Shalom,

Psalm 2:1-3:

¹WHY DO the nations assemble with commotion [uproar and confusion of voices], and why do the people imagine (meditate upon and devise) an empty scheme? ²The kings of the earth take their places; the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and His Anointed One (the Messiah, the Christ). They say, ³Let us break Their bands [of restraint] asunder and cast Their cords [of control] from us.

Why DO they react that way? How does God respond? Verse 4-6:

⁴He Who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord has them in derision [and in supreme contempt He mocks them]. ⁵He speaks to them in His deep anger and troubles (terrifies and confounds) them in His displeasure and fury, saying, ⁶Yet have I anointed (installed and placed) My King [firmly] on My holy hill of Zion.

I really like the Message Bible for this one:

Why the big noise, nations? Why the mean plots, peoples?
Earth-leaders push for position,
Demagogues and delegates meet for summit talks,
The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers:
"Let's get free of God!
Cast loose from Messiah!"
Heaven-throned God breaks out laughing.
At first he's amused at their presumption;
Then he gets good and angry.
Furiously, he shuts them up:
"Don't you know there's a King in Zion? A coronation banquet
Is spread for him on the holy summit."

We know that we are near the end of time as we know it, so what are we to do? Verse 8:

⁸Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations as Your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth as Your possession.

Remember that it is the Father's perfect will that NONE should perish, but that all should come to repentance! Pray, claiming the heathen for your inheritance! That's a prayer that God WILL answer because it IS according to His will! AMEN!

In Matthew we see the wise men coming from the East. Remember that this was not a little trio of "wise guys", this was a caravan of learned men from the East. They brought gifts and these gifts weren't little hand-held trinkets! They were priceless and abundant gifts fit for a king! That IS Who they were searching for, the King of the Jews! Also notice verse 11:

¹¹And on going into the house, they saw the Child with Mary His mother, and they fell down and worshiped Him. Then opening their treasure bags, they presented to Him gifts--gold and frankincense and myrrh.

They did NOT visit Jesus in the stable! They were in a house and Jesus was a child at this time! Don't read the Bible with your previous ideas and teachings. Start reading and studying as though you have never heard these things before. Allow the Holy Spirit to paint you pictures of what things were REALLY like. He WAS there, you know, and He has a wonderful memory!

In 1 Kings 7-8 Solomon is finishing the building of the Temple and his own home. So far, he is very faithful, but will he remain that way? Only time will tell!

Shalom in Him!