Why Do the Heathen Rage?

"Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?" - Psalm 2:1

"Heathen" is translated out of a broad term referring to foreign nations in general. "People," on the other hand, has to do with the individuals of that nation.

The nations of the world "rage," that is, they are in a tumult. This is the only time that Hebrew word is used. The word has always been in a state of unrest, but why?

Mainly because of what is said in verse 2, but partially because of the people imagining a vain thing. "Vain thing" is translated from a term meaning "empty vessels." The word "imagine" is the world most often translated as "meditate" and means "to coo" or "to mutter." The world is in a tumultuous state because the individuals are obsessed with empty pleasantries. The blessed man meditates on God's law (as seen in the chapter previous) whereas the natural man obsesses over the temporal.

But, ultimately, the nations are restless because they conspire against the Lord's anointed (literally "Messiah").

Peace cannot be had until the prince of peace is honored.