Despite plotting of wicked rulers, God still on His throne, Payne says

God’s promises can spark hope in a hopeless situation, Southern Baptist pastor Brian K. Payne reminded Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Texas Baptist College students, faculty, and staff in his March 1 chapel message.

In his introduction of Payne, Adam W. Greenway, president of Southwestern Seminary and TBC, noted he “has a pastor’s heart the size of Texas” and that his leadership is making a tremendous impact at Lakeview Baptist Church in Auburn, Alabama.

Payne directed the attention of the assembly to Psalm 2, explaining that he chose this passage to offer encouragement to the assembly given the current events in Eastern Europe. Psalm 2 has given the people of God hope no matter the “rumblings of government,” he said.

No matter how world events look, Payne reminded the assembly that God’s people are “blessed” and that while the mind of the righteous meditates on the Word of God, “the mind of the natural man is abuzz with vain plotting.”

“What you are meditating on always goes public,” Payne cautioned. “It always bears fruit” he observed, noting these words apply to social media, as well.

Highlighting verses 2 and 3, Payne spoke of the enemies of the Lord who are described as “scoffers and sinners,” including all the powers of history who have a common enemy: the Messiah. He asserted that “all the plots, all the conspiracies that are directed toward the people of God—know this—behind it all, whether these enemies are aware of it or not, there is a global conspiracy against Yahweh and against His Christ, against His Messiah.”

Payne pointed out that world leaders described in the same verses did not want restraints or boundaries. “They want to be God,” he said, referencing Hosea 11 where the Lord led the Jews with “cords of kindness” and with “the bonds of love.” He added, “This law that He used to demonstrate His care for His image-bearers, natural man interprets as bonds and cords to be broken.”

Agitation and rage, Payne explained, are the fruit of humans’ vain meditation and plotting. But he added that verse 4 shows the Lord is not threatened by any rebellion; rather He laughs at man’s plotting and sits on His throne above all human rulers.

“That’s true today,” Payne said. “That’s true in Russia. That’s true in the Ukraine. That’s true in all of history. And in His laughter, he holds them in derision.”

Payne reminded the assembly that the evil kings of the earth never have the last word. “Remember that when you turn on the news,” he encouraged, adding, “because the Lord’s anointed, the Messiah, sits on the throne” and has already defeated them.

Directing the assembly’s attention to verses 7 through 9, Payne explained that Jesus’ inheritance extends to all believers and that His anointed will inherit the nations, but that plotting by those nations against Yahweh and his anointed will prove to be vain and fruitless. “These nations are the Son of God’s inheritance,” he said, noting that Revelation 2:29 speaks of the church’s victory over the enemies of God because of their union with God.

Payne illustrated that God’s promises in these verses are applicable to believers in Ukraine who are under siege, stating “they, ultimately, will be more than conquerors.” He added that rulers like Vladimir Putin who plot and continue to resist, will face the same destiny as other rulers who were broken with a rod of iron.

This passage, Payne said, should impact a believer’s understanding of the Great Commission because those who have experienced the saving grace of God must take the Gospel to these nations “who, if they do not repent, will be broken with a rod of iron, will be dashed in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

The final verses of the chapter, Payne said, address the enemies who plot in vain. David exhorts them to be wise, to serve the Lord in fear, rejoice with trembling, and to kiss the Son to avoid His wrath. “There is no refuge from him in that day, but there will be refuge in Him if you will kiss Him, if you will embrace Him by faith,” Payne concluded.

Payne concluded his message by reminding the assembly that the only hope for the nations is Jesus Christ. He added the most effective thing believers can do is to live in the promise spoken of Psalm 2, share it with others, and reflect that promise by the way they conduct themselves.

“God saved the chief of sinners, the apostle Paul,” Payne said. “He can save Vladimir Putin. Let’s pray that this tyrant would kiss the Son, that God the Spirit would open his eyes to the beauty and the glory, the sufficiency and the necessity of Jesus the Messiah. But, if not, that the Son of God would break him.”

Payne began serving in June 2021 as senior pastor of Lakeview Baptist Church in Auburn, Alabama, after pastoring in Ohio and Kentucky. Previously, he served on the faculty of Boyce College at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.

The entire sermon can be viewed here.

Chapel is held every Tuesday and Thursday morning at 10 a.m. (CT) in MacGorman Chapel on the campus of Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary. Chapel may be viewed live at swbts.edu/live.