“I will proclaim the Lord’s decree: He said to me, ‘You are my son; today I have become your father. Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will break them with a rod of iron; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.’”
—Psalm 2:7-9 NIV

Make no mistake: God’s kingdom was always meant to fill the earth.

The anointed king, in a sense referring to King David but in a greater way speaking of Jesus the Messiah (“anointed” in Hebrew), was called to inherit the nations.

Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world (see John 18:36), but it is meant to impact how nations function: promoting peace, fighting for justice and inviting people into the abundant life that God has to offer them.

When we see brokenness, war and injustice in our world, we should be grieved, for that is not God’s design.

But we should also have hope.

For the nations are his, and one day all will bow down before him and all wrongs will be made right.

Pray with confidence today, because although things may look bleak now, we know that the future is glorious.

Here is a short prayer to carry with you today:

Breathe in: Jesus,
Breathe out: The nations are yours.

P.S. A quick note: the language of “breaking with a rod” and “dashing to pieces like pottery” in verse 9 is violent, and it may sound savage to modern ears, but we need to remember that these words were written to earthly rulers in rebellion against God’s kingdom who were propagating injustice. God is just, and the fate of those who willfully oppose him is not pretty (nor should we pretend that it is).