"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
Psalm 2 gives great insights into freedom, that is why I titled my message for this Sunday "Freedom 101".
First, in verses 1-3, we see what freedom isn't.
Freedom isn't being in total control.
Reading the Founders makes it clear they understood one of the greatest obstactles to freedom is the false notions of freedom that arise from the corrupted heart and clouded minds of humans.
The Founding Fathers understood the fallen nature of man and the rebellion that led to that fall. They were very aware they would have to build a system of checks and balances as safeguards against the lust for power and control.
Ingeniously, they came up with three co-equal branches of government and a written Constitution to which they were to constrain themselves. They also designed a republic rather than a pure democracy. It was safer to have have 535 elected officials deciding policy rather than a simple majority of individual citizens. In a democracy, if there are 100,000,000 voters and 50,000,001 of them decide that homosexual marriage should be the law of the land, it would become the law of the land.
Also, they had the foresight to limit the terms of service for elected officials. Presidents serve 4 years, senators who serve 6 years, and representatives who have a 2 year term.
Guided by Divine wisdom, our Founders knew what the Psalmist declares in this Second Psalm, those who are driven by a lust for power and control will end up abusing power and out of control.
As you take time to reflect on your blessings as an American, be sure and thank God for the Founders who so carefully and humbly built this great government.
And, while you are searching your heart, ask the Spirit to reveal any area that is not under His control and surrender it to Him.
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