Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,
Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.
Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
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.
(Those who have ears to hear... Let them hear.)
The establishment of Peace and its consequent expressions in Justice will always have its detractors. Those detractors are usually those interested in keeping things the way they are. They want to do so because they can collateralize their existential insecurities by creating constant imbalances in the lives of others. Their hope is founded in the despair that they breed and cultivate in the life of others. The prospects of a peaceful world threatens their system of things, and so they "rage" against those who seek, through just means, to bring about a more peaceful world. They pursue discord among peoples and nations so that they can fill their coffers with the ill-gotten gains of conflict-generation. Their treasure chests are filled at the expense of the flag-draped coffins of those they trick into combat with their fraudulent calls to patriotism.
Let there be no mistaking the Psalmist's intent. The establishment of Peace is not a parochial event. It is not the proffered endowment of any "chosen people"; the Earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the whole World and they that dwell therein. The unrelenting objections and protestations of those who believe and act as if the World owes them preferential treatment will come back to haunt them. This will be the case because of the existential contradictions in their behavior. They ignore the heathenic tendencies in their own hearts, while they pursue their intentions to raid and steal their neighbors' vineyard as some kind of birthright. This vain hypocrisy will not endure... It shall not stand.
That day will come when the inherent contradictions in the behavior of the unjust will cause derision and revulsion toward and among them. That day will come when they will be measured by the same judgement they pronounce against others. Against their loud and aggressive protestations, Justice shall prevail... Righteousness shall be established. The City of Peace will be established in a place of prominence among us; and the "stone" that their builders refused, and berated, shall be its very foundation. The hegemony they assumed will then be a gift to those who understand, and are willing to comply with, the accords of Equity... Of Equality and Justice for all.
In the end those who resist what is true and right will have to deal with the consequences of their own intransigence. Make no mistake about it... They. Will. Be. Broken. There are always opportunities to turn away from the vanity that obstructs the path to Peace. We would all do well to avail ourselves of those opportunities.
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