America wants to conquer Africa, Africa America, the refrain of a song from 1986 still rings true; you only have to swap a few names. From that song the sermon moves to Psalm 2, where the nations rage and kings conspire to throw off God’s bonds (Psalm 2). The psalmist, however, shows a God whom no struggle for power takes by surprise, and points to a King whose reign reaches far beyond the borders of time. Listen if the chaos of politics is robbing you of peace, and see where the psalmist tells us to look for shelter.
Discussion questions
For your small group or for personal reflection after the sermon.
- Psalm 2 opens by asking why the nations rage and want to throw off the chains of the Lord and His anointed. According to the psalm, what really lies behind this rebellion, and who is it aimed at?
- After Peter and John were released, the apostles prayed using Psalm 2 and applied it to Jesus, and Hebrews quotes the words "You are my Son." How does this change the way we read this psalm?
- The speaker showed that every war was meant to be the last one, and rulers like Caesar Augustus claimed divine honor for themselves. What does this history reveal about human attempts to build a better world without God?
- In the psalm God looks at the rebellious rulers with pity and declares, "I have installed my king on Zion." How does this truth shape the way you view today's political chaos and struggle for power?
- General Grant accepted nothing but unconditional surrender, yet treated the defeated mildly afterward. In which areas of your life are you still trying to negotiate terms with God instead of submitting to the rule of Jesus?
- We live between the "D-Day" of the cross and resurrection and the day of final victory. What does serving the Lord with fear and taking refuge in Him look like for you this week as you follow the news or talk about politics?
