Psalm 1 introduces the Psalter by stressing that the “blessed” person (Psalm 1:1) is the one who delights in God’s way and soaks himself or herself in God’s Word.
Psalm 2 continues that introduction, stressing that the “blessed” person is the one who fears God and trusts in him (Psalm 2:11-12).
It gets off to a rocky start, beginning as it does “with the turmoil of the nations.”
The ending is peaceful – “the blessing of those who trust in the Lord.” Psalm 2 points us to God’s mission – salvation for the nations - and how it is carried out. God’s mission centers on his Son. No surprise then, that Psalm 2 is one of the most quoted Psalms in the New Testament, where Jesus is revealed as that Son.
When the people of God sing Psalm 2, they remind themselves of how God made David and his descendants to be kings in order to enable them to fulfill the very purpose for which Abraham was called (i.e. to bring blessing to all nations) (ESV Study Bible.)
The Psalm begins with questions: Why do the nations rage against the Lord and his anointed? In light of the New Testament, Why is Jesus, the anointed one, so hated?
The response given should encourage us who follow Jesus. God’s mission, salvation to the nations – will succeed. God looks down at efforts to oppose his mission and simply laughs. Those feeble efforts to stop what he is doing will amount to nothing. He is secure in his majesty.
The deed is already done. God has made his decree – his Son will rule the nations. Nothing can change that. The only wise response is to bow, to serve, to submit. Kiss the Son in submission. Take refuge in him alone. This is the only way to blessing.
Could it be that when we get into a fret and stew about evangelism and spiritual warfare that we don’t have enough of a Psalm 2 perspective. God knows what he is doing. He sits on the throne. His mission will prevail. Yes, it’s no accident this Psalm was a favorite of the first followers of Jesus.
