DC Devotion: Psalm 2
BY JOSH TANDY, CAMPUS PASTOR AT ANDERSON UNIVERSITY
I tell myself a lot of lies. One of them is that “I know best.” As a dad, a pastor, a leader, and yes, of course, as a husband.
The second Psalm in our Bibles is about what happens when we get ahead of God. When we presume to know what is best, what should happen, what they should do.
Obviously, this is self-serving and short-sighted. And yet, this is a lie that I fall into time and time again. We make our plans and proclamations and as verse 4 says, “The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them.”
In my life, I flip this over and over again. I am the one laughing and scoffing at others, believing the lie that “I know best.” In my head, I come up with solutions facing individuals and society, if only they would listen to me.
Of course, lies never stay in their lane. They grow and morph, ultimately becoming more insidious and destructive. What begins as judgment as to the actions of others grows to judgment on the actions of God.
I wouldn’t start the Bible with a poem.
Jesus should have never ascended, but stayed with us in that resurrected state.
It would be a lot more efficient if there was a systematic way of discernment and not a reliance on the Spirit.
And don’t get me started on how I think the local church should function.
But all of this is me playing God. I hope God is simply laughing at my feeble attempts. However, that isn’t how lies work. They develop and take over like an invasive parasite.
So may you as the Message translation renders the end of this Psalm: “But if you make a run for God–you won’t regret it.”
Anderson University educates students for lives of faith and service, offering more than 50 undergraduate majors, 30 three-year degrees, 18 NCAA Division III intercollegiate sports, alongside adult, graduate, and online programs. The private, liberal arts institution is fully accredited and recognized for excellence in business, computer science, cybersecurity, engineering, music, nursing, psychology, and teacher education programs. Established in 1917 in Anderson, Indiana, by the Church of God, the university remains committed to its Christ-centered mission.