Structure of Psalm:
(EBC) Book I: Psalms 1–41; Book II: Psalms 42–72; Book III: Psalms 73–89; Book IV: Psalms 90–106; and Book V: Psalms 107–150.
Each division ends with a doxological refrain (cf. 41:13; 72:18–19; 89:52; 106:48; 150).
Outline:
(EBC) BOOK I: Psalms 1–41
Psalm 1: God’s Blessing on the Godly
Appendix: The Ways of Wisdom and Folly
Psalm 2: The Messianic King (Even though God bless the godly, but understand what kind of world we are living now).
Overview
(NET) 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.
1-6
Ob and In:
1. Repeated: nations rebels, countries devising plots, the kings united, the rulers collaborate against the LORD and His anointed king...
The Lord said, "I myself have installed my king..."
(NET) the psalmist expresses his outrage that the nations would have the audacity to rebel against God and his chosen king.
v.1-3 What is the relationship between the nations and the LORD and his anointed king?
2. The emotion of God in respond to the united human armies: laughs in disgust, taunts. And He spoke to them angrily and terrified them in His rage. v.4-5
It was immovable for His will to install His king, the anointed King, the One who put shakels and ropes over the human kings. v.6
(BKC) When God establishes His king, He also subjugates those who oppose His king. It was true with David; it will also be true at the end of the age with David’s greater Descendant, Jesus Christ.
Reflection: Who are we that we think by the collective efforts we, as human, can fight against God? What make us have their delusion? Did that delusion affect me in anyway that I will rely on my own mind, and power? My little "success?"
7-12
Ob and In:
1. In Psalm 2, first the author spoke in v.1-4, then the Lord spoke to the opposing ruler v.5-6, then the King said what the LORD said to Him and about Him v.7-8, and what He will do v.9. Then the author exhorted the rulers what to do v.10-12.
v.7 The king says, “I will announce the LORD’S decree. He said to me:
Why do the King quoted from the LORD? Not just what the LORD said as in v.5-6? I think the King wanted to emphasize that His authority came from the LORD and therefore it was supreme and above all the earth. It would came true.
Reflection: If the judgment is for sure then what should I do? There is no place to rebel. Those who continue to resist is unwise v.10. Pray that I will be wise and submit to correction. Repent.
2. Repeated words
a. Solemn:
The LORD's decree (BDB) enactment, decree, ordinance of either God or man
You are my son (NET) The Davidic king was viewed as God’s “son” (see 2 Sam 7:14; Ps 89:26–27). The idiom reflects ancient Near Eastern adoption language associated with covenants of grant, by which a lord would reward a faithful subject by elevating him to special status, referred to as “sonship.” Like a son, the faithful subject received an “inheritance,” viewed as an unconditional, eternal gift. Such gifts usually took the form of land and/or an enduring dynasty
v.8 I will give you the nations as your inheritance, the ends of the earth as your personal property (NET) The LORD promises the Davidic king universal dominion.
b. Resistance:
break them with an iron scepter (BDB) of evildoers
smash them like a potter’s jar (NET) Before the Davidic king’s awesome power, the rebellious nations are like fragile pottery. (BKC) The imagery is probably drawn from Egyptian execration customs in which the Pharaoh used his scepter to smash votive jars (pottery) that represented rebellious cities or nations
c. Repent:
submit to correction
Serve the LORD in fear! (NET) submitting to the Lord’s sovereignty as expressed through the rule of the Davidic king. Such “service” would involve maintaining allegiance to the Davidic king by paying tribute on a regular basis.
Repent in terror!
12 Give sincere homage! (NET) The exhortation in v. 12a advocates a genuine expression of allegiance and warns against insincerity. When swearing allegiance, vassal kings would sometimes do so insincerely, with the intent of rebelling when the time was right.
d. Timely response is required; v.10 now...do what is wise, v.12 His anger quickly ignites
Summary and reflection: God is solemn in making Jesus the King and the authority ruling over the whole earth is given to Him. The resistance of such fact would be punished and repentance with sincerity right the way is a must if you are wise.
What have I not submit to Jesus to rule over? What kind of resistance do I show? Am I wise and repent now? How can I live in a world that other people are not submissive to Jesus' authority? How can I help other to be wise?
Girls' meeting:
Psalm 22:1-10
What is the emotion of the author in v.1-2?
What is the key word to tell you that v.3 is a mood change?
God is holy=distinct from all the false gods of the pagans in that He is alive and acts.
What does v.3b about? God's work among Israel and the responses He received from them.
Where can you find the reason why did God get those praises from Israel? v.4-5
We have already said the mood change from v.3, but what is the mood change? From the psalmist’s perspective it seems that God has abandoned him, for he fails to answer his cry for help. But then, he recalled that when the ancestor cried out and got help from God. That added his pain.One might venture to say that he feels a tension in his experience with God (“my God,” three times) and in God’s dealings with Israel. His God has abandoned him and is the object of questions (vv. 1–2), whereas God has saved his people and is the object of their praise (vv. 3–5).
When did the emotion of the author change again to positive side? v.9-10
When did those facts happen in the author's life?
Why did they help the author to have mood change? Despite the enemies’ taunts, the psalmist is certain of his relationship with God, which began from the time of his birth (from the time I came out of my mother’s womb).
In what sense a person will be like the author?
1. when we are waiting for help or answering of prayer but we did not get the answer or help
2. when we are frustrated we are not being helped
3. when we look at others and see how God has helped them, we are more frustrated
4. when we recalled what God has done in our lives we can trust God again.
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