Psalms 2:1-2,7-8,11-12 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed [Meshiach], saying, 7 I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Psalm 2 is a divine announcement — a heavenly decree that demands the world’s attention. It begins with a question: “Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot in vain?” (Ps. 2:1). The nations rise up, not against injustice or tyranny, but against the rule of God’s Meshiach (Messiah). That Anointed is Yeshua — the Son whom the Father has set on His holy hill in Zion (Ps. 2:6). The psalm strips away all pretense and exposes the heart of human rebellion: it is a refusal to be ruled by His Messiah.
In this psalm, the Father proclaims that Yeshua has been given the nations as His inheritance and the ends of the earth as His possession (Ps. 2:8). This is not poetic symbolism — it is a declaration of destiny. Yeshua is not merely Savior — He is King. He will not rule by diplomacy but with a rod of iron (Ps. 2:9). His authority is final, His dominion unstoppable. Though the kings of the earth conspire, their defiance is met with divine derision—God laughs from heaven (Ps. 2:4), because no scheme can overturn His decree. And when grace is ignored, wrath is awakened.
Yet even in the face of judgment, Psalm 2 is laced with mercy. The Father offers a clear warning: “Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O judges of the earth” (Ps. 2:10). This is not the cold judgment of a distant God — it is the loving rebuke of a holy God who desires repentance. The call is urgent: “Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling” (Ps. 2:11). There is joy in submission, but only when it is coupled with reverence.
Then comes the command that pierces every heart: “Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way” (Ps. 2:12). To kiss the Son is to surrender, to lay down arms, to recognize that Yeshua is Lord. The picture is one of homage and honor. This is not the kiss of affection but of allegiance. It is the line in the sand. We either bend the knee to Yeshua willingly, or we face His righteous anger.
This psalm reminds us that God’s love and wrath are not opposites — they are expressions of the same holy nature. He is patient, but He is not passive. He warns not because He enjoys judgment, but because He longs to show mercy. But mercy must be received. The alternative is to “perish in the way,” because the way of rebellion always leads to ruin.
Blessed are all who take refuge in Him (Ps. 2:12). That is the final word of Psalm 2, and it is the heartbeat of the gospel. Refuge is available — not in defiance, but in surrender. Yeshua is the Son whom the Father has exalted. He is the rightful King. The question is not whether He will reign — the question is will we bow, or be broken? Kiss the Son while there’s still time. Surrender in faith, and find life, joy, and mercy in Him — for the Kingdom of God is at hand.
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[worthy_plugins_devotion_single_body]An aging king woke up one day to the realization that should he drop dead, there would be no male in the royal family to take his place. He was the last male in the royal family in a culture where only a male could succeed to the throne – and he was aging. He decided that if he could not give birth to a male, he would adopt a son who then could take his place but he insisted that such an adopted son must be extraordinary in every sense of the word. So he launched a competition in his kingdom, open to all boys, no matter what their background. Ten boys made it to the very top.
For centuries in Ethiopia, there have lived a people we now know as the Falashas. They kept all sorts of Biblical traditions and call themselves Beta Yisrael (House of Israel). As experts began to study the matter, it became clear that these were descendants of the Jewish people who came to Africa in ancient times and intermarried. Unbeknownst to many, a percentage of them became believers in Jesus over the years. Jesus (or Yeshua, as they called Him) became a part of their identity as Jewish people. Many Falashan Jews worshipped Jesus as their Messiah and continued to practice Jewish tradition.
Why is it that some believers seem to go much deeper in their walk with God than others? I believe it has to do with a desire to pursue God and not to stop until they feel His very presence in their lives. These believers decide not to settle for anything less than a growing, vibrant relationship with God, and God honors that desire for those who seek it.
This pivotal passage of scripture, Isaiah 52 and continuing into Isaiah 53, profiles a suffering servant whom the nation of Israel would not recognize. The spiritual leaders of Yeshua’s (Jesus) day were blinded to the messianic passages which pointed to the messiah’s role as a humble servant and bearer of sins.
A recent study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania and University of California Los Angeles wanted to find out, “if you had to choose between more time and more money, what would it be?” While they found most respondents answered, “more money”, they also found that those who preferred “more time” were generally happier! When I read this article, it reminded me of a story, that I’d like to share.
The Apostle Paul’s admonition in 1 Corinthians 10:6 against desiring evil as they did, would seem to point to the obvious sins – lying, stealing, adultery, fornication, etc. – and following their deliverance from slavery, many of the children of Israel were certainly guilty of some of these. But this passage in Numbers describes a type of sin we don’t normally consider: it was simply their desire for the foods they ate in Egypt.
The Apostle Paul continues his warning to the Corinthians against idolatry by referring to Israel’s celebration/worship of the golden calf. Aaron’s proclamation, “These are your gods (plural) O Israel” could be one of the earliest declarations mixing the worship of the true and living God, YHVH, with idols. This is called “syncretism”. Dictionary.com defines it: ” the attempted reconciliation or union of different or opposing principles, practices, or parties, as in philosophy or religion.”