(Note: St. Augustine is famous for writing a book called “The Confessions,” which was written completely as a prayer to God. In the same spirit, I plan to write these posts as a prayer to God.)
“Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”” (Psalm 2:1–3, ESV)
Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
Heavenly Father, it amazes me that people would rage against you, their Creator. Why would they hate you? Why would they plot and scheme to overthrow you? Why are they so angry? Why waste so much time and effort and emotion in something that is pointless—vain?
Yet, I shouldn’t be pointing the finger at other, but at myself, right? If I am honest with myself, I have a natural tendency to hate you and my neighbor (Heidelberg Catechism Q&A 5). I don’t like to admit that, Father. I like to think of myself as strong and smart and capable—as basically good. Yet, I’m not. I plot and scheme to do things my own way, rather than your way. I get angry and throw a fit against you when things don’t happen the way I want them. I waste so much time and effort and emotion doing things contrary to your will. Please forgive me, Father.
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed…
Father, I see so many people striving to “set themselves up,” into a higher position—people trying to exalt themselves through money or power or prestige. The kings and rulers particularly struggle. Their earthly power and wisdom fools them into thinking they are in control—capable. They seem to think they can come together—gather their wisdom—to surpass your omniscience. It’s not going to happen.
Admittedly, I often fall into the same trap, relying on myself and my strength, propping myself up in pride and arrogance. I often find myself thinking I’m smarter than I truly am. I find myself reasoning away my own sin. Again, I ask you to forgive me, Father.
Father, why do we set ourselves against the one trying to save us? Why do we fight against You and your Anointed—against our Savior Jesus Christ? We’re like a drowning victim, fighting and punching the lifeguard who tries to rescue us from the ocean. Help me rest in your arms, Father—to stop fighting you, to stop striving on my own, and to simply trust you to save me.
“Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”
Father, it seems like this has been the cry ever since the Garden. Adam and Eve had one restriction, yet felt like it was too much of a burden. The world continues to see your law and expectations as entangling them, tying them up, restricting them from freedom. The world seems to think you hate joy and freedom.
Yet, you’ve told us “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30, ESV). Following You is not restricting and entangling. It’s freeing and life-giving. Through your Word you are showing us how to live the way you’ve created us to live—how to fulfill our purpose. That doesn’t seem like entanglement to me. It seems like Life and Freedom.
Yet, at times I don’t understand myself. Like Paul, in Romans 7, “I do not do what I want, but I do the very thing I hate…For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.” (Romans 7:15, 22–23, ESV).
Father, help me to more fully delight in your law. Help me more fully see your yoke as easy and your burden as light. Help me walk in the freedom you’ve laid out for me—and help me truly see it as freedom. I do not want to break myself from your bonds, but I want to be “lashed to the mast” so that the wind and waves of this life will not sweep me away. That is true freedom. Please do that in my life, Father. Hold me fast till the end and never let me go. Amen.