Zambia Hunt

Dr. Darrell Champlin, Missionary Statesman, 1932-2015. 

What is God doing in the world, and what has He always been doing? Scripture answers with breathtaking clarity: from eternity past to eternity future, the purpose of God is to exalt His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, as King over a redeemed people drawn from every tribe, tongue, people, and nation (Psalm 2:7-8; Revelation 5:9; 7:9; 14:6).

Psalm 2 gives a sweeping view of that purpose. It shows the rebellion of mankind, the unshakable decree of God, the reign of His Anointed King, and the summons for all people to bow before the Son (Psalm 2:1-12). Read alongside Revelation’s vision of a blood-bought people from every nation, this psalm makes plain that missions is not a side ministry of the church, but an expression of the eternal purpose of God Himself (Revelation 5:9-10; 22:16-19).

The Eternal Purpose of God

Because God is eternal and immutable, His purposes do not arise or fade as ours do. What is true of Him now has always been true of Him, and what He has ordained from eternity cannot fail (Psalm 90:2; Malachi 3:6; James 1:17).

That means the salvation of the nations is not an afterthought. The Father has always purposed to crown His beloved Son as Lord of lords and King of kings over a people redeemed for His name from every corner of the earth (Psalm 2:8; Revelation 19:16; Revelation 5:9). This is the great business of the God of heaven, and this is why missions belongs at the center of Christian thought, prayer, worship, and obedience.

The call of Abraham marks a decisive stage in the historical unfolding of that purpose. In that covenant, God began a redemptive movement through which all the families of the earth would be blessed, a promise that reaches its fulfillment in Christ (Genesis 12:1-3; Galatians 3:8, 14, 16; Ephesians 3:3-6).

The Rage of the Rebels

Psalm 2 begins with a sobering picture of human rebellion. The nations rage, the peoples imagine a vain thing, and rulers set themselves against the Lord and against His Anointed (Psalm 2:1-3). Fallen humanity does not naturally welcome the reign of God; it suppresses the truth and resists His rule (Romans 1:18-23).

This revolt is not merely political or cultural. It is spiritual at its root, flowing from the Adamic nature that says, in effect, “We will not have this God reign over us.” The same rebellion that appears in proud unbelief and moral corruption reaches its dreadful climax in the cry, “Crucify Him,” when sinful men reject the Lord’s Christ (Mark 15:7-15; Romans 1:24-32).

Yet this rebellion is neither surprising to God nor threatening to His throne. Humanity left to itself moves toward ruin, but God continues to confront the world with the light of His revelation and the certainty of His rule (John 1:9-10; 2 Thessalonians 2:7).

The Response of the Ruler

The Lord’s response to rebellious humanity is not panic but sovereign certainty. Psalm 2 presents Him as the Ruler of the universe, enthroned in heaven, laughing at the futility of human revolt and speaking in holy wrath against those who oppose His purpose (Psalm 2:4-5).

That purpose runs through the great covenant line of Scripture, moving through the promises associated with Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Judah, David, and ultimately Christ (Genesis 12:1-3; Genesis 17:4-5, 15-21; Genesis 28:10-14; Genesis 49:10; 2 Samuel 7:8-17). The point is not merely historical continuity, but divine intention: God has bound Himself by promise to bring His redemptive plan to fulfillment in His Son (Psalm 89:34-37; Isaiah 7:14; Matthew 1:20-25).

Scripture also directs our eyes to the Lamb who alone is worthy to open the sealed scroll, underscoring Christ’s right to ownership and rule over the earth (Revelation 5:1-7). Even divine judgment in history serves that larger purpose, reminding us that history is not random but governed by the covenant-keeping God (Amos 9:8-10; Matthew 24:15-31).

The Reign of the King

At the center of Psalm 2 stands the enthronement of the Son. God has set His King upon His holy hill, and that coronation guarantees the final triumph of Christ over every enemy (Psalm 2:6).

Christ’s reign is seen in His Sonship, His Incarnation, His Inheritance, and His Dominion. He is the eternal Son declared by the Father, the incarnate Redeemer revealed in history, the appointed Heir of the nations, and the sovereign King whose rule will extend over all the earth (Psalm 2:7-9; John 8:56; John 12:28-31; Galatians 4:4-5; Malachi 1:11; Revelation 19:11-21; Revelation 21-22).

This is why missions is filled with confidence rather than anxiety. The church does not labor in uncertainty, hoping Christ may one day receive the nations; she proclaims the gospel in the assurance that the Father has already decreed the Son’s universal reign (Psalm 2:8; Revelation 5:8-14).

The Invitation and the Charge

Psalm 2 does not end with doctrine alone. It ends with a summons: “Be wise,” “be instructed,” and “Kiss the Son,” a call to reverent submission, worship, and joyful allegiance before the enthroned Christ (Psalm 2:10-12).

That invitation divides humanity. To reject the Son is to remain under His wrath, but to take refuge in Him is to be blessed (Psalm 2:12).

This truth presses a searching question upon the church. If God has been at work across the centuries to gather a people for His Son, then every believer must ask whether his or her life is aligned with that purpose. No Christian is exempt from the claims of God’s mission, whatever his vocation or location may be.

Conclusion

The eternal purpose of the God of heaven is not hidden in abstraction. It is revealed in Scripture, centered in Christ, and moving toward a glorious end: the coronation of the Son over a redeemed people from every nation (Psalm 2:8-12; Revelation 5:9-10; Revelation 7:9).

Missions, then, is not merely one ministry among many. It is a visible expression of the very heartbeat of heaven. The proper response is not admiration alone, but consecration: to worship Christ as King, to pray for the advance of His gospel, and to take up our place in the great work of making Him known among the nations (Matthew 28:18-20; Acts 1:8).

The call to action is clear. Join God in His business, order life and witness around the glory of His Son, and labor in hope, knowing that the nations belong to Christ and that all who take refuge in Him are blessed (Psalm 2:8, 12).