Why Do The Terrorists Rage?

Why Do the Terrorists Rage?

PSALM 2

*A week or so ago we awakened to the news of yet another terrorists attack

*In London terrorists explored a series of bombs killing around 50 people

*This was just another incident in a every growing pattern of terrorist bombings and killings around the world

* Have you ever wondered—”why do the terrorists rage and murder?

* Our passage today gives us the answer

I. TODAY WE ARE LOOKING AT PSALM 2—WHICH IS KNOWN AS A ROYAL PSALM

These are called royal psalms because they talk about the king

1. They might talk about the king of Israel

*there are psalms that speak of the king’s enthronement or his marriage

2. These royal psalms might be talking about God’s Kingship—as Sovereign of the Universe

3. They might be talking about a Messianic King—the Lord Jesus

4. Or as is the case with our psalm today, some of the royal psalms speak of both a human king and the Messianic King—Jesus

B. Psalm 2 must be seen on two levels—the human and the divine

C. On the human level, this psalm is about the coronation of a new king in Israel and the desire of the nations and peoples to rebel against him.

*as it usually was in the ancient days

*when a king died there was political instability

* those in the far reaches of his kingdom would often take this opportunity rebel before a new king could be appointed

1. Yet, this psalm says God has appointed the human king and therefore God will crush his enemies

2. It is futile to rebel against God’s anointed king

3. Therefore the nations are called on the submit to the king and avoid certain judgment and destruction

4. Let’s read this psalm on this level

D. On the divine level this psalm is about the enthronement of King Jesus and all of mankind’s rebellion again HIM

1. Yet, because God the Father has appointed Jesus to be the King of kings and Lord of lords, He will crush His enemies

2. It is futile to rebel against the Lord Jesus therefore mankind is called on to submit to Jesus as Lord and escape His judgment and wrath.

3. Let’s read Psalm 2 again with this divine level in mind and what we will see is it is a universal call to salvation!

D. Our focus today will be on the divine level of this psalm—the universal call to salvation

E. We will see this psalm breaks down into 3 parts

1. 1st—the fact that mankind stands in rebellion against God’s anointed, the Lord God (1-3)

2. 2nd—the Lord’s response to mankind’s rebellion (4-9)

3. 3rd—the Lord’s call for mankind to repent and be saved (10-12)

II. MANKIND STANDS IN REBELLION AGAINST THE LORD’S ANOINTED (1-3)

1st—notice this rebellion is universal.

Look at the terms the psalmist uses to show the universal nature of this rebellion

1. “The nations are in an uproar”

2. “The peoples devise a vain thing”

3. “The kings of the earth take their stand”

4. “The rulers take counsel against”

B. The truth is mankind stands in rebellion against the Lord God

1. Peter used this psalm to explain the opposition that led to Jesus’ crucifixion and the opposition the early church was experiencing.

Illus. Ac 4:25-28

’WHY DID THE GENTILES RAGE,AND THE PEOPLES DEVISE FUTILE THINGS? 26’THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND,AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHERAGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.’

27 "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.

2. When we are born into this human race, we are born in rebellion against God

3. Paul borrows from Psalm 14 to express this universal rebellion against God

Illus. Ro 3:10-18

"THERE IS NONE RIGHTEOUS, NOT EVEN ONE;

11 THERE IS NONE WHO UNDERSTANDS,

THERE IS NONE WHO SEEKS FOR GOD;

12 ALL HAVE TURNED ASIDE, TOGETHER THEY HAVE BECOME USELESS;

THERE IS NONE WHO DOES GOOD,

THERE IS NOT EVEN ONE."

13 "THEIR THROAT IS AN OPEN GRAVE,

WITH THEIR TONGUES THEY KEEP DECEIVING,"

"THE POISON OF ASPS IS UNDER THEIR LIPS";

14 "WHOSE MOUTH IS FULL OF CURSING AND BITTERNESS";

15 "THEIR FEET ARE SWIFT TO SHED BLOOD,

16 DESTRUCTION AND MISERY ARE IN THEIR PATHS,

17 AND THE PATH OF PEACE THEY HAVE NOT KNOWN."

18 "THERE IS NO FEAR OF GOD BEFORE THEIR EYES."

4. That’s a bleak picture of mankind, but it’s universally true “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” Ro 3:23

C. That is the condition of your heart today if you are apart from Christ!