A Declaration of Complete Dependence

Psalm 2 from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

The Reign of the Lord’s Anointed.

Why are the nations in an uproar
And the peoples devising a vain thing?
² The kings of the earth take their stand
And the rulers take counsel together
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
³ “Let us tear their fetters apart
And cast away their cords from us!”

⁴ He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
⁵ Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
⁶ “But as for Me, I have installed My King
Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

⁷ “I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord:
He said to Me, ‘You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
⁸ ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance,
And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.
⁹ ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron,
You shall shatter them like earthenware.’”

¹⁰ Now therefore, O kings, show discernment;
Take warning, O judges of the earth.
¹¹ Worship the Lord with reverence
And rejoice with trembling.
¹² Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way,
For His wrath may soon be kindled.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!

July 4, 1776. The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human Events, it becomes necessary for one People to dissolve the Political Bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the Powers of the Earth, the separate and equal Station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent Respect to the Opinions of Mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the Separation. We hold these Truths to be self-evident, that all Men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness—That to secure these Rights, Governments are instituted among Men…  

Two hundred and forty three years ago our nation declared its independence from the rule of a human government, recognizing God as creator; recognizing His will and His authority. Today, many in this nation, even many who suppose themselves to be leaders rather than those who serve the people, feel and declare that we would be better to declare our independence from God, His authority and will, and deepen our dependence on human institutions and philosophies. Those who seek to separate themselves from God’s power and authority; to declare independence from His will, call themselves progressives. They say they have evolved to a higher level of human existence and thought.   In truth not much has really changed regarding the thoughts of people over the thousands of years of human history. There progression is really regression. In today’s text, Psalm 2, the psalmist says:  Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,  “Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!” He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them.   There has always been a struggle, by people to rebel against God. God has allowed us to have a free will, but that does not mean that our will over rules His. We can declare we are not dependent on God, we can reject His will, but we cannot escape His omnipotence and authority.  

The psalmist says:   He will speak to them in His anger And terrify them in His fury, saying,  “But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.”  “I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.  ‘Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession.  ‘You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware.’”    Jesus Christ is the begotten of God, His Son. Jesus is the King of Kings. He has been given the nations; every race and ethnicity as His inheritence and the whole earth as His possesion. In fact in Matthew 28:18-19, after the resurrection and before He ascended to His throne in heaven, Jesus said:  “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations”    Philippians 2:5-11 says:  Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,  and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.   Two thousand years ago Jesus, as a true leader, humbled Himself not only as a servant of God, but also to serve us. He gave His life on the cross, not to free us from God, but to reconcile to Him and free us from the bondage of sin. We can choose, in this life, whether we will accept the freedom Christ gives us to be without sin or to continue as those who have rebelled against God from the beginning. In the end, at the name of Jesus every knee should (will) bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth,  and that every tongue should (will) confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

The psalmist says:  Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth. Worship the Lord with reverence And rejoice with trembling. Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!   After the United States fought for and won its independence, a new human government was established. The preamble to the constitution says:  We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.   True justice is God’s justice. Tranquility; peace, is only found in Him. He is our defence and His will is for our welfare. God gives us liberty and blessings, posterity and prosperity. The only perfect union was established by Him. Through Christ we are unified with God. On this day, when the United States celebrates its Declaration of Independence from an oppressive human government, may we the people declare our renewed dependence on God.

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ; precious Holy Spirit; today and every day I declare my complete dependence on You. Thank You for freeing me from the bondage of sin. One day every knee will bow and confess You are Lord. For me that day will be like today and every other day. Thank You Lord of Lords and King of Kings.   Amen.