Don Costello: Psalm 2:4-12

Psalm 2:4

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision.

a. NLT: But the one who rules in heaven laughs. The Lord scoffs at them. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. NIV: The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. [THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.]

c. Amplified Bible: He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord has them in derision [and in supreme contempt He mocks them]. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

d. Septuagint: He that dwells in the heavens shall laugh them to scorn, and the Lord shall mock them.

e. Stone Edition Torah/Writings/Prophets: He who sits in heaven will laugh, the Lord will mock them. [The Artscroll Series/Stone Edition, THE TANACH--STUDENT SIZE EDITION Copyright 1996, 1998 by Mesorah Publications, Ldt.]

1. “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh:…”

a. [He that] sitteth [Strong: 3427 yashab yaw-shab'; a primitive root; properly, to sit down (specifically as judge. in ambush, in quiet); by implication, to dwell, to remain; causatively, to settle, to marry:--(make to) abide(-ing), continue, (cause to, make to) dwell(-ing), ease self, endure, establish, X fail, habitation, haunt, (make to) inhabit(-ant), make to keep (house), lurking, X marry(-ing), (bring again to) place, remain, return, seat, set(- tle), (down-)sit(-down, still, -ting down, -ting (place) -uate), take, tarry.]

b. [in the] heavens [Strong: 8064 shamayim shaw-mah'-yim; dual of an unused singular shameh {shaw-meh'}; from an unused root meaning to be lofty; the sky (as aloft; the dual perhaps alluding to the visible arch in which the clouds move, as well as to the higher ether where the celestial bodies revolve):--air, X astrologer, heaven(-s).]

c. shall laugh [Strong: 7832 sachaq saw-khak'; To laugh (in pleasure or detraction) by implication, to play:-- deride, have in derision, laugh make merry, mock, laugh to scorn…]

1). Four times in Scripture it mentions that God laughs. In all of those times God is laughing at the wicked: Psalm 2:4; 37:12, 13; 59:5-8; Proverbs 1:26. The most descriptive passage as to why God is laughing at the wicked is in Proverbs 1:24-33. Within these verses I will interject other verses that I believe will shed light on why God would laugh at an individual’s calamity.

a). Proverbs 1:24, 25 Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded;

1:25 But ye have set at naught all my counsel, and would none of my reproof:

(1) Our government in its counsel has decided, constitutionally to remove its ties with God. In the following passage we see the opposing counsels side by side.

(2) Psalm 33:10-12The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.

33:11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

a). (continued) Proverbs 1:26-28 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;

1:27 When your fear cometh as desolation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind; when distress and anguish cometh upon you.

1:28 Then shall they call upon me, but I will not answer; they shall seek me early, but they shall not find me:

(1) Israel became so rebellious that God refused to even hear their prayers.

(a) Jeremiah 11:14 Therefore pray not thou for this people, neither lift up a cry or prayer for them: for I will not hear them in the time that they cry unto me for their trouble.

(b) Isaiah 59:1, 2 Behold, the LORD'S hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear:

59:2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.

(2) Prayer is a Covenant privilege for the obedient. There is a remnant in America that is praying and God hears their prayers.

(a) Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me:

(b) Jeremiah 29:13 says, And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.

a). (continued) Proverbs 1:29, 30 For they hated knowledge, and did not choose the fear of the LORD:

1:30 They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.

(1) Jeremiah 2:19 Thine own wickedness shall correct thee, and thy backslidings shall reprove thee: know therefore and see that it is an evil thing and bitter, that thou hast forsaken the LORD thy God, and that my fear is not in thee, saith the Lord GOD of hosts.

(a) The above verse is so powerful in its straightforwardness. I am reminded of what Supreme Court Justice Rutledge wrote in his dissent in Everson in 1947: “The [First] Amendment's purpose was not to strike merely at the official establishment of a single sect, creed or religion, outlawing only a formal relation such as had prevailed in England and some of the colonies. Necessarily, it was to uproot all such relationships. But the object was broader than separating church and state in this narrow sense. It was to create a complete and permanent separation of the spheres of religious activity and civil authority by comprehensively forbidding every form of public aid or support for religion.””

(b) I can sense a hostility in his choice of words. The First Amendment’s purpose was to “uproot all such relationships”, or to put it another way, “Let us break their bands asunder and cast their cords from us…”

(2) 2 Timothy 3:16 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof…”

a). (continued) In the Judicial branch of our government there are Supreme Court cases decided within matters of constitutional policy, that reveal it hates the knowledge of God, will have nothing to do with His counsel, forsakes the fear of the Lord, and despises the reproof of His word. A few have been mentioned above, but there are many more. This hatred of God’s word also extends to the Executive branch of our government also.

(1) June 2nd 2000 President Bill Clinton declared June the first ever Gay and Lesbian Pride Month.

(2) April 10th 1996 President Bill Clinton vetoed the first Partial-Birth abortion ban.

(3) On October 10th 1997 President Bill Clinton vetoed the second Partial-Birth abortion ban.

(4) June 1st 2009 President Barack Obama declared the month of June Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgendered Pride Month.

(5) Oct. 2006 there was an open homosexual, Mark Dybul, appointed to be the Global AIDS coordinator for the United States by George W. Bush. While he raised his right hand to be sworn in at the White House by Secretary Condoleeza Rice, his homosexual partner held the Bible he rested his left hand on. President Bush’s wife Laura was also at the swearing in.

(6) These violations would never have occurred if our nation would have continued to honor and strengthen “the bands” and the “cords” that our nation had with God.

a). (continued) Proverbs 1:31, 32 Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of their own way, and be filled with their own devices.

1:33 For the turning away of the simple shall slay them, and the prosperity of fools shall destroy them.”

2). The point I am making is that there comes a time after we have “set at naught all his counsel”, would have nothing to do with his reproof, hate his knowledge, refuse the fear of the Lord, have nothing to do with his counsel, and despise his reproof, there comes a time when, in a time of crying out to him, he will not hear, in fact he will laugh at us. I believe within many Supreme Court decisions our constitutional philosophy has done just that.

2. “…the LORD shall have them in derision.”

a. the LORD [Strong: 136 'Adonay ad-o-noy'; am emphatic form of 113; the Lord (used as a proper name of God only):--(my) Lord.

b. [shall have them in] derision [Strong: 3932 la`ag law-ag'; To deride, to laugh at in scorn.]

Psalm 2:5

Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

a. NLT: Then in anger he rebukes them, terrifying them with his fierce fury. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. NIV: He rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, [THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.]

c. Amplified Bible: He speaks to them in His deep anger and troubles (terrifies and confounds) them in His displeasure and fury, saying, [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

d. Septuagint: Then shall he speak to them in his anger, and trouble them in his fury.

e. Stone EditionTorah/Writings/Prophets: Then He will speak to them in His anger, and in His wrath He will terrify them. [The Artscroll Series/Stone Edition, THE TANACH--STUDENT SIZE EDITION Copyright 1996, 1998 by Mesorah Publications, Ldt.]

1. “Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath…”

a. Then [Strong: 227 'az awz a demonstrative adverb; at that time or place; also as a conjunction, therefore:--beginning, for, from, hitherto, now, of old, once, since, then, at which time, yet.]

b. [shall he] speak [Strong: 1696: dabar daw-bar' a primitive root; perhaps properly, to arrange; but used figuratively (of words), to speak; rarely (in a destructive sense) to subdue:--answer, appoint, bid, command, commune, declare, destroy, give, name, promise, pronounce, rehearse, say, speak, be spokesman, subdue, talk, teach, tell, think, use (entreaties), utter, X well, X work.]

c. unto [them] [Strong: 413 'el ale (but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el}); a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in).]

d. [in his] wrath [Strong: 639 'aph af; The nose or nostril, from the face…ire, wrath, anger.] [It is used 172 times for anger, 42 times for wrath, 4 times for angry. 22 times for face, 13 times for nostrils, 12 for nose.]

1). We must remember that even though this was written 3000 years ago under the Mosaic Covenant, it is Messianic and the context is the church age, this will be established further in the next few verses. We must also realize there is more than one form of the wrath of God. Surely one form was revealed in the destruction of Sodom & Gomorrah and the cities of the plain.

a). Genesis 19:24, 25 Then the LORD rained upon Sodom and upon Gomorrah brimstone and fire from the LORD out of heaven;

19:25 And he overthrew those cities, and all the plain, and all the inhabitants of the cities, and that which grew upon the ground.

b). Deuteronomy 29:23 And that the whole land thereof is brimstone, and salt, and burning, that it is not sown, nor beareth, nor any grass groweth therein, like the overthrow of Sodom, and Gomorrah, Admah, and Zeboim, which the LORD overthrew in his anger, and in his wrath:

2). Another that comes to mind is the pouring out of his wrath immediately preceding the second coming of Christ.

a). Revelation 6:15-17 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains;

6:16 And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide us from the face of him that sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb:

6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?

3). I have heard those who say that the wrath of God will only be poured out at the second coming of Christ because God’s wrath was poured out on Jesus while on the cross. While that may be true for the one form of expression of the wrath of God previously mentioned in Genesis 19 and Revelation 6:15-17; there is another form of expression of the wrath of God that Christian and non-Christian can experience, that other way He reveals His wrath is given to us in the book of Romans. It is a slow step by step descent into corruption.

a). Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness.

(1) The Greek word for “hold” is katecho and it means “to restrain, hold down, to suppress”.

(2) Our leaders removing the Scriptural traditions in our culture is a perfect example of the ungodliness of men suppressing or restraining the truth of God. The wrath of God is revealed after the willful suppression of truth in a culture by its leaders by a slow gradual descent of a culture deeper into corruption. It is described in Romans 1 as “God gave them up”, in verse 24, 26, and 28. This is the revealing of the wrath of God, it is basically a sowing and reaping spiritual law. Some have said that the rise of the homosexual movement in America will bring the wrath of God on America. No my friend. Look closely at the Scriptures in Romans 1 and it reveals that the rise of the homosexual movement in America or any culture “is the wrath God”. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that at the same time the Courts were forcing God out of our public square, the culture became increasing corrupt. As this passage in Romans reveals, the slow step by step of the corruption of our culture as it suppresses and restrains the truth, is the revealing of the wrath of God.

b). Romans 1:19-32 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

1:23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

1:24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:

1:25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.

1:26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature:

1:27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

1:28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient;

1:29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers,

1:30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,

1:31 Without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful:

1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

4). The result of rejecting God’s wisdom in Proverbs 1:24-31, as they “set at nought” all of God’s counsel in verse 25, and “despise all” God’s reproof in verse 30 is they will “be filled with their own devices, verse 31. Or as Romans 1:29-31 lists, “…filled with all unrighteous, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boaster, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, without understanding, covenant breakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful.”

a). This is exactly what happened to Israel. Psalm 81:11, 12 says “But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. So I gave them up unto their own hearts lust: and they walked in their own counsels.” It is this expression of the wrath of God that I believe the Scriptures are referring to in other places in Paul’s epistle.

(1) Ephesians 5:3-6 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints;

5:4 Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks.

5:5 For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

5:6 Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.

(2) Colossians 3:5, 6 Mortify therefore your members which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry:

3:6 For which things' sake the wrath of God cometh on the children of disobedience:

b). Why do you think Christians and non-Christians get trapped in bondages? In most cases they begin playing with sin, involving with things they know they shouldn’t and the next thing they are in bondage to the sin, pornography, alcohol, the list is long. When we chose to ignore the knowledge of God, in this case the knowledge that a particular behavior is sin, it is wrong, and we continue to do it anyway despite that knowledge of God and despite that voice inside us telling us not to do it, eventually we will be given over to its power and we will be in bondage to it. According to Romans 1, that process is an expression of the wrath of God. It also provides the logical reasoning to show that individuals or cultures do not turn evil overnight. It is a slow step by step process of a continual descent, level by level of evil. Such is what is occurring in America.

2. “…and vex them in his sore displeasure.”

a. [and] vex [them] [Strong: 926 bahal baw-hal' a primitive root; to tremble inwardly (or palpitate), i.e. (figuratively) be (causative, make) (suddenly) alarmed or agitated; by implication to hasten anxiously:--be (make) affrighted (afraid, amazed, dismayed, rash), (be, get, make) haste(-n, -y, -ily), (give) speedy(-ily), thrust out, trouble, vex.]

1). The RSV, NIV, NASB and others use “terrify”

b. [in his sore] displeasure [Strong: 2740 charown khaw-rone' or (shortened) charon {khaw-rone'}; from 2734. It is always used of God’s anger, anger, heat, burning (of anger)] [It is used 23 times for fierce, fierceness 9 times, wrath 6 times, fury 1 time, wrathful 1 time, and displeasure 1 time.]

1). What he will say next will cause the heathen, the kings and rulers of the world to be vexed, to be terrified because God is angry.

Psalm 2:6

Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

a. NLT: For the Lord declares, “I have placed my chosen king on the thronein Jerusalem, on my holy mountain.” [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. NIV: “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy mountain.” [THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.]

c. Amplified Bible: Yet have I anointed (installed and placed) My King [firmly] on My holy hill of Zion. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

d. Septuagint: But I have been made king by him on Sion his holy mountain,

e. Stone Edition Torah/Writings/Prophets: I Myself have anointed My king, over Zion, My holy mountain. [The Artscroll Series/Stone Edition, THE TANACH--STUDENT SIZE EDITION Copyright 1996, 1998 by Mesorah Publications, Ldt.]

1. “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.”

a. [Yet have] I [Strong: 589 'aniy an-ee' contracted from 595; I:--I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, X which, X who.]

b. set [Strong: 5258 nacak naw-sak' a primitive root; to pour out, especially a libation, or to cast (metal); by analogy, to anoint a king:--cover, melt, offer, (cause to) pour (out), set (up).] [BLB: to pour out, pour, offer, cast, to pour out, to cast metal images, to anoint (a king), to be anointed, to pour out (as a libation), to pour out libations, to be poured out, to set, install, to install, to be installed.] [Gesenius: to make a libation, to cast out of metal, to anoint a king [Psalm 2:6], to be anointed[Proverbs 8:23], to make a libation, to pour out.]

c. [my] king [Strong: 4428 melek meh'-lek from 4427; a king:--king, royal.] [Genesius: king.]

d. upon [Strong: 5921 `al al properly, the same as 5920 used as a preposition (in the singular or plural often with prefix, or as conjunction with a particle following); above, over, upon, or against (yet always in this last relation with a downward aspect) in a great variety of applications (as follow):--above, according to(-ly), after, (as) against, among, and, X as, at, because of, beside (the rest of), between, beyond the time, X both and, by (reason of), X had the charge of, concerning for, in (that), (forth, out) of, (from) (off), (up-)on, over, than, through(-out), to, touching, X with.]

e. [my] holy [Strong: 6944 qodesh ko'-desh; from 6942; a sacred place or thing; rarely abstract, sanctity:--consecrated (thing), dedicated (thing), hallowed (thing), holiness, (X most) holy (X day, portion, thing), saint, sanctuary.]

f. hill [Strong: 2022 har har; a shortened form of 2042; a mountain or range of hills (sometimes used figuratively):--hill (country), mount(-ain), X promotion.]

g. [of] Zion [Strong: 6726 Tsiyown tsee-yone'; the same (regularly) as 6725; Tsijon (as a permanent capital), a mountain of Jerusalem:--Zion.]

1). The tense is past tense, He has already done it. In order to be clear we need to cover again in summary what has been said. In the first three verses of Psalm 2 the Gentile nations are seeking to rid themselves of all ties, associations with the LORD God and Christ. In verses 4 & 5 the LORD laughs at them and speaks to them in His wrath. In both of these verses there is a whole range of consequences directly resulting from the actions of the nations to throw off their ties with God, and they are found in Proverbs 1 and Romans 1. These consequences are more of a sowing and reaping variety rather than the kind we typically associate with the seals, trumpets, and vials of the Second Coming of Christ highlighted in Revelation. Verses 6-9 are God giving His answer to the Gentile nations seeking their independence from Him. Verses 6 & 7 are past tense.

2). I did a search for the word set/nacak [5258] in Strong’s and did not find one use of it in connection to anointing, even though it is in list of definitions. It is always used in connection with an offering. Also in AMG Complete Word Study Dictionary of the Old Testament its use is exclusively used in connection with offerings, never of an anointing. In order to cover all the bases I will cite two passages that apply to both of these definitions, anointed king and king poured out as a sacrifice. The first is a series of citations reflecting the idea of the Messiah as the anointed King.

a). Matthew 2:1, 2 Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men from the east to Jerusalem,

2:2 Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him.

b). Luke 4:16-20 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

4:17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias. And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised,

4:19 To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

4:20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

c). Luke 23:38 And a superscription also was written over him in letters of Greek, and Latin, and Hebrew, THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.

3). This next citation reflects the King as an offering poured out.

a). Hebrews 10:5-13 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me:

10:6 In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure.

10:7 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God.

10:8 Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law;

10:9 Then said he, Lo, I come to do thy will, O God. He taketh away the first, that he may establish the second.

10:10 By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

10:11 And every priest standeth daily ministering and offering oftentimes the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins:

10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God;

10:13 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool.

4). The setting of the king has already been accomplished in the anointing and pouring out of the Messiah. The above series of citations match and reflect roughly the chronology of the next verse in this Psalm also, as do the other passages, the chronological context is the Church Age.

Psalm 2:7

I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.

a. NLT: The king proclaims the LORD’s decree: “The LORD said to me, ‘You are my son. Today I have become your Father. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. NIV: I will proclaim the LORD’s decree: He said to me, “You are my son; today I have become your father. [THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.]

c. Amplified Bible: I will declare the decree of the Lord: He said to Me, You are My Son; this day [I declare] I have begotten You. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

d. Septuagint: declaring the ordinance of the Lord: the Lord said to me, Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten thee.

e. Stone Edition Torah/Writings/Prophets: I am obliged to proclaim that HASHEM said to me, “You are My son, I have begotten you this day. [The Artscroll Series/Stone Edition, THE TANACH--STUDENT SIZE EDITION Copyright 1996, 1998 by Mesorah Publications, Ldt.]

1. “I will declare the decree…”

a. [I will] declare [Strong: 5608 caphar saw-far'; To score with a mark as a tally or record, i.e., by impl., to inscribe, to recount.]

b. [Strong: 413 'el ale (but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el}); a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in).]

c. [the] decree [Strong: 2706 choq khoke; from 2710; An enactment, an appointment, (of time, space), commandment, appointed, bound, decree.]

1). In verse 6 the LORD is speaking. In verse 7, the king he has on Zion is speaking.

2. “…the LORD hath said unto me, thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.”

a. LORD [Strong: 3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw'; from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord.]

b. said [Strong: 559 'amar aw-mar'; a primitive root; to say (used with great latitude):--answer, appoint, avouch, bid, boast self, call, certify, challenge, charge, + (at the, give) command(-ment), commune, consider, declare, demand, X desire, determine, X expressly, X indeed, X intend, name, X plainly, promise, publish, report, require, say, speak (against, of), X still, X suppose, talk, tell, term, X that is, X think, use (speech), utter, X verily, X yet.]

c. unto [me] [Strong: 413 'el ale (but only used in the shortened constructive form sel {el}); a primitive particle; properly, denoting motion towards, but occasionally used of a quiescent position, i.e. near, with or among; often in general, to:--about, according to ,after, against, among, as for, at, because(-fore, -side), both...and, by, concerning, for, from, X hath, in(- to), near, (out) of, over, through, to(-ward), under, unto, upon, whether, with(-in).]

d. [thou art [Strong: 589 'aniy an-ee' contracted from 595; I:--I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, X which, X who.]

e. my [Strong: 589 'aniy an-ee' contracted from 595; I:--I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, X which, X who.

f. son [Strong: 1121 ben bane; from 1129; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like 1, 251, etc.)):--+ afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-)ite, (anoint-)ed one, appointed to, (+) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-)ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, + (young) bullock, + (young) calf, X came up in, child, colt, X common, X corn, daughter, X of first, + firstborn, foal, + very fruitful, + postage, X in, + kid, + lamb, (+) man, meet, + mighty, + nephew, old, (+) people, + rebel, + robber, X servant born, X soldier, son, + spark, + steward, + stranger, X surely, them of, + tumultuous one, + valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.]

d. [this] day [Strong: 3117 yowm yome; from an unused root meaning to be hot; a day (as the warm hours), whether literal (from sunrise to sunset, or from one sunset to the next), or figurative (a space of time defined by an associated term), (often used adverb):--age, + always, + chronicals, continually(-ance), daily, ((birth-), each, to) day, (now a, two) days (agone), + elder, X end, + evening, + (for) ever(-lasting, -more), X full, life, as (so) long as (... live), (even) now, + old, + outlived, + perpetually, presently, + remaineth, X required, season, X since, space, then, (process of) time, + as at other times, + in trouble, weather, (as) when, (a, the, within a) while (that), X whole (+ age), (full) year(-ly), + younger.]

e. [have I] begotten [thee] [Strong: 3205 yalad yaw-lad'; a primitive root; to bear young; causatively, to beget; medically, to act as midwife; specifically, to show lineage:--bear, beget, birth((-day)), born, (make to) bring forth (children, young), bring up, calve, child, come, be delivered (of a child), time of delivery, gender, hatch, labour, (do the office of a) midwife, declare pedigrees, be the son of, (woman in, woman that) travail(-eth, -ing woman).]

1). Twice during the ministry of Jesus, God the Father spoke out of heaven and declared Jesus to be His Son. Once during his baptism and once during his transfiguration.

a). Matthew 3:16, 17 And Jesus, when he was baptized, went up straightway out of the water: and, lo, the heavens were opened unto him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and lighting upon him

3:17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

b). Matthew 17:1-9 And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,

17:2 And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.

17:3 And, behold, there appeared unto them Moses and Elias talking with him.

17:4 Then answered Peter, and said unto Jesus, Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.

17: 5 While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.

17:6 And when the disciples heard it, they fell on their face, and were sore afraid.

17:7 And Jesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraid.

17:8 And when they had lifted up their eyes, they saw no man, save Jesus only.

17:9 And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.

2). Psalm 2:7 is quoted twice in the New Testament; in Acts 13:33 and Hebrews 1:5. The passage in Acts 13:33 is not referring to Christ’s resurrection. The King James translators inserted the word “again” into the English translation, but it is not in the Greek text.

a). Acts 13:33 (KJV) 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.

b). Interlinear Greek Text: Stephens 1550; George Ricker Berry: God has fulfilled children their to us, having raised up Jesus; as also in the psalm second it has been written, Son my thou art, I today have begotten thee.

3). Acts 13:33 is speaking of the raising up and establishing of the ministry and Divine purpose of Jesus.

a). Deuteronomy 18:15 The LORD thy God will raise up unto thee a Prophet from the midst of thee, of thy brethren, like unto me; unto him ye shall hearken.

b). Deuteronomy 18:18 I will raise them up a Prophet from among their brethren, like unto thee, and will put my words in his mouth; and he shall speak unto them all that I shall command him.

c). Acts 13:23 Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus.

4). I am reminded of what the angel Gabriel told Mary when he told her she was chosen by God to conceive and give birth to the Messiah.

a). Luke 1:30-33 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favor with God.

1:31 And, behold, thou shalt conceive in thy womb, and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name JESUS.

1:32 He shall be great, and shall be called the Son the Highest: and the Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David:

1:33 And he shall reign over the house of Jacob for ever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end.

j. Remember also the prophetic moment of the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem. It was prophesied in Zechariah and fulfilled in Jesus.

1). Zechariah 9:9 Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion; shout, O daughter of Jerusalem: behold, thy King cometh unto thee: he is just, and having salvation; lowly, and riding upon an ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass.

2). Matthew 21:1-5 And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethphage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples,

21:2 Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall fine an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me.

21:3 And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them.

21:4 All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying,

21:5 Tell ye the daughter of Sion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.

k. The sum of Psalm 2:6 & 7 is this: The setting forth of God’s choice to be King of Jerusalem was the birth and ministry of Jesus Christ. Hallelujah! The decree is Jesus is the King of Zion, the King of Jerusalem. But he’s not finished yet, the next verse continues the declaration.

Psalm 2:8

Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

a. NLT: Only ask, and I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the whole earth as your possession. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. NIV: Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. [THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.]

c. Amplified Bible: Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations as Your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth as Your possession. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

d. Septuagint: Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen [for] thine inheritance, and the ends of the earth [for] thy possession.

e. Stone Edition Torah/Writings/Prophets: Ask of Me and I will make the nations your inheritance, and the ends of the earth your possession. [The Artscroll Series/Stone Edition, THE TANACH--STUDENT SIZE EDITION Copyright 1996, 1998 by Mesorah Publications, Ldt.]

1. “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance…”

a. Ask [Strong: 7592 sha'al shaw-al' or shael {shaw-ale'}; a primitive root; to inquire; by implication, to request; by extension, to demand:--ask (counsel, on), beg, borrow, lay to charge, consult, demand, desire, X earnestly, enquire, + greet, obtain leave, lend, pray, request, require, + salute, X straitly, X surely, wish.]

b. Of me [Strong: 4480 min min or minniy {min-nee'}; or minney (constructive plural) {min-nay'}; (Isaiah 30:11); for 4482; properly, a part of; hence (prepositionally), from or out of in many senses (as follows):--above, after, among, at, because of, by (reason of), from (among), in, X neither, X nor, (out) of, over, since, X then, through, X whether, with.]

c. [and I shall] give [thee] [Strong: 5414 nathan naw-than' a primitive root; to give, used with greatest latitude of application (put, make, etc.):--add, apply, appoint, ascribe, assign, X avenge, X be ((healed)), bestow, bring (forth, hither), cast, cause, charge, come, commit, consider, count, + cry, deliver (up), direct, distribute, do, X doubtless, X without fail, fasten, frame, X get, give (forth, over, up), grant, hang (up), X have, X indeed, lay (unto charge, up), (give) leave, lend, let (out), + lie, lift up, make, + O that, occupy, offer, ordain, pay, perform, place, pour, print, X pull , put (forth), recompense, render, requite, restore, send (out), set (forth), shew, shoot forth (up), + sing, + slander, strike, (sub-)mit, suffer, X surely, X take, thrust, trade, turn, utter, + weep, + willingly, + withdraw, + would (to) God, yield.]

d. [the] heathen [Strong: 1471 gowy go'-ee rarely (shortened) goy {go'-ee}; apparently from the same root as 1465 (in the sense of massing); a foreign nation; hence, a Gentile; also (figuratively) a troop of animals, or a flight of locusts:--Gentile, heathen, nation, people.]

e. [for thine] inheritance [5159 nachalah nakh-al-aw' from 5157 (in its usual sense); properly, something inherited, i.e. (abstractly) occupancy, or (concretely) an heirloom; generally an estate, patrimony or portion:--heritage, to inherit, inheritance, possession.]

1). Hallelujah! He must have asked because we are his inheritance! This is a fascinating verse because tucked inside it and hidden is the New Covenant. In Isaiah 54:3 we find a similar phrase, “thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles”, but to understand it and get a fuller revelation a bigger chunk of the passage must be viewed.

a). Isaiah 54:1-3 Sing, O barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the LORD.

54:2 Enlarge the place of thy tent, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes;

54:3 For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles, and make the desolate cities to be inhabited.

2). The above passage was quoted by the Apostle Paul in Galatians where he names New Jerusalem as the “mother” in the New Covenant.

a). Galatians 4:21-27 Tell me, ye that desire to be under the law, do ye not hear the law?

4:22 For it is written, that Abraham had two sons, the one by a bondmaid, the other by a freewoman.

4:23 But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman was by promise.

4:24 Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.

4:25 For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.

4:26 But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

4:27 For it is written, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that travailest not: for the desolate hath many more children than she which hath an husband.

3). I must say at this time, this Psalm, as well as most if not all Messianic prophecies in the Old Testament purposely leave out other details about the Messiah. In all the prophecies it only mentions a few details of his person and life. It is only after all the pieces of the Scriptural puzzle are put together, including the testimony of the New Testament, that we get a fuller picture of the Messiah. It is exactly that situation here in this verse. The “heathen”, the folks in the first three verses who are trying to break away from the bands and cords of the LORD and His Christ are in this verse Psalm 2:8, declared the “inheritance” of the “Son” of Psalm 2:7, who we know to be Jesus. It also declares the lands they live on to be his “possession”. All of the Old Testament Messianic passages are only made clear by the New Testament, as was shown in the notes on Psalm 2:6. Psalm 2:7 is referring to the Messiah’s ministry and life, then here in Psalm 2:8 it is referring to His dominion over the earth. Psalm 2 does not mention what brought this about, but of course the New Testament does it was His obedience to His death and resurrection.

a). Philippians 2:8-11 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.

2:9 Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:

2:10 That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth;

2:11 And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

b). Ephesians 1:19-21 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

2:20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,

2:21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:

2. “…and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.”

a. [and] the uttermost parts [Strong: 657 'ephec eh'-fes from 656; cessation, i.e. an end (especially of the earth); often used adverb, no further; also (like 6466) the ankle (in the dual), as being the extremity of the leg or foot:--ankle, but (only), end, howbeit, less than nothing, nevertheless (where), no, none (beside), not (any, -withstanding), thing of nought, save(-ing), there, uttermost part, want, without (cause).]

b. [of the] earth [Strong: 776 'erets eh'-rets from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth, field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.]

c. [for thy] possession [Strong: 272 'achuzzah akh-ooz-zaw' feminine passive participle from 270; something seized, i.e. a possession (especially of land):--possession.]

1). There are many passages in Scripture that declare all nations of the earth will be under the authority of the Messiah.

a). Daniel 7:13, 14 I saw in the night visions, and behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him.

7:14 And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlsasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.

b). Psalm 22:27, 28 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

22:28 For the kingdom is the LORD’S: and he is the governor among the nations.

2). I can’t help but see in the following verses a spirit that embraces the whole world.

a). Psalm 33:8-12 Let all the earth fear the LORD: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him.

33:9 For he spake, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

33:10 The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.

33:11 The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.

3). The thought of God’s heart is to all generations, not just Israel. What is the thought of God’s heart? John 3:16, For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. The nation, any nation that makes the LORD their God is blessed.

a). Psalm 72:8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.

b). Micah 5:2-4 But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting.

5:3 Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel.

5:4 And he shall stand and feed in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God; and they shall abide: for now shall he be great unto the ends of the earth.

c). Psalm 22:27, 28 All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee.

22:28 For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations.

4). The great message we carry from Him who will be the governor of the nations is.

a). Isaiah 45:22 Look unto me, and be ye saved, all the ends of the earth: for I am God, and there is none else.

5). I want to interject here another passage of Scripture that sheds some light on what Psalm 2:8 describes as “…the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” The government of Christ Jesus that will begin after His return will be world wide.

a). Isaiah 2:2-4 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it.

2:3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

2:4 And he shall judge among the nations, and shall rebuke many people: and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.

Psalm 2:11

Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

a. NLT: Serve the LORD with reverent fear, and rejoice with trembling. [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. NIV: Serve the LORD with fear and celebrate his rule with trembling. [THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.]

c. Amplified Bible: Serve the Lord with reverent awe and worshipful fear; rejoice and be in high spirits with trembling [lest you displease Him]. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

d. Septuagint: Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice in him with trembling.

e. Stone Edition Torah/Writings/Prophets: Serve HASHEM with awe that you may rejoice when there is trembling. [The Artscroll Series/Stone Edition, THE TANACH--STUDENT SIZE EDITION Copyright 1996, 1998 by Mesorah Publications, Ldt.]

1. “Serve the LORD with fear…”

a. Serve [Strong: 5647 `abad aw-bad' a primitive root; to work (in any sense); by implication, to serve, till, (causatively) enslave, etc.:--X be, keep in bondage, be bondmen, bond-service, compel, do, dress, ear, execute, + husbandman, keep, labour(-ing man, bring to pass, (cause to, make to) serve(-ing, self), (be, become) servant(-s), do (use) service, till(-er), transgress (from margin), (set a) work, be wrought, worshipper,]

b. [Strong: 853 'eth ayth apparent contracted from 226 in the demonstrative sense of entity; properly, self (but generally used to point out more definitely the object of a verb or preposition, even or namely):--(as such unrepresented in English).

c. [the] LORD [Strong: 3068 Yhovah yeh-ho-vaw' from 1961; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God:--Jehovah, the Lord.]

d. [with] fear [Strong: 3374 yir'ah yir-aw' feminine of 3373; fear (also used as infinitive); morally, reverence:--X dreadful, X exceedingly, fear(-fulness).]

1). There is no question the context is speaking of rulers and judges [v. 10]. The following is three passages that deal with the qualifications of rulers and judges. They all have one thing in common, they are to have a fear of the LORD.

a). Exodus 18:21, 22 Moreover thou shalt provide out of all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating covetousness; and place such over them, to be rulers of thousands, and rulers of hundreds, rulers of fifties, and rulers of tens:

18:22 And let them judge the people at all seasons: and it shall be, that every great matter they shall bring unto thee, but every small matter they shall judge: so shall it be easier for thyself, and they shall bear the burden with thee.

b). 2 Samuel 23:2, 3 The Spirit of the LORD spake by me, and his word was in my tongue.

23:3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.

c). 2 Chronicles 19:5-7 And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city.

19:6 And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.

19:7 Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, not taking of gifts.

2). He is commanding the kings of the earth and the judges of the earth in the church age to serve Him in the fear of the Lord, to rule and to judge accordingly. There is no question that these men and women are responsible for their own actions and decisions that they make, but we as New Covenant believers are responsible also.

a). 1 Timothy 2:1-6 [Amplified Bible] First of all, then, I admonish and urge that petitions, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be offered on behalf of all men,

2:2 For kings and all who are in positions of authority or high responsibility, that outwardly we may pass a quiet and undisturbed life and inwardly a peaceable one in all godliness and reverence and seriousness in every way.

2:3 For such praying is good and right, and it is pleasing and acceptable to God our Savior,

2:5 Who wishes all men to be saved and increasingly to perceive and recognize and discern and know precisely and correctly the divine Truth.

2:5 For there is only one God, and only one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus,

2:6 Who gave Himself as a ransom for all people, a fact that was attested to at the right and proper time.

3). Some of the failure of our leaders for not getting saved and making horrible decisions while they are ruling is the fault of the church. How many times have I prayed for a particular leader of our country, and in the course of a day or week I hear something on the news that this leader did or said and I turn around and say something like, “He is the most incompetent person we have ever had at that position!” I am cursing that leader and I have negated my prayer for him. James says in his epistle we shouldn’t do it.

a). James 3:9-12 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.

3:10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be.

3:11 Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter?

3:12 Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.

b). We need to pray for our leaders and not curse them but speak blessing over them. Yes, we can oppose their ungodly decisions in a godly way, but cursing them is not one of those ways.

2. “…and rejoice with trembling.”

a. [and] rejoice [Strong: 1523 giyl gheel or (by permutation) guwl {gool}; a primitive root; properly, to spin round (under the influence of any violent emotion), i.e. usually rejoice, or (as cringing) fear:--be glad, joy, be joyful, rejoice.]

b. trembling [Strong: 7461 ra`ad rah'-ad or (feminine) radah {reh-aw-daw'}; from 7460; a shudder:--trembling.]

1). In the New Testament our relationship with God is described as being with fear and trembling.

a). Ephesians 6:5 Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;

b). Philippians 2:12 Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Psalm 2:9

Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.

a. NLT: You will break them with an iron rod and smash them like clay pots.’” [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. NIV: You will break them with a rod of ironfn; you will dash them to pieces like pottery.” [THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.]

c. Amplified Bible: You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them in pieces like potters’ ware. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]

d. Septuagint: Thou shalt rule them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces as a potter's vessel.

e. Stone Edition Torah/Writings/Prophets: You will smash them with an iron rod; you will shatter them like a potter’s vessel. [The Artscroll Series/Stone Edition, THE TANACH--STUDENT SIZE EDITION Copyright 1996, 1998 by Mesorah Publications, Ldt.]

1. “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron…”

a. [Thou shalt] break [them] [Strong: 7489 ra`a` raw-ah' a primitive root; properly, to spoil (literally, by breaking to pieces); figuratively, to make (or be) good for nothing, i.e. bad (physically, socially or morally):--afflict, associate selves (by mistake for 7462), break (down, in pieces), + displease, (be, bring, do) evil (doer, entreat, man), show self friendly (by mistake for 7462), do harm, (do) hurt, (behave self, deal) ill, X indeed, do mischief, punish, still, vex, (do) wicked (doer, -ly), be (deal, do) worse.]

b. [with a] rod [Strong: 7626 shebet shay'-bet from an unused root probably meaning to branch off; a scion, i.e. (literally) a stick (for punishing, writing, fighting, ruling, walking, etc.) or (figuratively) a clan:--X correction, dart, rod, sceptre, staff, tribe.]

c. [of] iron [Strong: 1270 barzel, bar-zel'; perhaps from the root of H1269; iron (as cutting); by extension, an iron implement:—(ax) head, iron.]

2. “…thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

a. [thou shalt] dash them in pieces [Strong: 5310 naphats naw-fats' a primitive root; to dash to pieces, or scatter:--be beaten in sunder, break (in pieces), broken, dash (in pieces), cause to be discharged, dispersed, be overspread, scatter.]

b. [like a] potters [Strong: 3335 yatsar yaw-tsar'; probably identical with 3334 (through the squeezing into shape); ((Compare 3331)); to mould into a form; especially as a potter; figuratively, to determine (i.e. form a resolution):--X earthen, fashion, form, frame, make(-r), potter, purpose.]

c. vessel [Strong: 3627 kᵉlîy, kel-ee'; from H3615; something prepared, i.e. any apparatus (as an implement, utensil, dress, vessel or weapon):—armour(-bearer), artillery, bag, carriage, furnish, furniture, instrument, jewel, that is made of, × one from another, that which pertaineth, pot, psaltery, sack, stuff, thing, tool, vessel, ware, weapon, whatsoever.]

1). In Revelation 2 Jesus is finishing up his message to the Christian church of Thyatira. What he tells them is directly related to our study in Psalm 2:9.

a). Revelation 2:26, 27 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations:

2:27 And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.

2). Comparison of Psalm 2:8, 9 with Revelation 2:26, 27.

a). Psalm 2:8, 9 Ask of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy inheritance.

2:9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.

b). In these two passages we can see that in Psalm 2 the Father is giving Jesus the Son, the ruler ship over all nations of the earth. Even though He was given that rulership, the nations themselves rejected his rule and He deals with them very sternly, breaking them into pieces with a rod of iron. We also see that those who are faithful to Christ will be given a part of the earth to rule over also.

c). Revelation 20:6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.

3). I am reminded also of the parable Jesus told in Luke 19.

a). Luke 19:12-27 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return.

19:13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.

19:14 But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us. [They are his citizens because they are part of the kingdom inheritance given to him by his Father. Cp. Psalm 2:8]

19:15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.

19:16 Then came to first, saying Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds.

19:17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities.

19:18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds.

19:19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.

19:20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin:

19:21 For I feared thee, because thou art an austere man: thou takest up that thou layedst not down, and reapest that thou didst not sow.

19:22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant. Thou knewest that I was an austere man, taking up that I laid not down, and reaping that I did not sow:

19:23 Wherefore then gavest not thou my money into the bank, that at my coming I might have required mine own with usury?

19:24 And he said unto them that stood by, Take from him the pound, and give it to him that hath teen pounds.

19:25 (And they said unto him, Lord, he hath ten pounds.)

19:26 For I say unto you, That unto every one which hath shall be given; and from him that hath not, even that he hath not, even that he hath shall be taken away from him.

19:27But those mine enemies, which would not that I should reign over them, bring them hither, and slay them before me.

b). The reason for these heathen nations and their geographical areas being “broken” and “dashed” is because they are the “citizens” of Luke 19:14, who “sent a message after him saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.” They are the same citizens/heathen who say about the LORD and Christ “Let us break their bands asunder and cast away their cords from us.”

Psalm 2:10

Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

a. NLT: Now then, you kings, act wisely! Be warned, you rulers of the earth! [Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.]

b. NIV: Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. [THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by Permission of Biblica, Inc.® All rights reserved worldwide.]

c. Amplified Bible: Now therefore, O you kings, act wisely; be instructed and warned, O you rulers of the earth.

d. Septuagint: Now therefore understand, ye kings: be instructed, all ye that judge the earth.

e. Stone Edition Torah/Writings/Prophets: And now, O Kings, be wise; be disciplined, O judges of the earth. [The Artscroll Series/Stone Edition, THE TANACH--STUDENT SIZE EDITION Copyright 1996, 1998 by Mesorah Publications, Ldt.]

1. “Be wise now therefore O ye kings…”

a. Be wise [Strong: 7919 sakal saw-kal' a primitive root; to be (causatively, make or act) circumspect and hence, intelligent:--consider, expert, instruct, prosper, (deal) prudent(-ly), (give) skill(-ful), have good success, teach, (have, make to) understand(-ing), wisdom, (be, behave self, consider, make) wise(- ly), guide wittingly.]

b. now [therefore] [Strong: 6258 `attah at-taw' from 6256; at this time, whether adverb, conjunction or expletive:--henceforth, now, straightway, this time, whereas.]

c. [O ye] kings [Strong: 4428 melek meh'-lek from 4427; a king:--king, royal.]

1). It is unmistakable what is being said here. The warning from verse 10 to 12 is said in light of what was said previously in the verses leading up to them. In Psalm 2:1-3 the nations want to sever all ties with the LORD and Christ. In Psalm 2:4, 5 He laughs at them and warns them in His wrath. In Psalm 2:6 He tells them that His King has already been set. In Psalm 2:7 Christ has come in his earthly ministry. In Psalm 2:8 the authority over all nations of the earth have been given to him and in Psalm 2:9 the consequences for their rebellion are revealed. Finally, the warning of what will happen to nations in this time period who will not serve him. In light of all that he says, “Be wise now therefore…” He is warning them, “Use your intelligence, don’t be stupid!”

2. “…be instructed, ye judges of the earth.”

a. [be] instructed [Strong: 3256 yacar yaw-sar'; a primitive root; to chastise, literally (with blows) or figuratively (with words); hence, to instruct:--bind, chasten, chastise, correct, instruct, punish, reform, reprove, sore, teach.]

b. [ye] judges [Strong: 8199 shaphat shaw-fat'; a primitive root; to judge, i.e. pronounce sentence (for or against); by implication, to vindicate or punish; by extenssion, to govern; passively, to litigate (literally or figuratively):--+ avenge, X that condemn, contend, defend, execute (judgment), (be a) judge(-ment), X needs, plead, reason, rule.]

c. [of the] earth [Strong: 776 'erets eh'-rets from an unused root probably meaning to be firm; the earth (at large, or partitively a land):--X common, country, earth, field, ground, land, X natins, way, + wilderness, world.]

1). The warning is to all the judges of the whole earth. Be instructed, Supreme Court Justices. Judges need to follow the example of Jehoshaphat when he appointed judges.

a). 2 Chronicles 19:4-7 And Jehoshaphat dwelt at Jerusalem: and he went out again through the people from Beersheba to mount Ephraim, and brought them back unto the LORD God of their fathers.

19:5 And he set judges in the land throughout all the fenced cities of Judah, city by city,

19:6 And said to the judges, Take heed what ye do: for ye judge not for man, but for the LORD, who is with you in the judgment.

19:7 Wherefore now let the fear of the LORD be upon you; take heed and do it: for there is no iniquity with the LORD our God, nor respect of persons, nor taking of gifts.

b). Isaiah 10:1 Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed.

(1) [NLT] What sorrow awaits the unjust judges and those who issue unfair laws.

(2) [NIV] Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees,

(3) [NASB] Woe to those who enact evil statutes And to those who constantly record *unjust decisions,

(4) [YLT] Woe to those decreeing decrees of iniquity, And writers who have prescribed perverseness.

2). Roe v. Wade is an unrighteous decree. Lawrence v. Texas is an unrighteous decree. Roth v. U.S. is an unrighteous decree. Stone v. Graham is an unrighteous decree. I could go on.