Psalm 2:9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Rods of iron crashing down upon the heads of men, dashing them in pieces like a potter's vessel, are figures of speech that seem to be very unlike the merciful methods of entreaty and persuasion by which Christ's kingdom is advanced on the earth; but we have need to remember that the Saviour is also the Judge. Not only in the future world, but also in this, history shows that the fate of nations has been determined by their attitude to Christ. While with individuals force is never to be employed as an instrument to conquer opposition, it is equally certain that in the providence of God antagonism to God's will inevitably leads a nation ultimately to its destruction. Though the hand that smites it is hidden behind political movements, in which perhaps nothing can be seen save the passions of men urging them into conflict, yet when the smoke of the battlefield has rolled away, and the strife has ended, there stands out this great truth: "Thou dashest them in pieces like a potter's vessel." Nothing that sets itself against the Christ of God can ever last. (E. R. Barrett, B. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.WEB: You shall break them with a rod of iron. You shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel." |
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