By Paul Thompson
This is Part 1 of 5 looking at Psalm 2.
Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 | Part 5
1 Why do the nations rage
Psalm 2
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.
It doesn’t take anything beyond a television or radio, or even a conversation with someone on the street to quickly learn the world is not only uninterested in the things of God, they are downright hostile towards them.
David encountered this over 2,500 years ago, prompting him to write this song of triumph and encouragement. Jewish and Christians scholars say this Psalm is a continuation of Psalm 1, since they both end with the same word in Hebrew: “Happy” or “Blessed”.
This majestic and triumphant Psalm could easily have been written for Solomon, the son of David – and maybe that was David’s intention, but as Peter tells us, many prophets wrote things with one intention, but unknowingly wrote looking forward to Christ
10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.
1 Peter 1:10-12
This Psalm is ultimately about Christ – the author of Hebrews makes the connection in the first chapter. When talking about the Supremacy of Christ, he asserts that verse seven is the Father talking to Jesus.
5 For to which of the angels did God ever say, “You are my Son today I have begotten you”?
Hebrews 1:7a
Psalm 2 is a Messianic Psalm – pointing to the one day when a Son of David would rule over the nations – regardless of their acknowledgment or not.
This Psalm is the reorientation that believers, and unbelievers need. It is like a slap in the face, bringing into focus the true realities that we often forget – God is in control, and He has a King.
This Psalm is written to show both the silliness of the kings and rulers acting like God doesn’t exist, as well as their future path. It reminds us of who is really in charge – who is the King of Kings – and what happens to those who throw off His rule.
The Psalm is written in four sections, that we will look at in further posts.
The Nations’ Foolishness
The Father’s Reaction and The Father’s Promise
The Father’s Command
Finally we will look at Our Response to this King.