Psalms
Chapter 2
The Lord and His Messiah
Why do the nations conspire? Why do the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth brace themselves and the rulers, together, take their stand against the Lord and his anointed.
They say, “Let us break their bonds!Let us cast away their chains!”
The One enthroned in heaven laughs;the Lord looks at them in derision.
Then in anger, he speaks to them,terrifying them in the fury of his wrath:
“Behold the king I have installed,in Zion, upon my holy hill!”
I will proclaim the decree of the Lord.He said to me: “You are my son. This day I have begotten you.
Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance; the ends of the earth, for your possession.
You shall rule them with an iron scepter and shatter them as a potter’s vase.”
Now, therefore, learn wisdom, O kings;be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear and fall at his feet; lest he be angry, and you perish when his anger suddenly flares. Blessed are all who take refuge in him!
Commentaries
2
The temple and palace stood side by side on Zion. God’s arm supported the scepter of the anointed Davidic king, his ‘Christ.’ On this same hill, our Lord declared himself both Temple and King—shrine of the Godhead and ruler of the world. The earliest Church, therefore, drew upon our psalm: ‘Jesus is the victorious anointed of David’s line’ (Acts 4:25ff); he rules ‘with an iron rod… and on his armor is written King of kings’ (Rev 19:15-16). The victory is not achieved by this world’s kings (by Herod Antipas and Pilate), nor by the ‘princes’ or leaders of Israel, but by the one they crucified (Acts 4:26-27), who was initially proclaimed: “You are my Son. This day I have begotten you” (Mt 3:17; Mt 17:5 and Lk 3:22). The persecution of Christians and the passion of Christ are the same (Acts 4:29), and the victory of resurrection is equally guaranteed. On Christian lips, our psalm becomes a song of defiance against the spirit in the name of God and trust in our sure refuge.