Psalm 2
Theme
The Reign of the Lord's Anointed
Outline
1–3, The Vain Meditation of the Nations 4–6, Yahweh’s Confident Purpose to Establish His King 7–9, The King’s Rehearsal of Yahweh’s Decree 10–12, Warning to Conspiring Rebels
Key Verse
(2:12) 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. (2:1) Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?
Notes
Christ as the Son of God and King (quoted in Acts 4:25-26; Hebrews 1:5). (Acts 4:25) asserts that God spoke by the mouth of David through the Holy Spirit the words of Ps 2, indicating that God inspired David by the Holy Spirit to write Ps 2. Though we cannot be dogmatic on a point like this, the interconnectedness of Pss 1 and 2 seems to indicate common authorship. The connections between Pss 1 and 2 indicate that the counsel of the wicked (Ps 1:1) informs the conspiratorial attempt to usurp Yahweh’s dominion described in 2:1–3. The plot meditated by the wicked is but chaff before the wind (1:4), for though they sit in earthly seats of authority and scoff at Yahweh (1:1), he sits in heaven and mocks their futile rebellion (2:4), proclaiming his purposes (2:5–6) through the enthronement of the Davidic king, whose worldwide reign Yahweh has promised to establish (2:7–9). On this basis the rulers of the earth are advised to learn wisdom that will cause them to prosper (2:10–12). In essence, they are called to recognize that Yahweh will do what he has promised to do in the Torah and in his promises to David. Those who submit to Yahweh’s anointed king will not be destroyed in the way of the wicked (2:12; cf. 1:1, 6) but will be blessed (2:12) because they have taken refuge in the blessed man (1:1).