CELEBRATE MESSIAH Psalm 2
The Psalter began with songs by individuals, composed under unique historical circumstances. These poems were then used in the liturgical life of worshipping Israel and were later gathered into collections. Bruce Waltke
Each saint, whatever his circumstances may be, finds in the Psalter psalms and words which are appropriate to the circumstances in which he finds himself, and they meet his needs as adequately as if they were composed exclusively for his sake. Martin Luther
In sum, the Psalter advances significantly the Bible s message that God s kingdom is irrupting into the world for His glory and our good. Bruce Waltke
Psalm 2, along with Psalm 1, serves as an introduction to the book of Psalms as a whole. Psalm 1 cites Torah obedience as a prerequisite to enter into the literary sanctuary of the book. Psalm 2 presents the entrant with a powerful depiction of God and His anointed s strength over against the plotting of the earth s powerful leaders. Tremper Longman
The position of these two psalms at the beginning of the Psalter is deliberate. Psalm 1 deals with the most urgent individual matter; you must know where you are going and must be sure you belong to the congregation of the righteous. Psalm 2 says that you must know where history is going; you must see the whole picture show; you must understand that the world has been promised to the Messiah. Dale Davis
[Psalm 2] is unsurpassed for its buoyant, fierce delight in God s dominion and His promise to His King. Derek Kidner
Psalm 2 celebrates God s power over the wicked plots of the kings of the world. Even more, it celebrates God s human agent, the anointed king, whom God had appointed as an agent of order in the disordered world. Tremper Longman
Psalm 2 is a royal psalm focusing on the coronation of the Davidic king in the Holy City on Mount Zion. It was included in the collection to be sung by choirs at the appropriate time certainly at coronations of kings, but also in times of national crisis when people needed to be reminded that God had installed their king, and the threats from the nations would fail. Allen Ross
New Testament readers recognize that Jesus was their anointed King and the Warrior who would defeat the evil spiritual and human forces ranged against them. Tremper Longman
Because this royal psalm would have applied to every Davidic king, it ultimately applies to David s greatest son, Jesus Christ. The apostles saw that it was fulfilled in the coronation of the Messiah at His exaltation (Heb. 1:5) and then in the establishment of His reign on earth at the second coming (Rev. 2:27; 12:5); and since Messiah s reign will be eternal, the psalm would apply to no other king again. Allen Ross
I. Nations Rebel Against I AM and His King (1-3) A. Futility of Revolt (1) B. Universal Revolution (2) Psalm 2 C. Motivation of Rebels (3) II. I AM Installs His King on Zion (4-6) A. God Regards Revolution as Pathetically Ludicrous (4) B. God Blazes in Anger Against Rebels (5) C. I AM Himself Installs His King on Zion (6) III. The King Recites the Decree Granting His Dominion (7-9) A. The King s Relationship to God Son (7) B. The King s Relationship to the Nations Inheritance (8) C. The King s Relationship to the Nations Sovereign (9) IV. World Rulers Warned to Submit to I AM s King (10-12) A. Be Wise (10) B. Worship I AM and Submit to His Son (11) C. Submit to the Son and Escape God s Wrath (12) Bruce Waltke
FOOLISH PLANS It is futile to rebel against the LORD S authority and King. Psalm 2:1-3
Why do the nations rage and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, Let us break their bonds in pieces and cast away their cords from us. Psalm 2:1-3
Anointed (מ ש יח ) This is the Hebrew term which has been Anglicized to Messiah. Literally it is the annoited one and was translated into greek as Christ (χριστός). In the New Testament when referring to Jesus it is to be seen as a title Jesus the Christ or Jesus the anointed One.
This is Psalm 1:1 to the second power and writ large; this is what it looks like when the counsel of the wicked and the way of sinners and the seat of scoffers go international. Dale Davis
FOOLISH PLANS It is futile to rebel against the LORD S authority and King. Rebellion against the LORD is futile (1). Rebellion is obvious and inevitable (2-3). Psalm 2:1-3
SOVEREIGN DECREE God rejects the rebellious and installs His King. Psalm 2:4-6
He who sits enthroned in the heavens laughs; the LORD holds them in derision (mocks). Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill. Psalm 2:4-6
God is portrayed as if laughing at their plans and mocking it, just as humans would mock something ridiculous. The two verbs laughs are also bold (י ל ע ן) mocks and (י ש ח ק) anthropomorphic expressions; they are used to enable us to understand how foolish the plan is. The point of the figure is that the plan is utterly ridiculous. Allen Ross
SOVEREIGN DECREE God rejects the rebellious and installs His King. The LORD mocks their futile plan (4). The LORD ends their rebellion by powerfully installing His King (5-6). Psalm 2:4-6
CERTAIN FULFILLMENT The divinely chosen King will rule with absolute power. Psalm 2:7-9
I will declare the decree: The LORD said to me, You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession. You shall smash them with an iron rod; You shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Psalm 2:7-9
Psalm 2 celebrates God s power over the wicked plots of the kings of the world. Even more, it celebrates God s human agent, the anointed king, whom God has appointed as an agent of order in a disordered world. The psalm cites the Davidic Covenant of 2 Samuel 7, in which God grants David a dynasty. Tremper Longman
The Lord declares to you that the Lord himself will establish a house for you: When your days are over and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your offspring to succeed you, your own flesh and blood, and I will establish his kingdom. He is the one who will build a house for my Name, and I will establish the throne of his kingdom forever. I will be his father, and he will be my son. 2 Samuel 7:11-14
CERTAIN FULFILLMENT The divinely chosen King will rule with absolute power. The elected King will rule by divine decree (7). The King will establish His dominion over all the earth (8-9). Psalm 2:7-9
WISE ADVICE Take refuge from the judgment of the King by submitting to Him. Psalm 2:10-12
Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all those who take refuge in him. Psalm 2:10-12
Serve (ע ב ר) The fullest meaning of this word is worship. It includes the ideas of obedience, service, reverence, and even fear. This is the word used in Genesis 2:15 to describe the purpose for which Adam and Eve were created.
Blessed (א ש רי) This particular word for blessing is the result of being blessed/enriched (ב רך) by God with His blessing/peace ( ש ל ום) resulting in a spiritually (א ש רי) blessed/enviable life. The blessed person is recognized by others as having the blessing of God in his life and is thus admired and envied by them.
WISE ADVICE Take refuge from the judgment of the King by submitting to Him. Everyone especially powerful rulers must make prudent decisions (10). The only wise path is to fully worship the LORD (11-12). Psalm 2:10-12
For believers the message is one of great comfort. The antagonism of the world to God in general and to Christianity specifically will end. The outcome is not in question, even though it seems it is. Believers then can be strengthened in their faith in God s plan that Christ shall come to put down all wickedness and rule the world. Allen Ross
The psalm s clear application is for people to believe the word of God and to submit to the authority of His Son before He comes to judge the world and establish His reign. It is a warning for people in the world who foolishly try to throw off the authority of the LORD S anointed king; by so doing they are actually rebelling against God. Allen Ross
CELEBRATE MESSIAH Kiss the King The wise path that leads to blessing is worshipful submission to the authority of Messiah, because God has decreed that He will put down all rebellion and rule the world. Psalm 2
CELEBRATE A Study in the Psalms