Deeper Reflection
The great statue in Nebuchadnezzar’s dream symbolises the full range of mighty kings of powerful kingdoms of the world (Dan 2:31-33, 36-43). In Psalm 2, these “kings of the earth take their stand…against the Lord and against His Anointed” (v.2), wanting to have their own sovereign freedom (v.3). But God “laughs” and “scoffs” at them for their foolish and futile attempts (vv.1, 4).Psalm 2 reveals a God of absolute sovereign power, who can make an easy clean sweep over all human powers. But then, do you see the cross in Psalm 2? The psalm itself does not show the cross…until the New Testament. The persecuted early church worshipped God triumphantly with Psalm 2 (Acts 4:21-28). The “kings of the earth” that “take their stand together against the Lord and against His Anointed” in Psalm 2 were in the New Testament “both Herod and Pilate” who, with the Gentiles and Israel, “gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed” (Acts 4:25-27). How did “Herod and Pilate”, with the Gentiles and Israel, gather together against Jesus the Christ? By crucifying Him – in whom they found no guilt (Lk 23:1-11, 20-25). God in Jesus was crucified by His enemies. This is how God wins. The cross is the Lord’s conquest and the Lord’s crown. God in Jesus is sovereign through His own suffering. The Lord lords over His enemies by “losing” to them. The Lord shows His power by being “powerless” in His enemies’ hands. God “laughs” and “scoffs” at His enemies through the cross. This is the glory of God!