Ask God for the Nations
September 1, 2025
“The LORD said to me, ‘You are my Son; . . . Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage [or, I will give you the nations]’” (Psalm 2:7b, 8a).
Before scholars realized that all the Psalms are about Jesus Christ, this one so clearly pointed to him that it was classified as one of the messianic psalms.
The nations, that is, the Gentiles, are in an uproar. They want to break free from the rule of God, and they are conspiring to that end. But God laughs at them. He has already decided to install his chosen earthly king to rule from Zion, his sacred place of dwelling. Then he speaks to his Son, telling him to ask for these rebellious nations for his own possession and rule, and he promises to grant such a request.
Just before ascending to heaven, Jesus told his disciples to make disciples of all nations through preaching, baptism, and teaching. He rules now at God’s right hand as Lord over all (Ephesians 1:20-23). As king of the nations, he calls all the peoples of the world to believe in him and be saved from God’s wrath. And he enlists us in this inevitably victorious campaign (Acts 1:8).
From our union with Christ, we can ask God to give us the nations, in the sense that we can pray for their conversion and willing submission to Christ as Lord and Savior. He calls us to prayer and promises that he will grant this request.
Yours in the love of our prayer-answering God,
Wright