God's Foreign Policy

Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain?

Psalm 2:1

Does God have a foreign policy? The answer may surprise you.

The Bible says much about the nations of the world—their origin, their alliances, their political power, their military might, their ultimate destiny. It reminds us again and again that the nations derive their strength from God and that without Him, they are nothing. They are like a drop of water in a full bucket to Him (Isa. 40:15).

That raises an interesting question: Does God have a foreign policy? The answer is yes. Does God care what the nations do? Yes. Does He pay attention to world leaders? Yes. Does He take their threats seriously? Yes. Psalm 2 shows us God’s foreign policy. In the face of world-wide rebellion against the Lord, God declares His intention to someday enthrone Christ as ruler over the nations of the world. The only proper response to His coming reign is humble submission to Him right now. The first few verses remind us that the world has always been an enemy of God. The nations “rage” (KJV), the rulers “plot in vain,” planning their attack on the Almighty, who scoffs at their puny plans.

He answers them by installing His Son as King over the entire earth. Someday all the nations will bow in submission before Jesus Christ. Philippians 2:9–11 echoes this truth with its promise that “every knee should bow … and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Meanwhile God invites world rulers to “kiss the Son”—to bow in humble submission at His feet. Rebels will be judged, but God’s children will be kept safe in the Day of Judgment.

Every nation will eventually bow before Jesus Christ the King. This gives us great confidence when we pray. Since man left to himself always turns away from God, we should not be surprised to find ourselves in a minority position in society. Although we ought to do what we can to improve the world, we must not put our final trust in politicians or political parties.

Today the nations rage; tomorrow the King comes to judge them. Between now and then, “blessed are all who take refuge in Him” (v. 12).

Psalm 2 calls the church back to its central mission:

• Personal submission to Jesus as Lord.
• Proclamation of the gospel to every nation.
• Growing confidence in God amid chaos on earth.

Let’s lift up Jesus as the only hope of the world. And let’s invite the rebels to put down their weapons and join us in the great celebration of God’s Son, the Anointed One, our coming King—Jesus Christ.

Omnipotent God, the nations are but a drop in the bucket to You. Open my eyes to see beyond the headlines to the hurting hearts in every land. Amen.

1. What evidence suggests that the rulers of the world “rage” against God and against His Son?

2. Why does God laugh when human rulers unite against Him?

3. Take a few moments to thank God that He sits enthroned above the chaos of the nations.