Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against His anointed, saying, “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.” The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them in His anger and terrifies them in His wrath, saying “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:
He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery. Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and celebrate His rule with trembling. 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 2:1-12
“Let me come back to the second lesson of the parable from D-Day plus one. The other reason those men were lying there, pinned down, unable to move is because no one had ever shown them how to take a house before. They had been trained, but not for that. Most men have never been initiated into manhood. They have never had anyone show them how to do it, and especially, how to fight for their heart. The failure of so many fathers, the emasculating culture, and the passive church have left men without direction.”
John Eldredge in Wild at Heart (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 2001) 55.
Today’s post won’t make sense unless you read yesterday. Click below to read yesterday then read this one today please.
Every time I enter a country on behalf of GTP, we not only pray Joshua 1:3 – “I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.” I read Psalm 2 with my co-workers.
Psalm 2 is my favorite Psalm (though Psalm 103 comes a close second). While most people fancy Psalm 23, 46, 100, 121, or 139, I love this Psalm! Why do I appreciate it so much? I like it because it gives direction, like Brig. Gen. Norman “Dutch” Cota in the story yesterday.
It gives direction how to take a country for Christ, how to claim hearts for God and give men their hearts back. Look at the imperatives in the text. They teach us what every man (and woman) must do!
Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. … Serve the Lord with fear…. Celebrate His rule with trembling. … Kiss His son, or he will be angry and your way will lead to your destruction.
Ask…Serve…Celebrate… and Kiss… We must teach people like Brig. Gen. Norman “Dutch” Cota taught the soldiers how to take the farmhouse filled with enemy soldiers shooting at them. Ask God…Serve Him…Celebrate His rule…and Kiss His son. That’s how you take enemy territory.
Wherever you live, give this direction to claim the space for God. And live out those four imperatives.