15). Jesus warned that in these last days “many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many” (Matthew 24:11). The word of God also prophesies that “evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived” (2Timothy 3:13).
Reprobate mind—Reprobate means: ‘disallowed; rejected… Abandoned in sin; lost to virtue or grace’ (Noah Webster, 1828). The prophet Jeremiah said: “Reprobate silver shall men call them, because the LORD hath rejected them” (Jeremiah 6:30). It is obvious that these raging heathen know about the LORD, but they “did not like to retain God in their knowledge, [and for this reason] God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient” (Romans 1:28). The spiritual father of the heathen is “the devil” (John 6:44), “the wicked one” (Matthew 13:19), whose continuing rebellion against the LORD’S word, also exhibits the characteristics of a reprobate mind.
Foolish wisdom—The word of God declares: “For the wisdom of this world [the heathen] is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness” (1Corinthians 3:19). These particular heathen are either ignorant of this truth, or else they do not believe the word of God, when it plainly says: “There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD” (Proverbs 21:30). The scriptures also say that the LORD “is wonderful in counsel” (Isaiah 28:29), and that, “There are many devices in a man’s heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand” (Proverbs 19:21) Therefore the wise psalmist declared to the LORD: “Thy testimonies also are my delight and my counsellors” (Psalm 119:24).
The word of God says: “Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure” (Isaiah 46:9-10). The word of God also declares that “The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices [imaginations] of the people of none effect. The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations” (Psalm 33:10-11).
The LORD and his anointed—Anointed means Christ (Acts 4:24-30) and Messiah (John 1:41; 4:25). Therefore the LORD’S anointed (Psalm 45:7; Hebrews 1:9; Acts 10:38) is his only begotten Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. Peter and John and other disciples referred to Psalm 2 when they “lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said…thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ” (Acts 4:24-30). The heathen were gathered together against the Father and his Son.
God invites every heathen—“Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:18). Faith comes by the word of God (Romans 10:17). Therefore, read it, and “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16:31).
Who Are The Heathen? (Psalm 2: Part One)
Heathen History (Psalm 2: Part Two)