MAN’S FOLLY
September 21, 2021
A. Starting point: 1 Tim. 2:1-6

B. Praying from: PSALM 2

EVIL IMAGINATION
“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
CHRIST REJECTED
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
DIVINE DISPLEASUIRE
5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
DESTRUCTION
9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
PROMISES TO BELIEVERS
12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”
I. The ambition—vv. 1–3
EVIL IMAGINATION
A. Folly—v. 1. “What fools the nations are to rage against the Lord! How strange that men should try to outwit God” (Living Bible—LB).
B. Foolishness—v. 2. History is filled with men who opposed God: Pharaoh, Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Herod, and others.

CHRIST REJECTED
C. Freedom—v. 3. “Come, let us break his chains,” they say, “and free ourselves from all this slavery to God” (LB).
II. The Almighty—vv. 4–6
A. Plan—v. 4. God is amused at man’s plans; He laughs. Who is man to think he is above God? Who is man to think he doesn’t need God?
DIVINE DISPLEASUIRE
B. Punishment—v. 5. He is displeased with them. God is above all. All men must bow before God—Phil. 2:10, 11.
C. Prophecy—v. 6. Promise of the coming Messiah. The prophets spoke often of the coming Messiah. Note v. 6 from the Living Bible: “For the Lord declares, ‘This is the King of my choice, and I have enthroned him in Jerusalem, my holy city.’ ”
III. The attitude—vv. 7–9
A. Prophecy—v. 7. Prophecy that Christ always existed—Gen. 1:26. The Trinity is eternal. Christ’s birth was his incarnation.
B. Promise—v. 8. This speaks of the time when Christ will rule the world. See Rev. 11:15.
DESTRUCTION
C. Power—v. 9. Here we see Christ’s reigning power. Compare with Rev. 19:5. This prophecy preceded the birth of Christ by many years. The best proof of God’s Word is the fulfillment of Old Testament prophecies in the New Testament.
IV. The attention—vv. 10–12
A. Warning—v. 10. Listen, or change way of living while there is yet time. Repent!
B. Way—v. 11. Note the two-fold way: (a) reverence and respect; (b) rejoice. When we reverence and respect God, rejoicing will follow.
PROMISES TO BELIEVERS
C. Wrong—v. 12. To kiss the Son means to respect Him. If we don’t respect Him as our Saviour, we will meet Him as our judge—Rev. 20:11–15.
God first warned, then sent judgment. Today, man has the Bible to warn him. In it are many examples of men who thought they didn’t need God and ended up failures.

V. THE A-MEN OF ROMANS 16:20, 24, 27
16:20 “And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. A-men.”
16:24 “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. A-men.”
16:27 “To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. A-men.”