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By Paul Thompson This is Part 4 of 5 looking at Psalm 1. Part 1 | Part 2| Part 3 | Part 5
1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” 7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” 10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. Psalm 2

The Father’s Command

The Father, in full knowledge of what is coming, tells the rulers what they need to do:
10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. Psalm 2:10-12
He gives the rulers and kings advice, really a command: – Serve the Lord with fear – Rejoice with trembling – Kiss the Son Psalm 2 looks forward to the reign of Christ. Colossians 2 looks back on its inauguration. The commands to the rulers and kings in Psalm 2 are a warning – God has set his king on Zion. The statements in Colossians 2 tell us how it happened. He says “Kiss the Son”, not in a friendly or romantic sense, but in submission. Think of a subject kissing the hand of a King – showing submission and honor. That is what the Father is calling the nations to do – submit to this King, honor this Son, give him your service and obedience. The commands then have a real bearing to us today. Christ HAS been established as the King – the rulers and nations have all the more reason to “Kiss the son” – to embrace him as ruler – to submit to him, rather than cast off his rule.