Psalm 2
6 For the Lord declares, "I have placed my chosen king on the throne in Jerusalem, on my holy mountain."
10 Now the, you kings, act wisely! Be warned, you rulers of the earth!
11 Serve the Lord with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling.
3 Thoughts
- This psalm was written to celebrate the coronation of an Israelite king, but it's a great reminder to all leaders...everywhere...across all time...that God is the ruler of all and that all serve him.
- In verse 3, we hear the rulers of the earth crying out, "Let us break their chains, and free ourselves from slavery to God." Freedom seems so enticing. But we have freedom in God not apart from him. Just as a fish has freedom in water or a plant has freedom to grow when it's planted in the soil, we are free to be who God made us to be when we live in Him.
- "Submit" (v. 12) is a word that doesn't get a lot of use in our culture. It means "to yield or surrender oneself to the will or authority of another." We like to be in charge, not to submit...."but the one who rules in heaven laughs." (v. 4). When I read that verse I imagine God laughing at our insistence on our own way just as I laugh quietly at my own children's attempts to be in charge.
3 Questions
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As I write this devotion, our nation is electing a new president. Will we have the kind of leader who will "serve the Lord with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling" at the opportunity to serve? Do you know any leaders personally ... maybe in your workplace, in our local government, or in the church ... who approach leadership with this attitude? How do you feel about leaders who take a servant-oriented approach to leadership?
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Everyone serves somebody or something. If we "free ourselves from slavery to God," who or what would we serve instead?
- What would happen in your relationships with your spouse, parents, friends, children, coworkers, if you made a conscious effort to submit yourself to their will? Experiment with submitting and note how it changes your relationships.
A Prayer:
Lord, we pray that the leaders of our nation and our world would act wisely, that they would serve you in reverence, and rejoice with trembling at the opportunity to lead. Strengthen our leaders and strengthen us as we seek to serve you. Teach me to submit my will to you so that I might freely and fully live out the life you made me for. Amen
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