Psalm 2
1 Why are the nations in an uproar And the peoples devising a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers take counsel together Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us tear their fetters apart And cast away their cords from us!” 4 He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them. 5then He will speak to them in His anger And terrify them in His fury, saying, 6 “But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.” 7 “I will surely tell of the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and ,I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, And the very ends of the earth as Your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware.’” 10 Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; Take warning, O judges of the earth. 11 Worship the Lord with reverence And rejoice with trembling. 12 Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, For His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!
The Uproar (verses 1-3)
A condition of noisy excitement and confusion; a tumult. An impassioned protest or heated controversy. Great tumult; violent disturbance and noise; noisy confusion; bustle and clamor
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
Psalm 2 describes a particular uproar and those who up-roaring.
The nations are in an uproar (again); not to mention their leaders (kings and rulers). A fetter is a chain or shackle for the feet, or more generally something that confines or restrains and stops progress. They cannot walk in their own way. Their hands are bound and cannot carry out their own actions. These folks are upset against God and His Anointed because they feel constrained and restricted in what they can do. In common parlance, they want to do life their way. They know best and want to carry out their “best” practices no matter what.
## God’s Response (verses 4-5)
He laughs. He scoffs. Scoffing is expressing derision or scorn. God sees them as foolish people. He is not at all concerned knowing their grumbling will accomplish little. When He reaches the end of His patience, yes God has a limit on His patience. He might be patient for a long time but He (here in Psalm 2) and in the world as a whole speaks in anger and terrifies them with His fury.
Who wants to face an angry and furious God? No one! In a prophecy, He describes how He will act out of His fury and anger.
## The Prophecy (verses 6-9)
Prophecies can have a split view of time and reality. Prophecies can describe a present reality and a future reality at the same time. This duality can make them hard to interpret. There are two persons described in the prophecy: a king was installed in God’s chosen place, a holy mountain (Jerusalem), and a Son. The king is David. The Son is begotten of God, who is Jesus. In a similar ways, both accomplish similar things. David is a warrior king capturing many nations. God gifts to the Son the ends of the earth, the whole world. The carnage each accomplishes is described in graphic terms: ruling with an iron rod and smashing earthenware. The sale and scope are different: David rules the lands he conquers. The Son rules to the ends of the earth.
Why you ask: an iron rod and smashing pottery? Conquest is bloody. Folks resist. We’ve seen how people want their own way. Some want their own way unto death. Read the book of Revelation and look at what it takes for God to banish Satan, Satan’s ways and judge sin warped humanity.
God is patient and long suffering. He is not eternally patient. The gospel will be preached to the ends of the earth. He wants all to have the opportunity to hear and respond to the Gospel and become apprentices of Jesus. Only God knows when the gospel proclamation has reached the ends of the earth. God must act in accord with His character both loving and judging and many other sides of His character.
He will demonstrate consequences of accepting or refusing the gift of the gospel. He will act as He says at a time and place of His choosing.
The Psalmist offers a warning and words of encouragement in verses 10-12.
## Warning
- kings show discernment
- judges of the earth have been warned
- God’s wrath may soon be kindled
- Live rightly lest God becomes angry and you perish
How To live
- Worship the Lord with reverence
- rejoice with trembling.
- Do homage to the Son
Finally, the Psalmist announces:
- ## How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!