Human Hubris - January 10 Readings: Psalm 2

We are going to "enter the year with praise." Our January readings and devotionals will all focus on the goodness and grace of God. Get a journal or notebook to write down your thoughts every day. Our passages are shorter - please don't rush through them. Take time to meditate and consider why God is worthy of your praise.

Enter 2020 with the praise of God on your lips!

Today's Praise Passage:  Psalm 2

Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth take their stand,
and the rulers conspire together
against the Lord and his Anointed One:
3 “Let’s tear off their chains
and throw their ropes off of us.”
 4 The one enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord ridicules them.
5 Then he speaks to them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath:
6 “I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.”
 7 I will declare the Lord’s decree.
He said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.
8 Ask of me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance
and the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You will break them with an iron scepter;
you will shatter them like pottery.”
 10 So now, kings, be wise;
receive instruction, you judges of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with reverential awe
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Pay homage to the Son or he will be angry
and you will perish in your rebellion,
for his anger may ignite at any moment.
All who take refuge in him are happy.

Through the Bible Reading: Genesis 21-22, Matthew 8:1–17, Psalm 7:1–10, Proverbs 1:32-33

Some of our readers want a little more "meaty" devotional, so I am including a link to the through Through the Bible in One Year readings we did last year. 

Devotional: Human Hubris 

 Hubris: excessive pride or self-confidence. 

That is the dictionary definition. A more practical example of hubris is the human tendency to think that people run this world and that it operates on the basis of our intents and decisions.

This psalm begins strangely, with God taunting the powerful kings of earth. They rage and plot, take their stand and conspire, thinking that ultimate power rests in them and that the world belongs to them. God laughs at their hubris and folly. These kings and worldly powers attempt to "throw off chains" and operate independently of the power of God, but God scoffs and declares that he has installed his king. This leads to a call to submit to the true ruler of earth, to be humble and submissive to the true king. There are messianic tones throughout this psalm - speaking of the kings of Israel with an eye to THE king who would come one day.

Are you worried about the elections that take place in our nation this November? You will hear time and time again that the future of our nation depends on how we vote. And yes, our votes matter and Christians should be good citizens. But never fall prey to the false idea that the American election governs the future. God's kingdom doesn't depend on the victory of a political party. God scoffs at such nonsense.

Are you concerned with the evil actions of wicked men with power? If you aren't, you are not paying attention. But God laughs at the hubris of those men. They rage and conspire and plot and take their stands, but God is the one who has installed the King of kings on the throne of glory. Men plot, God laughs, and Jesus is still Lord.

We should not stick our heads in the sand, nor should we ignore injustice. We are salt and light and must fulfill those roles. But we must never forget the ultimate reality. Wicked men do great evil, but the God of heaven lifts up the fallen and opposes the proud. He laughs at human hubris and accomplishes his purposes without hindrance.

You serve a sovereign God whose rule in this world is unchallenged. Our duty is to be wise and to "serve the Lord with reverential awe."

You, Lord, are my sovereign king. You rule this world. Even the evil deeds of evil men do not undo your purposes or thwart your plans. Thank  you for being a God of power and glory. 

Think and Pray:

Meditate on this passage and write down:

1. The character qualities of God for which you can praise him. 

2. The gracious acts of God for which you can give thanks to him. 

What does your attitude toward the events of this world show about your faith in God's sovereign power?