The striking prophecy about Christ, the Son of God, which we read in the second psalm, arises in the psalmist as an expression of his own spiritual life and prayer...
The striking prophecy about Christ, the Son of God, which we read in the second psalm, arises in the psalmist as an expression of his own spiritual life and prayer. In the world he encounters hostility and division, and he experiences this hostility especially acutely as hostility toward God's designs. Earthly rulers, tribes, and nations all unite against those who are guided by the Creator's will, against those whom He has appointed to serve Him. This was the experience of King David, who fought many external enemies at once; in the same way, Pilate and Herod become friends on the day they condemn Christ.
It is important that in prayer David expresses his faith that he was made king not because of his merits or special personal qualities, but by the will of God. King David's strength does not lie in David himself, but in God alone. Looking partly beyond his own person, David sees and glorifies God's adoption of those who are faithful to Him, and human hostility as a consequence of that adoption. David sees people's only hope in honoring the Son, in bowing before this grace of adoption by God.
It is exceptionally important in our prayer to remember David's words: "Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice before Him with trembling." They speak of the astonishing mystery of spiritual life, in which an experience of God's nearness and joy in His mercy are combined without contradiction with the deepest reverence and holy awe. This paradoxical union, like everything in which God takes part, becomes true nourishment for the soul in the age before the sacred gift of Christ's Body and Blood was revealed to humankind.
The special, unique spiritual experience of all who worship the one God is expressed in the final words of the psalm. David speaks of the blessedness, the fullness of life, that a person can find by trusting in God. Few things strengthen both our joy in God and our holy awe before Him as much as the experience of trusting in Him.
2 There is nothing in this psalm which is not applicable to Christ, but some things which are not all applicable to David. Threatenings denounced against the adversaries of Christ's kingdom, Psa 2:1-6.
Promises made to Christ, Psa 2:7-9.
Counsel given to all, to submit to him, Psa 2:10-12.
2:1 Heathen - Who did so against David, Sa2 5:6, Sa2 5:17 Ch1 14:8, and against Christ, Luk 18:32 Psa 2, Act 4:25, etc
2:2 The kings - Herod, and Pilate and others with or after them. Earth - So called in way of contempt and to shew their madness in opposing the God of heaven. Set - The word denotes the combination of their counsels and forces. Anointed - Against the king whom God hath chosen and exalted.
2:3 And cast - The same thing expressed with more emphasis. Let us not only break off their yoke and the cords by which it is fastened upon us, but let us cast them far away.
2:4 Sitteth - As the king of the whole world. Heavens - As an evidence both of God's clear and certain knowledge of all things that are done below, and of his sovereign and irresistible power.Laugh - Shall despise them and all their crafty devices.
2:6 Yet - Notwithstanding all their artifices and combinations.My king - Who ruleth in my stead, and according to my will, and for my glory. Zion - Over my church and people. Zion strictly taken, was an hill on the north part of Jerusalem, where there was a strong fort, called the city of David, but in a more large sense it is put for the city of Jerusalem, for the temple of Jerusalem, built upon the hill of Moriah, which was either a part of mount Sion, or adjoining to it; for the church of the Jews, and for the Christian church.
2:7 The decree - The will and appointment of God concerning this.My sin - Which tho' it may in some sort be said to, or of David, yet much more properly belongs to Christ, who is commonly known by this title both in the Old and New Testament, and to whom this title is expressly appropriated by the holy ghost, who is the best interpreter of his own words, Act 13:33 Psa 2, Heb 1:5, .This day - This may be understood either,
2:8 Earth - Not only the Jewish nation, but the whole world.
2:9 Them - Those that will not quietly submit to thee, shall be crushed and destroyed by thee. This was in part fulfilled, when the Jews who persisted in unbelief, were destroyed by the Romans power: And in the destruction of the Pagan power, when the Christian religion came to be established. But it will not be compleatly fulfilled, 'till all opposing power and principality be put down.
2:10 Now - While you have time for repentance and submission.
2:11 Fear - With an awful sense of his great and glorious majesty.Rejoice - Do not esteem his yoke your dishonour and grievance; but rejoice in this inestimable grace and benefit. Trembling - This is added to warn them of taking heed that they do not turn this grace of God into wantonness.
2:12 Kiss - In token of your subjection and adoration; whereof this was a sign among the eastern nations. The son - The son of God.Ye perish - Be taken out of the way by death or destruction.Wrath - The least degree of his anger is terrible.