Psalm 2 - A Foreshadowing & A Warning!!!
In this second instalment of our journey through the Psalms we will be looking at Psalm 2. Psalm 2 contains a foreshadowing of the coming Messiah - it is a prophetic psalm testifying to a future messianic kingdom. It is not known who wrote this psalm, however, in Acts 4:25-26, Luke ascribes the Psalm to King David - so it is fair to assume that the Jews knew who wrote it.
In Psalm 2, I can see four distinct sections with intertwined, yet separate messages. Each of the verses found in these sections will be explored for their meaning as well as their application in today's world.
Psalm 2 says...
"The World Rebels"
Verses 1-3: "Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break their bonds in pieces snd cast away their cords from us.”
It is interesting to note that David (we are assuming Luke knew what he was talking about in regards to who wrote this psalm) starts with these verses.
The notion of the nations raging is one we are very familiar with at the moment. Their plotting and conniving together to gain the upper hand over one another, or to gain wealth and power is no different from the days of David.
Yet, the insanity does not end there. Rather, it is not against each other that the nations rage, and plot against - but it is against Yahweh, the Lord...and against his 'Anointed" - referring to Jesus Christ.
The nations are seeking to be separated from the authority, sovereignty and rule of the Kingdom of Heaven. Given what kind of messes the nations make of themselves and others, this wilful disobedience can only stem from satanic origins.
In these final days of this world the nations are already rising up against the commands and will of God for humanity. They create laws that promote unrighteous, ungodly, evil behaviour. They allow the media to perpetuate lies, deceit and darkness.
They are, as the psalmist says in verse 3, trying to break the bonds between the morality and sovereignty of Yahweh, and the desires of humanity.
The rebellion that truly began at the Tower of Babel will reach its climax prior to the return of Jesus Christ to this earth.
"Heaven's Response"
Verses 4-5: "He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure:..."
Yahweh, and his heavenly kingdom will alway have a response to the actions of humanity. This is evident throughout the Bible where He has intervened in the lives of individuals, nations or people groups - both for blessing and for judgement.
In this psalm, Yahweh has a very visceral and poignant reaction to the rebellion of the nations.
But the irony of Yahweh's first reaction should not be understated - Yahweh laughs at the plans and plots of the nations and the people within them. Did you catch that....Yahweh laughs at those that oppose Him. Have you ever experienced, or see an older sibling or relative fending off a younger smaller sibling/relative - they hold them at arms length and laugh at them. Or when a younger sibling/relative says to an older one, "I'll get you!!!" - This is exactly what Yahweh is doing.
This is what is meant by the use of the word 'derision' - which means to contemptuously ridicule someone or something. Yahweh is holding the nations in contempt and ridiculing them for their rebellion.
Yahweh's final reaction to their rebellion is wrath. The divine judgement that always results in humanities rebellion. You see it in the time of Noah and the flood. You see it at the Tower of Babel. You see it on the destruction of the kingdoms that dared to diminish, enslave and destroy Yahweh's chosen people - like the Egyptians, Assyrians, Babylonians, Persians and the Romans.
Yahweh WILL pour out his wrath on the nations in the final days of this world (just read the book of Revelation).
But the blessed hope of Christians can be found in 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10, where it states "For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him." - if we believe in Jesus as the Son of God (we'll get to that in a moment), and that he died and rose from the dead - then we will escape the wrath that our sins deserve.
However, Romans 2:5 presents us with a warning, and it says "But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God..." - if we live an unrepentant life and do not acknowledge that Jesus is the Son of God, and died and rose again - well, we are saving up ever increasing amounts of wrath that will be poured out on us, on our day of judgement.
The Divine Assignment"
Verses 6-9: “Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion.” “I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, you are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’ ”
Zion represents the place of Yahweh's presence in the land of Israel. It is where the temple was built. It is where Jesus will return to, and this psalm is one of the places where that is prophesied and foreshadowed.
It is also interesting to note that Yahweh states that he will set His king on the throne in the holy place.
So who is that king? Jesus...Yahweh even says, "You are my son"...the 'Son of God' designation was well known to the Jews of Jesus' time, in part because of this psalm. They asked him directly (or stated that he was) if he was (or stated that he was) the 'Son of God' (see Matthew 14:33, 16:16) and demons even acknowledged the fact (Luke 4:41).
Yahweh will give all the nations of the Earth to Jesus to rule and preside over. it is interesting to note that Satan tries to tempt Jesus with this very thing - Matthew 4:8 says "Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory." - Jesus' response to this was also one of derision...why? Because he already knew that the Heavenly Father had promised him all the nations.
Satan uses the same lies and deceit on us...he offers us the very things that God has already given us, or promised to give us - if we have a relationship with him. The point is that Jesus rebuked Satan for this...so should we.
This section of verses concludes with clear statements of the coming judgement and wrath of God against those individuals and nations who actively rebel against Yahweh.
The notion of 'ruling with an iron rod' is echoed in the book of Revelation (chapters 2:27, 12:5, and 19:15)...it begins the presenting the perspective that the future divine ruler of Earth will do so with power, authority and with wrath.
"Future Warnings"
Verses 10-12: "Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges 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, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him."
This psalm ends with a series of warnings to leaders (and to us).
The first is a call to be wise...not to be foolish and follow the ways of the world.
The second is a call to serve the Lord with fear and trembling. This is a reverent fear, not a scared fear. it is a fear of what someone who is in authority can do to us.
The third is a call to closeness, an intimacy with Jesus....this intimacy is needed so that we draw close to him and his will for our lives...not to be distanced from him.
If we distance from him, and follow the ways of the world - then his wrath will increase and we will perish in our sin.
However, the fourth is a call to blessing. If we put our trust (our faith) in Jesus, then we will be blessed. We are called not to be a part of this world. We are called to be part of Yahweh's kingdom.
Psalm 2 is a wonderful psalm that prophesies our returning king, Jesus. Until he comes we are to draw close to him and seek his face. If we do that and follow his will for our lives then we can escape the day of wrath that is coming upon the nations of this Earth, and we will live forever in Yahweh's presence - a blessing above all blessings.
I pray that as you go about your daily life, you draw close to Jesus. May you seek his wisdom and instruction. May you be counted amongst the blessed, as you place your full trust and hope in him...and in him alone.
Written 21st Nov 2022…