Overview : (NET) Psalm 2. In this royal psalm the author asserts the special status of the divinely chosen Davidic king and warns the nations and their rulers to submit to the authority of God and his chosen vice-regent.
Background:
(Walton) Why do the nations conspire? (2:1). Changes in kingship created political instability. When such a change occurred in a powerful nation, the rulers of lesser nations under its control sometimes rebelled against their new overlord. Frequently, they formed an alliance to rebel together. For example, the Assyrian king Sennacherib faced rebellions after his accession to the throne, including an alliance involving Hezekiah, king of Judah, and Merodach-Baladan of Babylonia. Esarhaddon forced vassal kings to swear allegiance to his son, Assurbanipal, and promise not to rebel when Assurbanipal succeeded him.
Psalm 2 celebrates the coronation of a new king in Israel. It warns all the kings of the earth, who ideally are subordinate to Yahweh’s king in Israel, not to rebel against him. If such action is folly when plotted against a king such as Sennacherib, how much more foolish is rebellion against the king of David’s line who represents the God of all the earth?
Observations: the lesser kings joint together and tried to rebel against the Lord. Look at the response of God in v.4-5
2:4 The one enthroned in heaven laughs in disgust;
the Lord taunts them.
2:5 Then he angrily speaks to them
and terrifies them in his rage, saying
Have you ever image God laughs at you in disgust? Or He was angry and rage against you? He is angry because the nations do not honor His Son as the One who will rule over the earth.
The Son is also powerful and angry against those who rebel.
2:9 You will break them with an iron scepter;
you will smash them like a potter’s jar!’ ”
2:10 So now, you kings, do what is wise;
you rulers of the earth, submit to correction!
2:11 Serve the LORD in fear!
Repent in terror!
There is only 1 verse that in the whole psalm that gives us the solution, i.e.
v.12, "How blessed are all who take shelter in him! "
NET, Taking shelter” in the Lord is an idiom for seeking his protection. Seeking his protection presupposes and even demonstrates the subject’s loyalty to the Lord. In the psalms those who “take shelter” in the Lord are contrasted with the wicked and equated with those who love, fear, and serve the Lord
Reflection: We are like the lesser kings and fight against God for the control of our life. We may rebel as a nation, as a society against God. Or, we do it in the personal level and want to take control of our lives and not let God to lead us. Remember God laugh in disgust v.4?
In Jesus' parable in Matthew, the farmers did not want to pay the rent to the landlord and killed his son. The chief priests and the elders of Israel rebelled against Jesus because He is the Son of God. One day, Jesus will come back and smash them like a potter jar. In the second coming of Jesus God will have Jesus becomes the King of all nations. Nations will rebel and we will see the full unfolding of Ps 2.
Before that, let us learn from Ps 2 and submit to Him. Serve Him in fear v.10-11
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