Psalm 2

“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine 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 bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.” (Psalm 2:1–3)

When Jesus came into this world, many people hated and opposed Him because they loved darkness rather than light. In darkness, uncleanness can remain hidden, but before Jesus, who is “the true Light” (John 1:9), all sin and unrighteousness are exposed. Therefore, Jesus said:

“For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.” (John 3:20)

Yet when sin is exposed by the light, it is not for the purpose of destroying the sinner. Like the woman caught in adultery, those whose sins are brought into the light may instead receive His grace and be set free from the condemnation and bondage of sin. Jesus said:

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

Jesus did not come to bind us. He came to release us from the bondage of sin and give us true life and freedom.

Nevertheless, those who love sin do not want the rule of Jesus because they want to live according to their own desires. To such people, Jesus does not appear to be a Saviour but someone whose rule restrains them. Therefore, they say:

“Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.” (Psalm 2:3)

The Pharisees and scribes were like this. They loved themselves more than God. They refused to acknowledge their sin and come into the light. Instead, in order to preserve the position and influence they enjoyed, they opposed Jesus and sought to remove Him.

“He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.” (Psalm 2:4–6)

God is infinitely great and exalted, and therefore it is only right that man should fear Him. Yet people join together in opposition against God. This reveals how lightly created human beings regard the God who made them and how boldly they disregard His authority.

But God knows that all their schemes are vain, and therefore He laughs at them. No matter how completely mankind may unite against God, their rebellion can never overthrow His purpose.

Men rejected Jesus and finally crucified Him, but even that could not frustrate God’s purpose to establish Jesus as King.

On the day of Pentecost, Peter proclaimed to the Jews gathered in Jerusalem:

“Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ.” (Acts 2:36)

Men thought that by crucifying Jesus they had removed Him. But God raised that same Jesus from the dead and exalted Him as Lord and Christ. Human opposition itself became the means through which God’s purpose was fulfilled.

The expression “He that sitteth in the heavens” is also significant.

Man is on earth, while God sits in heaven. This does not merely describe a difference of location. It reveals God’s absolute sovereignty and transcendence. Human beings may resist and oppose the will of God, but they cannot defeat it or force God to change it.

God does not alter His purpose because of human rebellion. He accomplishes all things according to His own good pleasure and plan.

“I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” (Psalm 2:7–9)

God has established Jesus as King, and now the King declares what God has spoken concerning Him.

God says to Jesus:

“Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.” (Psalm 2:7)

This does not mean that Jesus first became the Son of God at that moment. Jesus is the eternal Son of God. The apostle Paul connected this verse with the resurrection of Jesus when he said:

“God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.” (Acts 13:33)

Paul also wrote that Jesus was:

“Declared to be the Son of God with power, according to the spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead.” (Romans 1:4)

Therefore, the words “this day have I begotten thee” do not mean that Jesus became the Son of God for the first time on that day. Rather, through His resurrection from the dead, He was powerfully declared and revealed to be the Son of God and the Messiah-King appointed by God.

God then says to Jesus:

“Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” (Psalm 2:8)

God promises to give Jesus not only the people of Israel but all nations as His inheritance, and His dominion will extend to the ends of the earth.

Therefore, Jesus is not merely the King of one nation. He is the King who rules over all nations and over the whole earth.

Furthermore, God says:

“Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” (Psalm 2:9)

In these words, God gives Jesus authority to rule and to judge. Just as a vessel of clay cannot withstand an iron rod, no earthly power, however strong it may appear, can ultimately prevail against the King whom God has established.

Therefore, Jesus is not only the Saviour who came to save sinners. He is also the King who rules over all nations and who will judge those who persist to the end in rejecting and opposing His rule.

“Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” (Psalm 2:10–12)

The word “therefore” shows that these verses are the conclusion of everything that has come before.

Proverbs 1:7 says:

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction.” (Proverbs 1:7)

There is nothing more foolish than opposing God and the King whom He has established.

God therefore calls people to turn from the foolishness of opposing Him and His Christ, to become wise, and to receive His instruction. God has already established Jesus as King. Therefore, instead of continuing to resist Him, they are called to turn and submit to the King whom God has appointed.

Scripture then says:

“Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.” (Psalm 2:11)

To fear the LORD does not mean merely to be terrified of Him and run away. It means to recognize His greatness and majesty and willingly come under His rule.

God desires us to serve Him with reverence and, under His gracious rule, to experience true joy.

Scripture also says:

“Kiss the Son.” (Psalm 2:12)

To kiss a king was an expression of honor, loyalty, and submission. Therefore, these words can be understood as a call to receive Jesus, whom God has established, as our King and to submit ourselves to His rule.

If a person refuses to repent and continues to reject and oppose Jesus, he cannot escape the judgment of God. Man may reject the King whom God has established, but he cannot overthrow His authority.

Yet for the person who fears God’s wrath, turns from rebellion, and takes refuge in Him, there is a wonderful promise:

“Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.” (Psalm 2:12)

The Hebrew word translated “Blessed” here is ashrei (אַשְׁרֵי), the same word used at the beginning of Psalm 1: “Blessed is the man.”

Psalm 1 begins with the blessed man, and Psalm 2 ends by declaring blessed all those who take refuge in God.

We can therefore see that Psalms 1 and 2 are closely connected.

The truly blessed person is not the one who turns away from God to follow his own way, but the one who takes refuge in Him. He is not the one who opposes the King whom God has established, but the one who receives Christ as his King.

Such a person abides in the Word of God and, like a tree planted by rivers of water, continually receives life from God and enjoys the true blessing that only He can give.