This psalm quoted much in N.T.

Begins with "Why?"
Child asks why? 

Back and back to why are we here and why is there a universe.

Only cross and eternal life can give answer.

Why wars and quarrells? 

Author of Psalm 2 also felt like us.
Why do the nations conspire (rage) and the peoples plot in vain?
`rage' - to be tumultuous.
Raging sea of Book of Revelation can mean the tumult of the nations.

Writer is astonished.  
Senseless - anger damages our thinking:
Leonardo da Vinci was working on his painting "The Last Supper" and became angry with a certain man. Losing his temper, he lashed the other fellow with bitter words. Returning to his canvas, Leonardo attempted to work on the face of Jesus but was so upset he could not compose himself for the painstaking work. Finally he put down his tools and sought out the subject of his wrath and asked his forgiveness. The man accepted his apology and Leonardo was able to return to his workshop and finish painting the face of Jesus. 

Robert G. Ingersoll [(183399), American lawyer and orator, known as the Great Agnostic because of his antireligious views.] : Anger is a wind which blows out the lamp of the mind. 

The outward rage of war mongering and genocide comes from an inner rage.

Has that ever applied to you or me?

What is the root of it? Sometimes it is anger against God Himself.
2. The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his anointed one. 

Against God and His Annointed - Messiah or Christ.

All the raging and plotting of the world was brought into focus in one place and one time.

Prayer of the disciples:
Acts 4:2528 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 take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his anointed one.' 27 indeed Herod and Pilate met together with the gentiles and the people of israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 they did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. (niv)
Raging and plotting of Herod, Pilate, chief priests  against Jesus represented all the futile raging and plotting of the nations of the world.

Gospels record how the rage of the chief priests and crowds, together with the weak leadership of Pilate, together with the insincerity of king Herod, together with the cowardice of disiples  lead to the sufferings of the Lord's anointed.

Today: world leaders  (Many are good and wise but ... )
Some weak, some raging, some insincere, some cowards.
It is a terrible combination.

What is the nature of man's rebellion? 
Where does evil come from?
3 "let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters."

They regard the laws of God and his Christ as chains.
And they want to break free.
1960s: 10 commandments are outdated - they are chains.
Look at the damage to our society now and the resulting   rage!

Are they chains?or cords of compassion! (Hosea 11)

10 Commandments and Sermon on Mt are not chains to enslave us but cords of compassion.

The Lord knew that we need them to preserve peace, love, forgiveness, courage, truth, and freedom.

Without them this world would always be in turmoil and rage.
So what is the hope?
Acts 4: 28 they did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. (niv) 
God used the rage of chief priests, Pilate, Herod  for his purpose!

Crucified the Messiah, but cross is now the way we can find mercy.

All of us need forgiveness. 
Can't just blame the mad leaders of the world, or the  hooligans in our own country.
All of us need that cross on which the Lord's annointed suffered and died.
This is the awesome wonder of the gospel.

God has taken our sin and rage and rebellion. 
Bears it in his own body on the cross and then offers us forgiveness, salvation. 
`Father forgive them!'
That takes all rage away.

No human being could have manufactured such a gospel.
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Psalm 2 tells us that God laughs. (not ammusement)

Laughter of scorn at the futile rage and violence of man.
4 the one enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.
Now verse 5.
5 then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, 6 "I have installed my king on zion, my holy hill."

King on Zion which is the holy hill.

Zion:
1. Small hill s. Of Jerurusalem.
2. All the hills of Jerusalem.
3. The whole promised land.

All the major events of drama of Christ took place there  near Jer.

Birth of Christ  Bethl.  5 mls.
Death of Christ  in Jer.
Res. Of Christ  in jer.
Ascen....  from her.

And 2nd coming of Christ to the hills of Jerusalem.

(this psalm written many hundreds of yrs before Christ's first coming.)

How does God break the power of evil?
7 I will proclaim the decree of the Lord: he said to me, "You are my Son; today I have become your Father.

How does tha N.T. use this verse? - Resurrection of Jesus.

The rage and rebellion of mankind does not have the concluding word.
After Christ rose he commanded his disciples to go into all the world ...
And so next vs in ps 2 says:
8 ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession.

Pilgrims to holyland and Zion' come from all over globe.

Scriputre prophecies that one day `Gentiles will flock to Zion'.

However the gospel is no soft option.
9a you will rule them with an iron scepter..

Iron sceptre a sign of rule of Messiah.
1.  Rev 12:5a she gave birth to a son, a male child, who will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. 

2. Rider on white horse:
Rev 19:15 out of his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. "he will rule them with an iron scepter." He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God almighty. (niv)

Sceptre  shepherd's crook: 

discipline, protection.
separation of good from bad - sheep from goats.

Vs 9b
 describes the aweful end of the arrogant and violent.
 "..you will dash them to pieces like pottery."

So now there is a warning:
10 therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. 11 serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling.

Be wise.      Be warned.      Serve the Lord.

To hear and accept the word of the Messiah will be the wisest thing you will ever do.

Lead you to spheres of great service and rejoicing.

This psalm begins with the terrors of a world gone mad, ends with a world of grace.

12b: blessed are all who take refuge in him. (niv)
There is no refuge from God - Can't run away for ever.

But those who are drawn by his cords of compassion  find in him an everlasting refuge.

Matt 11:2830 28 "come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 for my yoke is easy and my burden is light." (niv)

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