Psalm 2 ~ why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?

Life Magazine did a photo opportunity and article for the 1951 movie "David and Bathsheba" with Gregory Peck and Susan Hayward.



Psalm 2 ~ (New International Version)

Listen - Max McLean, New International Version - suggested to click for new tab to listen and read


Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
² The 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.”

⁴ The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
⁵ He rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
⁶ “I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.”

⁷ I will proclaim the LORD’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;
today I have become your father.
⁸ Ask me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
⁹ You will break them with a rod of iron;
you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

¹⁰ Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
¹¹ Serve the LORD with fear
and celebrate his rule with trembling.
¹² Kiss 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.

Psalm 2 isn't identified in the Old Testament with a human writer until Acts 4:25

You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:

“‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
²⁶ The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together
against the Lord and against his anointed one."

David is the human component to the writing, with the Holy Spirit being the author of all of the Scriptures.

David would know about national conspiracy. David had Saul plotting against him. Living in caves, being defamed. And David used sneaky, down right devious behavior, more than mildly bizarre behavior, to take Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam and the wife of Uriah the Hittite. David, of course, placed Uriah on the front line of his army conspiring to use God's nation for David's sin.

The problem with being invisible to be sneaky, or having devious behavior, is listed pretty clearly in Psalm 2. The evil one, the devil, isn't going to let a good man get away with it. At the right moment, the secret is revealed for maximum damage. Zap. The evil one would go for maximum embarrassment and carnage.

We have all been less than perfect.

What is God going to do with the sinners. I want to know. In Psalm 2, the children of God are protected. Not to remain invisible or impervious, but forgiven. Not to continue in wrong doing. Actually letting the sin to be known and recovered from. Honesty is the real path forward.

Psalm 51

A psalm of David. When the prophet Nathan came to him after David had committed adultery with Bathsheba, placing Uriah in harm's way to be murdered.

¹ Have mercy on me, O God,
according to your unfailing love;
according to your great compassion
blot out my transgressions.
² Wash away all my iniquity
and cleanse me from my sin.

³ For I know my transgressions,
and my sin is always before me.
⁴ Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight;
so you are right in your verdict
and justified when you judge.
⁵ Surely I was sinful at birth,
sinful from the time my mother conceived me.
⁶ Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;
you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

⁷ Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;
wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
⁸ Let me hear joy and gladness;
let the bones you have crushed rejoice.
⁹ Hide your face from my sins
and blot out all my iniquity.

¹⁰ Create in me a pure heart, O God,
and renew a steadfast spirit within me.
¹¹ Do not cast me from your presence
or take your Holy Spirit from me.
¹² Restore to me the joy of your salvation
and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

¹³ Then I will teach transgressors your ways,
so that sinners will turn back to you.
¹⁴ Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,
you who are God my Savior,
and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.
¹⁵ Open my lips, Lord,
and my mouth will declare your praise.
¹⁶ You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;
you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.
¹⁷ My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;
a broken and contrite heart
you, God, will not despise.

¹⁸ May it please you to prosper Zion,
to build up the walls of Jerusalem.
¹⁹ Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,
in burnt offerings offered whole;
then bulls will be offered on your altar.

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