The Son of God and the Nations Psalm 2

Many think that Psalm 2 was a psalm that was read at the coronation of every son of David that became king over Judea. Certainly parts of it—especially the middle section—strongly affirms that God has established the king of Judea upon his throne in Jerusalem and God is protecting that kingship. But there is a story in this Psalm that communicates more than just an affirmation of Davidic rule—it is a direct challenge to any nation or authority that stands against the Davidic King.

The Rebellion of the Nations
Why do the unbelieving nations rise up in insurrection?
And the people plot in vain?
Why do the kings of the earth take up their positions
And the rulers conspire together
Against Yahweh and against His Messiah?
"Let us break their bands apart
And cast their thick cords from us"
The Enthroned One in heaven laughs
Yahweh mocks them.
Then He speaks to them in anger
And terrifies them in fury:
"It is I who have anointed my King
On Zion, My holy mountain."

Gentiles and God
God has a special connection to his people, Israel, through his special king, the Messiah. This psalm has a focus on how other nations and peoples relate to God through his chosen king and people. Who are these peoples? They are all of the nations that exist outside of God’s people. Some of these nations are friendly to God’s people, but many of them are in opposition. They are jealous of the power and blessing of the kingdom of God. They are upset at the ways in which they are controlled by God’s people. And so they decide to do what nations do best—make war. If they can’t get what they want, they will fight for it. So God’s people are attacked by the other nations surrounding it, wanting its blessing, its power, its control. Most of all, the Gentile nations don’t want to feel as if they are being controlled by God or by God’s people. If they feel controlled, they will rebel against God and His ways and determine to strive against it, in anyway they can.

God’s Chosen One
I will declare Yahweh's decree.
He said to Me: "You are my Son,
Today I have begotten You.
Ask it of me, and I will grant the nations as your inheritance
The ends of the earth as your possession
You shall smash them with an iron rod
You shall shatter them like earthenware."

Son of David/son of God/Messiah
God’s revelation, however, is that all of His power—the whole earth and the angelic powers—are behind his chosen one. But who is this chosen one? God calls him his Messiah—which means the one who was anointed with oil. Who was anointed with oil? Well, those who were chosen by God for a particular office. It could be the king of God’s people, the priest of God’s people or, sometimes, a prophet to God’s people.
But this Messiah is also called “son” by God. So who is God’s son? In the Hebrew Scriptures, the one who is called God’s son is a king in the Davidic line. God promised David that of his sons, none would be lacking to sit on a throne—he would always have a son reigning. But God also said something amazing—that David’s son who was reigning would be called “son” by God, and thus would rule with God’s authority (II Samuel 7:12-16). This psalm, which was not written by David, but is about David’s line, is God’s speech to the kings of David’s line, to whom he says, “You are my son.”
He also promises this Davidic king that he would control the nations of all the earth. That he wouldn’t be under the nations around him, but the nations would submit themselves to him. If they argue or rebel against the king, then God would give him permission to attack and demolish them.

Where is Jesus connected with this Psalm?
But it is not enough to just say that the son, here, is any Davidic king. Originally, this is what it meant. But there was a period of more than 200 years in which a Davidic king was not ruling in any way. And after this time, it was revealed that God spoke this very line from Psalm 2 to Jesus, the Nazarene: “You are my beloved Son.” (Mark 1:9-11) What was God saying?
He was not saying that Jesus was unified with God, otherwise he would have used a different passage. Rather, he was proclaiming to all the spirit world that Jesus was the king of Jerusalem in the line of David. How is this possible, given that Jesus was from Nazareth, in Galilee, not near Jerusalem? First of all, Jesus is of the line of David, adopted by Joseph, a descendent of David. Secondly, Jesus was actually born in Bethlehem, the city of David, although as a child his parents moved to Nazareth and Jesus grew up in Galilee.
So who is Jesus? According to God’s revelation, he is the king of Jerusalem, the Messiah, the ruler of the line of David.

Responding Respectfully
So now, O kings, be wise;
Be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve Yahweh in awe
And rejoice with trembling.
Do homage to the Son
Lest God becomes angry and you perish in the way.
For His wrath flares in an instant.
How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!

Responding To Messiah’s Rule
This final part of the psalm is showing how the Gentile nations should respond to the Messiah of God, the king of Jerusalem. Given the fact that God is completely behind his chosen king, the nations of the world would be wise to not rebel against the king of God. The kings need to remember that this king has all the power of God behind him. If God gives a Gentile nation to the Messiah, then the nation should best honor the Messiah. Why is this? Because God has the authority of all the world. To fear the Lord is not just to respect Him, but it is to remember that God has great power and can destroy and kill as He pleases (Matthew 10:28; Deuteronomy 5:24-29). God has great power, and so all should obey Him, even if they don’t like it. This is the warning against all Gentiles who rebel against God: honor God’s chosen or God’s wrath will come upon you.

What About Us?
But this is the same warning given to us. We, on the earth, are all outside of God’s people, not a part of the Israel of promise, unless we are a part of Jesus. Jesus, according to God, is the chosen ruler, the Lord of all the earth, and God has given all nations to his hands. Whether one is Jew or Gentile, we are all under God’s wrath unless we honor and obey the Son. We need to remember God’s power and tremble. We need to worship the Son and give him the respect and obedience He deserves. Only in this way, will we be delivered from God’s wrath.