Knowing The Word in Psalm 2

The Reign of the Lord's Anointed

1 Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”

4 He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. 5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 6 “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”

7 I will tell of the decree: The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. 8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9 You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.”

10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Comments

We learn about the righteous man in Psalm 1 and find out he has been given a kingdom in Psalm 2. This psalm encouraged Israel when they did not have a king that God would provide one. Verse 7 states the King is God’s begotten son, and this son will rule over all the earth and bring refuge to those who believe in him and his rule. This king, of course, is Jesus. The command to “kiss the Son” means to embrace him and to trust him. Ironically, the most infamous kiss given to Jesus was by Judas in the Garden of Gethsemane. His, however, was the kiss of betrayal, which led Judas on the road to perdition.

Prayer

Almighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

BCP, p. 236