Mensa Otabil - Ask for Your Inheritance
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Psalm 2:8. Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance and the ends of the earth for your possession. In the previous verse, the Lord affirmed the Anointed One and called him, «My Son; this day I have begotten you.» The significance of God calling this person «My Son» is that the person now has a relationship with God and access to God’s inheritance. A son inherits from his father, so the king inherits the kingdom from the Lord.
When we look at this passage, it tells us about an inheritance. An inheritance is basically a legacy passed on from an owner to an heir. This usually happens when the owner has died, but since we serve a God who never dies, that inheritance is constantly available. The Father now says to the Son, the Anointed, «Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance.»
Isn’t it interesting that the nations are your inheritance, but God says to ask for it? There are things that God has made available to you, but they never come to you until you ask for them. We have to learn to ask for our inheritance, and God says, «Ask, and I’ll give you the nations for your inheritance.» Isn’t that amazing? We started the psalm by looking at the nations raging. Why do the nations rage? The nations are upset because God is choosing someone to anoint. Then they still have said, and God says, «Okay, this person you are upset with is My beloved.» Now He speaks to His beloved and says, «The same nations which were against you, ask of Me, and I’ll give them to you as your inheritance.»
That is God’s way of dealing with our enemies, which is why He tells us not to go against our enemies and to leave vengeance to Him. When people don’t believe in you and mistreat you, just look up to the Lord, for there will come a time when God will say, «If you want them, I will give them to you.» When God says, «Ask of Me for the nations for your inheritance,» it means what they have—their strength, their power, the authority—is going to be given to the King. God is going to give him power over those who opposed him. He goes on to say, «Not only what the nations have but the ends of the earth for your possession.»
In other words, God is able to give you far more than what people rose up against. God is able to give you far more than what people have fought you over. That’s what the psalm is saying: «Ask of Me, and I’ll give it to you.» But there is something beyond just the king and God vindicating him because there is an evangelistic and missional side to the psalm, which talks about the salvation of the nations and the deliverance of the nations. So when we ask God for the nations, we pray for nations; we pray for people, and as for their salvation, God will give them to us.
In other words, God will deliver those nations because we pray for them. That is one of the reasons why Christians must not just pray for themselves and their needs but must also pray for the nation they live in and for other nations. If you’re African, pray for all African nations, then pray for Asia, pray for the UK and Europe, and pray for America and other parts of the world; pray for the islands of the sea, because God says, «If you ask me for these nations, I will bring them to you as an inheritance.»
I believe God wants to give you the inheritance of those who opposed you and fought you, and all you need to do is stand still, be at peace, and see the salvation of the Lord. Ask, and He will give you the nations for your inheritance. Let’s pray. Say with me, «Heavenly Father, give me the nations for my inheritance. I receive the ends of the earth as my possession. In Jesus' name, Amen.» And amen, it’s all yours. Take it in Jesus' name. I’m Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.