Is Browning wrong? (Psalm 2)

The Victorian-era poet, Robert Browning, is well known and many people recognize quotes from his work. "Grow old along with me, the best is yet to be." That's one of them. Then, there's "Take away love and our earth is a tomb." 

I'm not sure which of his quotes is the best known, but this has to be right up there at the top: "God's in His heaven, all's right with the world."

Seriously?

Of course, Robert Browning is not here with us at the moment . . . 

All's RIGHT with the world?

So far in 2020, we have had hundreds of thousands of deaths from a new virus; we have had (in America, at least) tremendous civil unrest and criminality; we have wars that are still ongoing; we have religious persecution around the globe; and much, much more.

Since the beginning of time, the world has known strife. Satan came into the peaceful garden and introduced doubt, lies, and sin. Cain murdered Abel because of jealousy, and so much of the sin in our world still comes from that green-eyed monster. If we look away from the Bible account for a moment, and peek at secular history, we see that there is war, after war, after war.

Just look at the century we just left: World War I was called the "war to end all wars," yet just a few years later, the nations were struggling in World War II. That one ended in 1945, but in 1967 a contemporary magazine noted that in just twenty-two more years, there'd been 12 more wars (more limited in scope), 39 political assassinations, 48 revolts, 74 rebellions, and 162 different social revolutions! (This was in the December 1967 U. S. News and World Report!)

Obviously, since that time, there have been numerous wars and conflicts all over the world. Our present world does seem, as we mentioned, to be in chaos. So much so, that people are wary of watching current events! Many are tempted to hide from what goes on, much like an ostrich that sticks its head in the sand! 

In Psalm 2, King David is looking around at the nations that surround his kingdom. He sees the rebellion of these people against God. He was looking at much the same kind of chaos that we see today. Let's read the whole Psalm:

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!

David tells us that even though the nations have rebelled against God, He is sovereign. Even though when we look at our world, it may seem as if God has taken a vacation, David says that God's plans have not failed - and won't fail! He will ultimately triumph in His timing. So, David appeals to the rebellious nations to bow before God while they still have a chance to do so.

When we read Psalm 2, it seems to be written like a play: in Act I, David asks the question about his world and then the kings and rulers speak their answer together. In Act II, God is calmly sitting on His throne in heaven and speaks. Act III sees God's Anointed One speak and reveal God's plan for rebellious man. The play closes with Act IV - the psalmist speaks again.

So, Browning is correct: God is in heaven, so let's study this Psalm this week and learn more!