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PSALMS 2

Psalm 1 is clearly revolved around the Law…and began with teaching on blessing… and ended with teaching on the results of disobedience… and curse.

Psalm 2 however is clearly prophetic… begins with a curse and ends with a blessing. David is describing a wondrous vision… and sees ahead to Armageddon… Nations raging and plotting against God. End time gathering of wickedness, desiring to put to death Christianity. Who would dare, deliberately go about to come against the Prince of Peace?

Vs 1 – Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?

The word RAGE here denotes pride, aggressiveness, ‘in the Greek’ it is likened to a horse that neighs and then rushes straight into battle. When there is such a RAGE, it is usually fruit of REBELLION!! And not just by a handful of people… but by the leaders themselves…

Vs 2 – The ‘Kings’ of the earth set themselves… or take their stand… (forgetting that we always remain under authority to God Himself) – SET, describes that it was not momentary rage, but deep-seated hatred, ‘and the rulers take counsel together’ – they actually go about their warfare skillfully, not with foolish haste, but with determination and deliberation.

A great picture of the heathen raging is like the oceans in a storm… the roaring sea, tossed to and fro… restless and quite often imposing! Think ‘Perfect Storm’.

In the mid 1850’s there have been numerous monumental pillars raised (some in Spain) which still remain… bearing inscriptions such as:

- In honour of the name of Christians being extinguished!
- For having everywhere abolished the superstition of Christ, and for having extended the worship of the Gods…
- Diocletian (Emperor of Rome who divided the empire into east and west in an attempt to rule the territory more effectively. His desire to revive the old religion of Rome led to the last major persecution of the Christians.) Jovian Maximiam Herculeus Ceasares, Augusti… for having extinguished the name of Christians, who brought the republic to ruin.

Sounds to me like Herod, plotting against Christ, trying to kill off the future of Christiandom, or as Paul describes in Acts 13:33-41.’He has fulfilled for us, their children, by raising up Jesus. As it is written in the second Psalm: ‘You are my Son; today I have become your Father’. The fact that God raised him from the dead, never to decay, is stated in these words: ‘I will give you the holy and sure blessings promised to David.’ So it is stated elsewhere: ‘You will not let your Holy One see decay.’ For when David had served God’s purpose in his own generation, he fell asleep; he was buried with his fathers and his body decayed. But the one whom God raised from the dead did not see decay. ‘Therefore, my brothers, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. Through him everyone who believes is justified from everything you could not be justified from by the law of Moses. Take care that what the prophets have said does not happen to you: ‘Look, you scoffers, wonder and perish, for I am going to do something in your days that you would never believe, even if someone told you.’

The 1st Psalm is a contrast between the righteous man and the sinner – the 2nd is a contrast between tumultuous disobedience of a Godless word and a certain exaltation of the righteous Son of God. Psalm 2 states the magnificence of Jesus…

The devil cannot defeat the counsel of heaven! ‘C.H. SPURGEON’

Vs 3 – Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their chords from us.

Seeing the love of God and His guidance as constraints and just being totally restrictive, rather than as freedom and life, grace and hope… is totally built on an incorrect understanding of the heart of God towards His people and an incorrect understanding of God’s character.

But what does our Saviour say… Matthew 11:28, 29, 30 ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.’

Vs 4 – The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. (Sits in the heavens… meaning exalted above all.)

Vs 5 – Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath…

It seems harsh at first… but in the end, all human effort to overthrow the King of All is futile. And then, if you meditate on this further, this scripture gives us a great example of how we too can laugh at the wicked plans of the enemy to overthrow the children of the King…

It is easy for God to destroy his foes… Are you ready to be grossed out? Think of Pharaoh, his wise men, his hosts, and his horses plouting and plunging, and sinking like lead in the Red sea. Here is the end of one of the greatest plots ever formed against God’s chosen! And listen to this particularly long paragraph by William S Plumer, written in 1867 which will prove my point even further.

Of thirty Roman emperors, governors of provinces, and others high in office, who distinguished themselves by their zeal and bitterness in persecuting the early Christians, one became speedily deranged after some atrocious cruelty, one was slain by his own son, one became blind, the eyes of one started out of his head, one was drowned, one was strangled, one died in a miserable captivity, one died of so loathsome a disease that several of his physicians were put to death because they could not abide the stench that filled his room, two committed suicide, a third attempted it, but had to call for help to finish the work, five were assassinated by their own people or servants, five others died the most miserable and excruciating deaths, several of them having an untold complication of diseases, and eight were killed in battle, or after being taken prisoners. Among these was Julian the apostate. In the days of his prosperity he is said to have pointed his dagger to heaven defying the Son of God, whom he commonly called the Galilean. But when he was wounded in battle, he saw that all wqs over with him, and he gathered up his clotted blood, and threw it into the air, exclaiming, ‘Thou has conquered, O thou Galilean.’

The many had done their part, and tried to come against God Himself… but the mighty are about to show the power of the One who is above all others!!!

Vs 6 – I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.

This is God declaring the Royal position and authority announced and declared, from Everlasting to Everlasting, the unshakeable throne of His Kingdom… that He has established dominion from His Holy Hill, Mt Zion. Heavens counterpart on earth.

Whatever the plots of hell and of earth, in the end are of little value, as Jesus reigns by His Father’s Ordination.

This revelation should bring you a great sense of peace and security… you can trust in the name of the Lord as He literally does hold the earth… His church, Your life, Your circumstance and Your dreams, in the palm of His hand.

Praise be to God… who delights in taking us from glory to glory..

Psalm 37:23-24 ‘If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the Lord upholds him with His hand.’
The remainder of Psalm 2 continues to remind and assure us that true wisdom lies in obeying Christ, and that power and authority does not come through title and position, but through yielded lives, that pursue relationship with the King of Kings, who is far above ALL power, ALL authority and ALL dominions (Eph 1:21).

Verse 8 is one we all know and love and have probably sung and prayed many times.


Ask of me… and I will give the nations as an inheritance… in the King James, the word nations reads as ‘heathens’. How amazing that the Word declares that even the enemies of Christ are our inheritance. AND the uttermost parts of the earth for our possession.

In these perilous times we live in, and as nations rise against nations… remind yourself that the Word clearly states not just what the inheritance consists of, but the promise of the Lord’s readiness to GIVE it to you.

?? How have you been responding to the continual talk of war? You can teach your heart to respond well by:

* Praying verse 8… Ask for the nations…
* When you sense fear rising up or insecurity trying to overwhelm you… Pray & Praise… INSTRUCT YOUR HEART IN THE DAYLIGHT SO THAT IT MAY INSTRUCT YOU WELL AT NIGHT – ‘DZ’

Verse 9 - This iron rod indicates how weighty, how severe, again describing the force in which God can come against earthly Kingdoms plotting against the Holy one, dashing (smashing) them into pieces, e.g… like a smashed potters vessel. Pretty clear picture! Not intended to bruise… but to break!

Verse 10 - Ultimate book of wisdom is the Word… the gospel is the teacher of the greatest… THE greatest, should never forget this! – All earthly rulers need a ruler, All earthly Kings need a King.

Verse 11 - Fear & rejoicing… sounds like:
Sour & sweet… Lemon & sugar…

But Fear as in:
with REVERENCE
in AWE.

Rejoicing and trembling… joy filled at His mercy and grace and that this righteous judge loved enough to give us all that He could through the cross.

‘God mingles joy with fear, that fear may not be slavish!’ – ‘Thomas Watson, 1660’

Verse 12… Embrace Him, depend upon Him in all you do, in all you are, Kiss Him! Don’t be ashamed of loving Christ, remember when King David was despised as He lovingly danced before His Lord. Delight His heart, ‘lest He be angry’ or in the Hebrew, ‘if His nostril be kindled a little’… (which is a sign of anger).

You will be blessed – ALL who put their trust in Him!! The first world and last word of Psalm 1 and Psalm 2 – BLESSED – as in the Beatitudes in Matthew.

What an awesome promise…
Be confident in Him and His ability to turn ANY bad situation around…

Gods world is not only larger than anything represented by media, Presidents, Kings… stock exchange… but GOD’S WORLD CONTAINS THEM."

-Darlene Zschech