Introduction to Psalm 2
1. Psalm 2 is a Messianic Psalm written by David about 3000 years ago. Prophetically it speaks about the second person of the Triune Godhead becoming man and eventually King over the earth and we know of course it is speaking of Jesus.
2. Psalm 2 is a prophetic warning to the Gentile nations to serve the LORD Jesus Christ IN THE CHURCH AGE! This is established by the fact the passage was quoted by the Apostles in the book of Acts thus placing it in the Church Age and attributing its authorship to David.
a. Acts 4:23-30 And being let go, they went to their own company, and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said unto them.
4:24 And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:
4:25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
4:26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
4:27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,
4:28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.
4:29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word,
4:30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus.
3. In his first imprisonment at Rome, Paul met with the Jewish leaders and expounded to them from morning till evening about Christ Jesus. He warned them that it was in the plan of redemption for Gentiles to be saved and that they would embrace it.
a). Acts 28:23-28 [NKJV] So when they had appointed him a day, many came to him at his lodging, to whom he explained and solemnly testified of the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus from both the Law of Moses and the Prophets, from morning till evening.
28:24 And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. 28:25 So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers,
28:26 saying, ‘Go to this people and say: “Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand; And seeing you will see, and not perceive;
28:27 For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.” ’
28:28 “Therefore let it be known to you that the salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will hear it!”
4. In his book The Myth of Separation, David Barton detailed America's early leaders dedicating this nation to God. The court case by court case that upheld that dedication and the court case by court case that sought to undermine that dedication. This war against the LORD and against his Christ has been waging since the fall of Lucifer, creation of man, and the incarnation of Christ. This war has waged in America ever since its beginning and is documented in court cases speckled in our history, but these cases accelerated in the 1960’s with landmark cases on Prayer in School (Engel v. Vitale 1962), and Bible reading in School (School District of Abington Township, Pennsylvania v. Schempp, 1963). The first time I taught on Psalm 2 was at Williamsburg Pentecostal Church in 1994.
Psalm 2:1-3
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 their cords from us.
a. Amplified Bible Psalm 1:1-3: Why do the nations assemble with commotion [uproar and confusion of voices], and why do the people imagine (meditate upon and devise) an empty scheme? The kings of the earth take their places; the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and His Anointed One (the Messiah, the Christ). They say, Let us break Their bands [of restraint] asunder and cast Their cords [of control] from us. [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]
1. The warning is clearly to the Gentile nations, it is the heathen, not Israel, who are raging and imagining a vain thing. The questions asked are, “Why do the heathen rage?” and, “Why do the people imagine a vain thing?” Both questions can be answered by looking at Scripture. Becoming vain occurs after truth and light are rejected.
a. 2 Kings 17:15 And they rejected his statutes, and his covenant that he made with their fathers, and his testimonies which he testified against them; and they followed vanity, and became vain, and went after the heathen that were round about them, concerning whom the LORD had charged them, that they should not do like them.
b. Romans 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.
c. In both of the above examples, the truth and light of God’s word were rejected and as a result, worthless thinking followed. The effects of rejecting light are clear. There are three of them.
1). A mind void of judgment:
a). Romans 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.
b). reprobate [96 * adokimos ad-ok'-ee-mos from 1 (as a negative particle) and 1384; unapproved, i.e. rejected; by implication, worthless (literally or morally):--castaway, rejected, reprobate.] [Zodhiates: adokimos; a-without; dokimos-acceptable Unapproved, unworthy, rejected, cast away. In Romans 1:28, an active usage meaning, undiscerning, not distinguishing, void of judgment.]
c). A mind that makes wrong decisions. Decisions worthy of rejection, decisions rejected and unapproved from God’s perspective. When men and women reject light and truth, the results will show up in their lives. It is just the same as walking around in the dark, we will be constantly running into things and falling down. Some things will be minor, while some will be extremely serious to the point of losing our lives and determining where we spend eternity.
2). Captivity:
a). Isaiah 5:13 Therefore my people are gone into captivity, because they have no knowledge: and their honourable men are famished, and their multitude dried up with thirst.
3). Destruction:
(1) Hosea 4:6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee, that thou shalt be no priest to me: seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God, I will also forget thy children.
4 ). The Scriptures given above further establish this warning is to the nations in the Church Age because before light can be rejected it had to have been received. This fact will be further established in notes concerning Psalm 2:3.
2. The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
a. The kings position themselves. They take counsel together, they hash their plan together. A plan of action against the LORD and His Christ.
1). Psalm 33:10 The LORD bringeth the counsel of the heathen to nought: he maketh the devices of the people of none effect.
c. “…against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
1). There is no doubt the “his anointed’ in verse 2 is referring to Christ Jesus. The above quote in Acts 4:26 clearly says it.
a). Acts 4:26 4:26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.
2). Because the context for the Psalm is in the Church age, the warning is to the Gentile leaders during the Church age. The warning is this, The Almighty’s anointed King has been chosen and He is Christ Jesus His Son! You need to serve Him or be held accountable for your actions of rebellion in not serving Him. This includes all the nations of the earth and the United States and all of her laws passed rejecting His sovereignty over her, including “separation of church and state”, laws outlawing prayer in public schools, outlawing Bible reading in public schools, outlawing posting Scripture in public schools, legalizing child sacrifice, legalizing homosexuality. these decisions challenge the sovereignty of God over America as it is written in Psalm 2.
3. Let us break their bands asunder, and cast their cords from us.
a. Let us break…asunder [Strong: 5423 nathaq naw-thak'; To tear down, break off, burst, draw away, lift up, pluck away, pluck off, pull out, root out.]
b. [their] bands [Strong: 4147 mowcer mo-sare' also (in plural) feminine mowcerah {mo-say-raw'}; or mocrah {mo-ser-aw'}; from 3256; chastisement, i.e., a halter, restraint.]
1). The breaking of the bands and casting of the cords is the position and counsel of the Gentiles, the raging and the vain things that the Gentile nations are imagining. They want to sever all ties with God and Christ Jesus. We must remember that before these Gentile nations can break the bands and cast off the cords of the LORD and His Christ they must have been under them first.
c. In Psalm 2:3, the kings and rulers have stationed, positioned themselves with their counsel. They want to throw off the bands of restraint, the cords of control that God has in their lives.
1). Job 21:14, 15 Therefore they say unto God, Depart from us; for we desire not the knowledge of thy ways.
21:15 What is the Almighty, that we should serve him? And what profit should we have, if we pray unto him?
2). Jeremiah 5:5 I will get me unto the great men, and will speak unto them; for they have known the way of the LORD, and the judgment of their God: but these have altogether broken the yoke, and burst the bonds. [Compare “the yoke” to Matthew 11:29.]
3). Hosea 11:4 I drew them with cords of a man, with bands of love: and I was to them as they that take off the yoke on their jaws, and I laid meat unto them.
Psalm 2:4
He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision.
a. 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]
b. 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.
1). Psalm 37:12, 13 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth.
37:13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
2). Psalm 59:5-8 Thou therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to visit all the heathen: be not merciful to any wicked transgressors. Selah.
59:6 They return at evening: they make a noise like a dog, and go round about the city.
59:7 Behold, they belch out with their mouth: swords are in their lips: for who, say they, doth hear?
59:8 But thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision.
3). Proverbs 1:24-30 [ESV] Because I have called and you refused to listen, have stretched out my hand and no one has heeded,
1:25 Because you have ignored all my counsel and would have none of my reproof,
1:26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when terror strikes you,
1:27 When terror strikes you like a storm and your calamity comes like a whirlwind, when distress and anguish come upon you.
1:28 Then they will call upon me, but I will not answer; they will seek me diligently but will not find me.
1:29 Because they hated knowledge and did not choose the fear of the Lord,
1:30 Would have none of my counsel and despised all my reproof,
a). 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.
(1) 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.””
(2) 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…”
(3) Joseph Story: “We are not to attribute this [First Amendment] prohibition of a national religious establishment to an indifference to Christianity (which none could hold in more reverence, than the framers of the Constitution)…Probably, at the time of the adoption of the Constitution, and the Amendment to it now under consideration, the general, if not the universal, sentiment in America was that Christianity ought to receive encouragement from the State…An attempt to level all religions and to make it a matter of state policy to hold all in utter indifference would have created universal disapprobation [disapproval] if not universal indignation [anger].” (Source: A Familiar Exposition of the Constitution of the United States, Harper & Brothers, New York, 1854, pp. 259-261.) ( Joseph Story, (1779-1845). Member of the Massachusetts State Legislature, 1805-1807, 1811. Member of U. S. House of Representatives 1808-1809. Appointed to the U.S. Supreme Court by President James Madison, 1811-1845. Authored 269 majority opinions of the Court.) (This quote was taken out of Original Intent, David Barton, Wallbuilder Press, 1996. p. 30.)
(4) 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.
3). (Continued) Proverbs 1:31 [ESV] Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their way, and have their fill of their own devices.
1:32 For the simple are killed by their turning away, and the complacency of fools destroys them;
4). 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.
Psalm 2:5
Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
a. 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]
1. “Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath…”
a. 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. 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 and of his wrath immediately preceding the return of Christ.
1). 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). 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?
b. Another wrath is revealed 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 Christian traditions from our culture is 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 people 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 1:18-32 [ESV] For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.
1:19 For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.
1:20 For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
1:21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. 1:22 Claiming to be wise, they became fools,
1:23 and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things.
1:24 Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves,
1:25 because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
1:26 For this reason God gave them up to dishonorable passions. For their women exchanged natural relations for those that are contrary to nature;
1:27 and the men likewise gave up natural relations with women and were consumed with passion for one another, men committing shameless acts with men and receiving in themselves the due penalty for their error.
1:28 And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done.
1:29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips,
1:30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents,
1:31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
1:32 Though they know God's righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but give approval to those who practice them.
c). 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.”
d). This is exactly what happened to Israel.
(1) Deuteronomy 28:15-20 But it shall come to pass, if thou wilt not hearken unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe to do all his commandments and his statutes which I command thee this day; that all these curses shall come upon thee, and overtake thee:
28:16 Cursed shalt thou be in the city, and cursed shalt thou be in the field.
28:17 Cursed shall be thy basket and thy store.
28:18 Cursed shall be the fruit of thy body, and the fruit of thy land, the increase of thy kine, and the flocks of thy sheep.
28:19 Cursed shalt thou be when thou comest in, and cursed shalt thou be when thou goest out.
28:20 The Lord shall send upon thee cursing, vexation, and rebuke, in all that thou settest thine hand unto for to do, until thou be destroyed, and until thou perish quickly; because of the wickedness of thy doings, whereby thou hast forsaken me.
(2) Troy Edwards, The Permissive Sense: Most people have read this list (Deuteronomy 28:16-68) with the erroneous idea that God will use His divine creative power to bring about these curses. Nevertheless, when we use the principle of interpreting the Bible with the Bible, we learn that these curses will come because God forsaking His people and withdrawing His protection.
(3) Deuteronomy 31:16-18 And the LORD said unto Moses, Behold, thou shalt sleep with thy fathers; and this people will rise up, and go a whoring after the gods of the strangers of the land, whither they go to be among them, and will forsake me, and break my covenant which I have made with them.
31:17 Then my anger shall be kindled against them in that day, and I will forsake them, and I will hide my face from them, and they shall be devoured, and many evils and troubles shall befall them; so that they will say in that day, Are not these evils come upon us, because our God is not among us?
31:18 And I will surely hide my face in that day for all the evils which they shall have wrought, in that they are turned unto other gods.
2. “…and vex them in his sore displeasure.”
a. This vexing that is so displeasing to God means they are turned over to their sin, whether they be individuals, families, or nations. As much as it displeases Him, He will vex them by turning them over to their sin.
Psalm 2:6
Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
a. 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]
b. Stone Edition Torah/Prophets/Writings: 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, Ltd.]
1. “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.”
a. 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).] [Gesenius: to make a libation, to cast out of metal, to anoint a king [Psalm 2:6],... to make a libation, to pour out.]
1). The tense is past tense, He has already done it. Here are 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.
2 ). 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.
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. 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]
1. This verse Psalm 2:7, I believe is referring to Christ’s conception and incarnation, His becoming man.
a. Luke 1:26-33 And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth,
1:27 To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin's name was Mary.
1:28 And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.
1:29 And when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and cast in her mind what manner of salutation this should be.
1:30 And the angel said unto her, Fear not, Mary: for thou hast found favour 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 of 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.
b. There are two schools of thought regarding the Sonship of Christ, the Eternal Sonship of Christ [that He always was the Son of God from eternity past] and the Incarnational Sonship of Christ [that he became the Son of God when he became man].
2). 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 17:5 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.
2). Psalm 2:7 is quoted twice in the New Testament; in Acts 13:33 and Hebrews 1:5. The passage in Hebrews 1:5 is referring to when the LORD/Word/pre-existing Christ became the Son of God. He was not always the Son of God.
3). Acts 13:32-35 [NASB] And we preach to you the good news of the promise made to the fathers,
13:33 that God has fulfilled this promise to those of us who are the descendants by raising Jesus, as it is also written in the second Psalm: ‘You are My Son; today I have fathered You.’
13:34 As for the fact that He raised Him from the dead, never again to return to decay, He has spoken in this way: ‘I will give you the holy and faithful mercies of David.’
13:35 Therefore, He also says in another Psalm: ‘You will not allow Your Holy One to undergo decay.’
4). 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 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. Acts 13:33 [ASV] that God hath fulfilled the same unto our children, in that he raised up Jesus; as also it is written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
c). Acts 13:33 is speaking of the raising up and establishing of the ministry and Divine purpose of Jesus.
(1) 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.
(2) 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.
(3) Acts 13:23 Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour, Jesus.
5). Hebrews 1:5 For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?
a). When Jesus became man, He became the Son of God.
b). begotten [Strong: 1080 gennáō, ghen-nah'-o; from a variation of G1085; to procreate (properly, of the father, but by extension of the mother); figuratively, to regenerate:—bear, beget, be born, bring forth, conceive, be delivered of, gender, make, spring.]
6). 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 that Jesus is conceived and born 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.
1. “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance…”
a. 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 54:1-3 we find a similar phrase, “thy seed shall inherit the Gentiles”.
1). 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 explains the allegory of the two Covenants. names New Jerusalem as the “mother” in the New Covenant (Galatians 4:21-27).
a). Galatians 4:21-28 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.
4:28 Now we, brethren, as Isaac was, are the children of promise.
3). When Christ Jesus first called the disciples he told them they would become fishers of men. It is a vital part of us being believers in Covenant with God.
a). Matthew 4:18-22 And Jesus, walking by the sea of Galilee, saw two brethren, Simon called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
4:19 And he saith unto them, Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.
4:20 And they straightway left their nets, and followed him.
4:21 And going on from thence, he saw other two brethren, James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, in a ship with Zebedee their father, mending their nets; and he called them.
4:22 And they immediately left the ship and their father, and followed him.
b). Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.
28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:
28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
c). 2 Corinthians 5:17-21 Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;
5:19 To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation.
5:20 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God.
5:21 For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
2. “…and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.”
a.There are many passages in Scripture that declare all nations of the earth will be under the authority of the Messiah.
1). 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 everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.
2 ). 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.
3). Psalm 72:8 He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.
4). 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.
Psalm 2:9
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
a. 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]
1. “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron…”
2. “…thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
a. This is referring to the return of Christ and the giving of the rewards and authority to those who were faithful in this life. 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.
1). 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). Revelation 1:6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
c). 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. Amplified Bible: Now therefore, O you kings, act wisely; be instructed and warned, O you rulers of the earth.
1. “Be wise now therefore O ye kings…”
a. 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.]
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). Isaiah 10:1 Woe unto them that decree unrighteous decrees, and that write grievousness which they have prescribed.
(1) [NASB] Woe to those who enact evil statutes And to those who constantly record *unjust decisions,
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.
Psalm 2:11
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
a. 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]
1. “Serve the LORD with fear…”
a. 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.
1). 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.
2). 2 Chronicles 19:5-7 [Jehosophat] 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.
3). 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.
2. “…and rejoice with trembling.”
a. In the New Testament our relationship with God is described as being with fear and trembling.
1). 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;
2). 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 2:12
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.
a. Amplified Bible: Kiss the Son [pay homage to Him in purity], lest He be angry and you perish in the way, for soon shall His wrath be kindled. O blessed (happy, fortunate, and to be envied) are all those who seek refuge and put their trust in Him! [Amplified Bible, Classic Edition (AMPC) Copyright © 1954, 1958, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1987 by The Lockman Foundation]
1. “Kiss the Son…”
a. Kiss [the Son] [Strong: 5401 nashaq naw-shak;'; a primitive root (identical with 5400, through the idea of fastening up; Compare 2388, 2836); to kiss, literally or figuratively (touch); also (as a mode of attachment), to equip with weapons:--armed (men), rule, kiss, that touched.] [Gesenius: To join, to arm oneself.]
1). The same Hebrew word is translated “ruled” in Genesis 41:40.
a). Genesis 41:40 “Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou.”
b). Psalm 2:12 well might say, “Be ruled by the Son.” Or in light of the other definitions, “Attach yourself to the Son. Equip yourself with the Son. Join yourself to the Son. Arm yourself with the Son.
c). Compare Isaiah 59:16-18 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.
59:17 For he put on righteousness as a breastplate, and an helmet of salvation upon his head; and he put on the garments of vengeance for clothing, and was clad with zeal as a cloke.
59:18 According to their deeds, accordingly he will repay, fury to his adversaries, recompense to his enemies; to the islands he will repay recompense.
2). Examples in the New Testament.
a). Romans 13:14 But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfill the lusts thereof.
b). Ephesians 6:11-17 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
6:14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
6:15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
6:16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
6:17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
2. “…lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little.”
a. The Hebrew word for “perish” means “wandering away, the losing one’s self, to perish”. The “perishing” is said to be caused by his wrath being kindled a little. America has wandered away from where it once was, It has lost her way. America is not escaping the little by little perishing she is experiencing by rejecting the knowledge of God. It is in this context that the wrath of God in Romans 1 should be read. Notice the wrath of God resulting in the corruption of society is revealed in a step by step process that begins with rejecting the glory of God.
3. “…Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.”
a. It is not a coincidence that the motto on our coins is, “In God We Trust.”
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