Psalm 2: interpretation and meaning

Do you know Psalm 2? See below the power and importance of these words and understand the message that the Bible brings in the words of David.

The words of psalm 2

Psalm 2 speaks about the glorious Kingdom of God. Although the author of the Hebrew text is unknown, in the New Testament the apostles attributed it to David (Acts 4: 24-26).

¹ Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
² The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the Lord and against his anointed, saying,
³ “Let us break their chains
and throw off their shackles.”

⁴ The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord scoffs at them.
⁵ He rebukes them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
⁶ “I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.”

⁷ I will proclaim the Lord’s decree:

He said to me, “You are my son;
today I have become your father.
⁸ Ask me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance,
the ends of the earth your possession.
⁹ You will break them with a rod of iron;
you will dash them to pieces like pottery.”

¹⁰ Therefore, you kings, be wise;
be warned, you rulers of the earth.
¹¹ Serve the Lord with fear
and celebrate his rule with trembling.
¹² Kiss his son, or he will be angry
and your way will lead to your destruction,
for his wrath can flare up in a moment.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.

Interpretation of Psalm 2

For the interpretation of this Psalm, we will divide it into 4 parts:

• Description of the plans of the wicked (verses 1-3)
• Mocking laughter of the heavenly Father (verses 4-6)
• Declaration by the Son of the decree of the Father (verses 7-9)
• Spirit guidance to all kings to obey the Son (verses 10-12).

Let’s interpret the verses:

Verse 1

Initially, Bible scholars said that these “people” referred to the nations that faced David and his successors. However, it is now known that the “Davidic kings” were only shadows of the true king to come, Jesus Christ. Therefore, the attack mentioned in Psalm 2 is Jesus and the Divine Kingdom. It is the attack of the Cross, the blasphemy attack of those who resisted the gospel and ignored the kingdom of the heavens.

Verse 2

The Lord is God, the Anointed One is Jesus. The anointed word gives a sense of nobility to Christ, for only kings were anointed. In the passage, the kings of the earth tried to oppose Jesus, the King of all the Universe.

Verse 3

The breaking of the chains refers to the end-time scene described in detail in the New Testament (Rev. 19: 11-21). The kings of the earth go against Jesus with words of rebellion.

Verses 4 and 5

It is pathetic and unreasonable to rebel against God, the Almighty. God is the King of the Universe and therefore mocks the kings of the earth. Who are the kings of the earth compared to God? No one.

Verse 6

David and his heirs received from God the promise that they would reign over the Israelites. Zion, spoken in the text, is another name for Jerusalem. The place of Zion was holy because God said so. This is where Abraham tied up his son Isaac and where the sacred temple where the Savior died would also be built.

Verses 7 and 8

Every time a legitimate son of David was crowned as the successor of his father in Jerusalem, these words were uttered. Then the new king was adopted by God as his son. This adoption was announced in a solemn ceremony of coronation and worship of God. In the New Testament, Jesus declares himself to be the King, as the anointed, the true Christ, the Son of the Father.

Verse 9

The reign of Jesus Christ would be absolute, inevitable and undeniable. There would be no space or possibilities for rebellion.

Verses 10 and 11

The request of prudence is for the kings of the earth to submit themselves to the Anointed, to the Son of God. He tells them to rejoice, but with fear. For only with fear would they have reverence, adoration, and respect due to the Most Holy God. Only then could true joy come.

Verse 12

With these words, one perceives the real intention of showing the people the only correct option to be saved: to love the Anointed One. God gives his blessing to those who respect his will and the Christ; whoever refuses to obey will suffer divine wrath.

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