Reflections on Race, Religion, Politics, and Immigration through the Lens of Ancient Rebellion
Introduction
“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?” This question from Psalm 2:1, inscribed in the poetic lines of the King James Version, echoes across centuries and cultures. It is as much a question of existential angst as it is a diagnosis of the perennial human condition: rebellion against higher authority, resistance to transcendence, and the ceaseless striving for autonomy. When considered in the context of contemporary issues—race, religion, politics, immigration—this ancient inquiry becomes startlingly relevant. It serves as a mirror, reflecting our own era’s tensions and turmoil, as well as the deeper yearning for meaning, justice, and peace.
The Ancient Question: Rage and Rebellion
Psalm 2 is not merely a sacred text, but a drama that unfolds between earth and heaven, humanity and divinity. “Heathen,” in biblical usage, denotes those outside the covenant and the known community—in a broader sense, it is anyone who stands in opposition to the authority of God. The “rage” is not just noise or emotion; it is the restless energy of rebellion, the plotting of rulers and people who see the divine order as a restraint on their own will.
This narrative is as old as civilization itself. Whether in ancient Israel, imperial Rome, or the colonial Americas, people have chafed under laws, commandments, and edicts—especially those that claim to originate from a higher power. To rage is to resist, to imagine “a vain thing” is to dream of autonomy, power, and self-determination.
Resistance to Divine Authority: A Universal Theme
At its core, Psalm 2 speaks to the root of human resistance: the refusal to accept an authority greater than oneself. This is not a rebellion limited to kings or rulers; it is woven into the fabric of every tribe, nation, and individual. The desire to cast off “bands” and “cords” is a metaphor for the human impulse to be free from all constraint, whether moral, social, or divine.
This resistance is not always destructive. Sometimes, it takes the form of reform, revolution, or reimagining society to be more just and equitable. But when untethered from the pursuit of truth or justice, rage can devolve into chaos and vain striving—energy spent in opposition rather than in creation.
Race, Religion, Politics, and Immigration: The Modern Struggle
How does the ancient drama of Psalm 2 play out in our time? Consider the great questions of our age—race, religion, politics, immigration. Each is a site of tumult, rage, and, yes, imagination.
Race and the Quest for Justice
Across the world, societies wrestle with the legacy of racial injustice. The rage of those who have been marginalized, oppressed, or denied equality is not simply anger—it is the demand for recognition, for the dignity every human being deserves. Yet, when this rage is divorced from the pursuit of reconciliation and justice, it can become destructive, hardening divisions rather than healing them.
Here, the wisdom of Psalm 2 bears relevance. The psalmist sees the “rage” of the nations as a symptom of deeper spiritual blindness—a refusal to see the image of God in others, to recognize that all are subject to a higher justice. At its best, the movement for racial justice is a call to align human law with divine law, to bring the kingdom of peace closer.
Religion: Faith and Rebellion
Religion is, paradoxically, both the source of authority and the site of resistance. Throughout history, religious traditions have provided moral frameworks, rituals, and a sense of belonging. Yet, they have also been challenged—by skeptics, reformers, and those who find their claims oppressive or outdated.
Psalm 2’s question is not only for the atheist or the outsider, but for the believer as well. Where do religious communities resist the gentle rule of the Anointed King? Where does dogma become a vain thing, more about power than peace? In every age, faith must confront its own resistance—not merely to secular authority, but to the radical call of its own Lord.
Politics: Power Struggles and Vain Imaginations
Politics, the art of governance, is by nature contested space. Rulers rise and fall, policies shift, borders change. The “rage” of the nations is on display in parliamentary debates, protests, revolutions, and wars. Each political movement, at its heart, imagines a different world—a world where a particular vision of right prevails.
Yet Psalm 2 reminds us of the limits of human power. “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh.” Divine authority is not threatened by human machination. When politics becomes a vain thing—pursued for its own sake without reference to justice or mercy—it leads to disappointment and division. The vision of the psalm is not anti-politics, but a call to root our striving in something greater.
Immigration: Borders, Inclusion, and Exclusion
Immigration is one of the most pressing and polarizing issues of our time. The movement of peoples—whether driven by war, poverty, or hope—tests the bonds of nation and neighbor. The rage over immigration is often the rage over identity: who belongs, who is excluded, who gets to write the story of a nation.
The psalmist’s words speak to this too. “Why do the heathen rage?” Why do we build walls instead of bridges? Why do we imagine that our own security must come at the expense of another’s hope? In the divine economy, every nation, tribe, and tongue is invited to the table. The resistance to this vision is not just political—it is deeply spiritual.
Humanity’s Rebellion and Divine Response
Psalm 2 does not end with human rebellion. It turns to God’s response—laughter, wrath, and finally, a sovereign decree. God is not anxious. The futility of human opposition is met not with panic, but with a gentle, knowing laughter. This laughter is not mockery, but a declaration that true authority cannot be challenged by vanity.
Yet God’s laughter is followed by wrath—a righteous anger at injustice, oppression, and rebellion. But the climax is the enthronement of the Anointed King, the Messiah, whose reign is not only over Israel but over all nations. Christians see in these lines a foretelling of Christ, who rules not by force, but by love, mercy, and justice.
The Path from Rage to Reconciliation
What then, are we to do with our rage? The psalmist does not only lament; he invites reflection. Where do we resist? Where do we cling to autonomy at the expense of community, justice, and peace? The path from rage to blessing is the path of surrender—not to tyranny, but to a kingdom that cannot be shaken.
In practical terms, this means cultivating humility in our politics, compassion in our approach to race and immigration, and authenticity in our religious practice. It means recognizing that every attempt to build a world apart from God’s justice is ultimately a “vain thing.”
The Continuing Relevance
Psalm 2’s question is timeless. In every generation, the “heathen” rage—sometimes for noble reasons, sometimes in vain. The challenge is to distinguish resistance that leads to justice from rebellion that leads to chaos. In a fractured, polarized world, the psalmist’s words are a call to remember that authority is not merely a human construct, but a gift—and that true freedom is found not in autonomy, but in joyful obedience to a higher law.
Conclusion
“Why do the heathens rage?” The answer is complex—rooted in history, psychology, and spirituality. The psalmist’s question is both a lament for the folly of rebellion and an invitation to reflect on the nature of authority and freedom. In the end, the blessing comes not to those who rage, but to those who embrace the reign of the King. For in surrendering our resistance, we discover a kingdom of peace, justice, and unshakeable hope.
Minister A Francine Green
October 2025
afrancinegreen.com 