Why Do the Heathen Rage?
A Sermon on Psalms 2:1-12
Scripture
1Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
3Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from …
Sermon Description
In this sermon on Psalm 2, you will learn that Scripture always speaks to the precise position in which we each find ourselves today. Realize first, that in and of ourselves, we can do nothing. We must pray to God that He might pour out His Spirit in a manner that it might be irresistible. Listen as Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones explains how the second Psalm describes our present position. Are you astonished at the state of the world? This is a state of organized insanity and confusion. “Pride of man and earthly glory, sword and crown betray its trust, what with care and trial he buildeth, tower and temple fall to dust.” In this modern world, we must go back and read the instructions from our Maker – otherwise, there is no hope. The cause of our troubles and unhappiness is due to man’s sin. This is not simply weakness in human nature, it is a willful act and hatred against God. God looks upon mankind in wrath as man opposes both His Law and love. Love manifested in the death of His own Son. God's final appeal is to be wise, serving Him with fear, and rejoicing with trembling. The modern man needs reverent preaching, not shallow entertainment. Look at God's offer of salvation!
Sermon Breakdown
- The world is in a state of raging and violence. Society is breaking down and in turmoil.
- Leaders and rulers are devising futile schemes to fix the problems but nothing is working.
- The root cause of the world's problems is man's sin and rebellion against God. Man rejects God's laws and commandments.
- Man's rejection of God is foolish and absurd. God is the all-powerful creator who sits in the heavens. He will judge man's sin.
- God offered his love through Jesus Christ but man rejects and spurns this offer of salvation. This is the greatest tragedy.
- We must warn people about God's coming wrath and judgment. We must call them to be wise, to think, and to turn to God.
- We must call people to serve God with fear, to rejoice with trembling, and to kiss the Son in allegiance and submission.
- If people do not turn to God, they will perish when his wrath is fully kindled. We are already seeing his wrath kindled a little.
- The church must preach this message, not entertain people. We must plead with people to escape God's wrath through Jesus Christ.
- Those who trust in Christ will be blessed and have eternal life in heaven.
Sermon Q&A
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones and Psalm 2: Key Questions and Answers
What is the significance of Dr. Lloyd-Jones' final sermon in 1980?
In May 1980, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones preached what was considered a remarkable sermon from Psalm 2 in Glasgow. Despite his poor health, he delivered this sermon with tremendous earnestness and passion for a full hour, concluding with the words "Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and ye perish from the way when His wrath is kindled but a little." The sermon was so physically taxing that he had to sink and sit on the pulpit steps afterward, appearing "white, silent, exhausted." This sermon demonstrated his commitment to encouraging younger ministers even in his weakened state.
According to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, what is the current state of the world?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones described the world as being in a state where "the heathen rage" - comparing it to a violent storm or hurricane. He contrasted this with previous periods of relative calm in history (like the Pax Romana or Pax Britannica). The present age is characterized by open, violent sin rather than hidden sin - marked by alcoholism, drug addiction, theft, robbery, violence, and public moral breakdown. He described it as "an age in which men and women are breaking every rule and every law, and the whole world is in a state of confusion."
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the root cause of the world's problems?
The root cause of the world's problems, according to Dr. Lloyd-Jones, is rebellion against God. This rebellion is not merely weakness in human nature but deliberate opposition: "The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His anointed." People view God's commandments as restrictive "bands" and "cords" that limit their freedom and happiness, failing to understand that these commandments were given for humanity's well-being and protection.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones describe the futility of human solutions to world problems?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones calls human solutions "futile and empty schemes." He points to how people put their faith in politics, education, culture, knowledge, and international organizations (like the League of Nations or United Nations), yet these have all failed to solve humanity's fundamental problems. He quotes writers who have called history "the autobiography of a madman" and the current world state "organized insanity," noting that even non-Christian scientists are becoming increasingly pessimistic about humanity's future.
What is Dr. Lloyd-Jones' critique of contemporary church approaches to reaching people?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones strongly criticizes churches that have moved away from preaching in favor of entertainment. He laments that some evangelical churches believe "what the modern man needs is entertainment" - teaching people to sing, act in dramas, mime scriptures, and even dance. He states emphatically: "In the name of God I say that is to do violence to the teaching of the scripture. We are not here to entertain people... We are here to call people to be wise, to think, to be instructed." He argues that the church's role is not to be popular but to tell people "the naked truth."
What does it mean to "kiss the Son" in Dr. Lloyd-Jones' sermon?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones explains that to "kiss the Son" means to give allegiance and submission to Jesus Christ. He uses the image of government officials kissing the Queen's hand after an election - a sign of allegiance and submission. Christians must call people to "bow before him, to kiss the Son, give themselves to him in allegiance and in service." This act acknowledges Christ's authority and is the only way to escape God's wrath and find true happiness, peace, and joy.
How does Dr. Lloyd-Jones interpret current world events in relation to God's wrath?
Dr. Lloyd-Jones interprets the troubles of the 20th century (world wars, concentration camps, and other calamities) as manifestations of "the wrath of God when it is kindled but a little." He believes that God is allowing humanity to experience the consequences of rejecting Him by withdrawing His "restraining influences." This represents God saying, "If you can live without me, live without me. If you can make a perfect society without me and my laws, get on with it." However, he warns that this is just a small taste of the full wrath that will come in final judgment.
What does Dr. Lloyd-Jones identify as the primary need for Christians in this age?
The primary need Dr. Lloyd-Jones identifies is prayer for God's Spirit to be poured out again: "Pray to God, without ceasing, to make bare his arm, to pour out his spirit upon us again, until not only buildings are shaken, until we are shaken and we are given the power to preach this word in a manner that shall be irresistible." He reminds Christians that "every revival is but a repetition" of Pentecost, and without such divine empowerment, "our situation is entirely hopeless."
Itinerant Preaching
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones
Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (1899-1981) was a Welsh evangelical minister who preached and taught in the Reformed tradition. His principal ministry was at Westminster Chapel, in central London, from 1939-1968, where he delivered multi-year expositions on books of the bible such as Romans, Ephesians and the Gospel of John. In addition to the MLJ Trust’s collection of 1,600 of these sermons in audio format, most of these great sermon series are available in book form (including a 14 volume collection of the Romans sermons), as are other series such as "Spiritual Depression", "Studies in the Sermon on the Mount" and "Great Biblical Doctrines". He is considered by many evangelical leaders today to be an authority on biblical truth and the sufficiency of Scripture.