My phone alarm jerked me awake with a flash flood warning. Since it was about 5:30 I got up. Within five minutes thunder roared, and the rain poured. Surprised since I wasn’t aware of any prediction of storms, I started reading my Bible. Bolts and flashes of lightning lit up the room as I instinctively put my hands over my ears when the noise far exceeded comfort level, realizing my reaction surprised me. With our 90-year-old home built on piers, one burst vibrated through the floors into my feet.

Reminded of Psalm 2:1-3, I looked it up: Why do the nations rage, and the people plot 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, 3 “Let us break their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.” (NKJV).

The Message Bible puts it this way: Why the big noise, nations? Why the mean plots, peoples? 2 Earth-leaders push for position, Demagogues and delegates meet for summit talks, The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers: 3 “Let’s get free of God! Cast loose from Messiah!”

Yes, I’d certainly say that sounds like our world today. Nation against nation, civil war in a few, strong division in many. Even our country seems more divided than any time I can remember except maybe during the Vietnam War. Certainly the moral division is deeper than I’ve ever known. Chaos reigns over much of the earth, like the planet sees rebellion as the best way.

Yet, I’m comforted as I think of what I know as true: Many of God’s people pray for peace in all these tormented places, including the US. Then I read the rest of that Psalm and quiet returns as the tremendous thunder and lightning seem to move out of our neighborhood.

Psalm 2:4-6 (Message) states: Heaven-throned God breaks out laughing. At first he’s amused at their presumption; 5 Then he gets good and angry. Furiously, he shuts them up: 6 “Don’t you know there’s a King in Zion? A coronation banquet is spread for him on the holy summit.” Verses 10-12 continue: So, rebel-kings, use your heads; Upstart-judges, learn your lesson: 11 Worship God in adoring embrace, Celebrate in trembling awe. 12 Kiss Messiah! Your very lives are in danger, you know; His anger is about to explode, But if you make a run for God — you won’t regret it!

 Yes, when our own storms of life spread about, trying to overcome us, you and I can return to Psalm 2 and find comfort. One day God will take His holy place as King of the Whole of Creation. Christ will reign on the earth. The New King James ends the chapter with Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. What a precious thought! While the rain continued much of the day, the severe thunder and lightning moved away and quiet returned. Peace. Blessedness.