The Son of Psalm 2

Structure

In order to better understand the beauty and meaning of the Second Psalm, it is helpful to understand its structure. To do so yields not only a better understanding of how the psalm fits together but a deeper appreciation for the psalmist's subject which, as we will see, is at the heart of every section and therefore of his whole composition. Psalm 2 is comprised of twelve verses which are divided into four stanzas of three verses apiece. Just as the timbers of a building are there not purely for themselves but to support the artistry of the edifice, this literary framework affords the psalmist (who we know from Acts 4:25 to be King David) the structure on which to drape the splendor of his subject: God's Son. The Son of God is deliberately framed in every stanza to better put him on display.

Speakers

As we look at the psalm further, we are rewarded by asking, "Whose voice are we listening to as we read?" One of the problems with being fluent in a language is that we often do not take the time to read! We don't think about reading when we read. We just do it and often miss so much of what is right under our noses. We need to slow down and ask questions of the text.

Biblical poetry begs us to be as specific as we can about who is speaking. Whereas Bible narratives give explicit cues about who is speaking to whom ("And Sarai said to Abram," "God spoke to Moses"), Hebrew poetry often leaves those distinct markers out, leaving us to search the context of the poetry more closely to identify who is talking. When it comes to Psalm 2, dividends of understanding only come after spending more time sorting through the context. But it is well worth the effort! Thankfully, there are plenty of clues so that we can confidently identify all of the voices.

Below, I have highlighted the speakers for you in each stanza. I want you to see that not only is each stanza about God's Son (in bold type) but every speaker in the psalm has something to say about him too.

Psalmist: Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,

Kings & Rulers: ”Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us."

__________

Psalmist: He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying,

Father: "As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill."

___________

Son: I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me,

Father: "You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel."

___________

Psalmist: Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. 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.

Subject

Now we are in a better position to focus on the subject of this psalm. David opens with a question meant to expose the futility of earthly leaders who resist God's sovereign rule. They not only take issue with Yahweh but with his "Anointed" as well, seeking to cast off the restraining bonds of their rule. The significance of "Anointed" cannot be overlooked here. This is the Hebrew way of saying the Christ. The devilish desire of wicked rulers is set in opposition to the Father and his Christ, therefore they plot and counsel with one another, scheming up ways to get out from under their authority.

In the second stanza, the psalmist tells us plainly how Adonai (a title expressing the Lordship of God in Hebrew), responds to these futile ploys: He laughs. His seat in the "heavens" (2:4) is obviously higher than the thrones of kings on "earth" (2:2). Not only is there laughter but there is fury. He holds them in derision. The Lord responds with words which settle the matter. "As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill" (2:6). God's kingdom and rule is mediated through his King. He has decisively made his Son the ruler of not just the heavens but the earth as well. All must submit to this King.

The voice which opens the third stanza is undoubtedly the voice of the Son himself, though he simply relays the words the Father gave him in "the decree." Here, we get to look behind the veil of eternity past and hear a Trinitarian conversation (see Psalms 40:7-8 and 110:1 as other examples)! The decree of God makes it clear that his Christ not only rules over "Zion" or Israel alone but over all the nations of the earth since the Father has gifted the "nations" to his Son as his inheritance (2:8). Therefore, Zion must be seen to be more than an earthly Jerusalem in this context. It is the heavenly city, the New Jerusalem that is from above (Heb 12:22; Gal 4:26; Rev 21:2), a Jerusalem that encompasses and incorporates all of the universe. God has placed everything under the dominion of his Son and all of God's enemies will be subjected to him (compare Psalm 110:1).

"Son" is a key description of God's king here because although David is the anointed king of Jerusalem when he writes this psalm, he writes about a King other than himself whose relationship is so near to Yahweh that he is God's own "Son" in all the fullness of what sonship implies. Like Father, like Son. So much like the Father is the Son that the Father has no reservations about sharing his kingdom with him. They already share all glory and power and authority. The Father is glorified in the glorification of his Son. The Father is exalted in the exaltation of his Son. When the Son rules, the Father rules through him. All that belongs to the Father—the nations and all who are in them, the earth and the fullness thereof—equally and rightly belongs to the Son as well.

There are a variety of perspectives about God's Son in this psalm! The structure and the speakers all help us to focus on him. What does the psalmist say about him? What do earthly kings and rulers say about God's Son? What does the Father say about his Son? We even hear the voice of the Son himself relaying to us the words of his Father. What is your perspective about God's Son? What is your relationship to him? These questions are at the heart of the psalm's final stanza and the psalmist's reason for writing. He shifts from doctrinal teaching about God (he laughs from heaven, he has placed his Son as king on Zion's hill, he has decreed an inheritance for his Son and victory over his enemies, etc.) to exhorting his readers to apply the message for themselves. Notice all of the imperatives that call for a particular response in the final stanza: "be wise," "be warned," "serve the LORD," “rejoice,” "kiss the Son."

Additionally, the final note, "Blessed are all who take refuge in him [Christ]," concludes the psalm with an evangelistic tone. This is an implicit message of welcome and invitation to Christ. Sinners, even wicked rulers and kings, are not to be dissuaded from coming to Christ. Rather, they are given a gracious and bold invitation to come to him, to run to Christ, to find safety in nothing else but Christ! May we all find refuge under the dominion of God's Anointed Son!