Exposition of Psalm 2 — A Call to Kings
The following is a sermon manuscript preached on June 16, 2024, at Providence Church in Mansfield, Ohio.
Psalm 2
Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
"Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us."
He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.
Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
And distress them in His deep displeasure:
"Yet I have set My King
On My holy hill of Zion."
"I will declare the decree:
The Lord has said to Me,
'You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'"
Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges 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,
When His wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
Introduction
Chaos reigns in modern nations. Gangs and cartels fill the streets of American cities with blood, while corrupt politicians defund the police. Many of the post-Christian nations of Europe are being filled with Muslims who institute their own legal systems in defiance against the God-ordained authority structures. In Asia, Communist tyrants rule with a heavy hand and suppress true religion. Many of the countries of the Middle East, North Africa, and South America are ruled by the anti-Christian forces of Roman Catholicism and Islam. Even the nominally Christian nations in Southern Africa still struggle with corruption and abuse of power.
There is no nation on earth that does not need to heed the call to kings of Psalm 2. How often we hear of kings, rulers, and intellectual elites denying any authority outside or over themselves! Whenever their plans are recognized and condemned, whistle-blowers are labeled conspiracy theorists, or accused of misinformation. The present powers of darkness intend to reign without question or consequence.
In the church, many suggest Christians stay in their lane, a sacred lane that must be kept separate from the secular realm. Whether intentionally or unintentionally, elite evangelicals often assist in cementing the supremacy of secular elites. But what does God think of our rebellion? He laughs at our foolishness and calls us to wisdom. Wise kings honor Christ as King and serve him with joy.
In verses 1-3, we come to our first point: The Kings' Folly.
1. The Kings' Folly (vv. 1-3).
Why do the nations rage,
And the people plot a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
And the rulers take counsel together,
Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
"Let us break Their bonds in pieces
And cast away Their cords from us."
These nations that rage are specifically the Gentile nations or the heathen nations – those nations that do not know the Lord or submit to him. In David's time, these were all the nations except Israel. In Christ's time, these nations would include even Israel.
And what is this rage? It is formal rebellion. Picture an angry crowd at the coronation of their king. Where the streets ought to be lined with admiring and cheerful masses, this crowd is defiant and rebellious. They are bent on overthrowing their king. While the masses of Israel originally loved David, as he grew older, two of his sons led rebellions against him drawing away many of the people. David was no stranger to this type of rage, and neither was Christ as he ascended Calvary's hill.
But this rebellious plot is in vain. Though the people conspire, their imaginations are empty, their plans are vanity. They will result in nothing. This was true of the rebellions against David and far truer of the plots against our Savior and King, Jesus Christ.
As we come to verse 2, we see kings gathering and rulers plotting. While David certainly faced the opposition of the kings of Philistia and a handful of other surrounding nations, it becomes far clearer at this point that one far greater than David is referenced here. Certainly, David was anointed of the Lord, but there is a far greater anointed One of whom David is but a type or shadow. This Lord's Anointed is none other than Jesus Christ!
Perhaps some will doubt my interpretation. Some might accuse me of venturing into allegory here. Call it what you will but I'm not the first to recognize this typology. Turn with me to Acts 4. As Peter and John returned from their first imprisonment for preaching Christ, they quoted from this Psalm in verses 23-31:
And being let go, they went to their own companions and reported all that the chief priests and elders had said to them. So when they heard that, they raised their voice to God with one accord and said: "Lord, You are God, who made heaven and earth and the sea, and all that is in them, who by the mouth of Your servant David have said:
'Why did the nations rage,
And the people plot vain things?
The kings of the earth took their stand,
And the rulers were gathered together
Against the Lord and against His Christ.'
"For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done. Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word, by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus."
And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
Here the apostles with one accord confess that David spoke of Christ in Psalm 2. They even directly call the Lord's Anointed, Christ. They identify the kings, rulers, and peoples as Herod, Pilate, Gentiles, and Jews. David may have written this psalm thinking he was recounting his struggles, but God intended it to speak of Christ. While we should study the historical context and finite human understanding of King David, it is the infinite knowledge and wisdom of God that ought to be our primary focus in interpreting and applying Scripture. As we continue to work through this passage, let us keep both perspectives in view while remembering David's perspective is helpful only to the degree it shows us God's perspective.
Just as men at times rebelled against David, when Christ came, Gentiles and Jews, kings and rulers, even the Devil and his demonic forces, conspired together to end the reign of King Jesus. This is in view when they conspire to break their bonds and cast away their cords. It is their goal to cast off every restraint that would bind them to obey Christ as King.
Rulers and nations know that Christ is the Lord's Anointed. They plot and scheme, and they ally themselves against him, but all their efforts are vain. They know that they are bound to serve the true King, yet they seek to rebel against him. They lead their people to war against the Lord of Hosts, yet they know they will lose this war. They know their efforts are vain, but they carry on in this folly.
The folly of kings and rulers is most vividly displayed in the efforts of the Sanhedrin to crucify Jesus Christ. In Matthew 26:3-4, the chief priests, scribes, and elders gathered at the home of the high priest, Caiaphas, to develop a plan to kill Jesus. That treacherous disciple, Judas Iscariot, agreed to betray his Lord for thirty pieces of silver. He took his opportunity on the first night of the Passover. Under the cover of darkness, he led an armed multitude to the Garden of Gethsemane to arrest Jesus.
The Jewish leaders condemned their King and accused him before the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, and King Herod. Ultimately these cowardly rulers caved to the wishes of the now raging crowds and condemned Jesus Christ, the King of kings. On the third day, the folly of kings was made clear for all to see when Christ rose from the grave!
How do these verses apply today? They provide a biblical understanding of the folly of kings in our own time. In our own time, while many nations might in some sense be Christian, including our own, none are as submitted to Christ as they ought to be. When we consider history, there have always been nations raging against the Lord. This was not a unique experience for David and Jesus. Since Adam's fall men have been conspiring against the Lord and his Anointed. Though Christ triumphed over the powers of darkness at the cross, and he continues to put down rebellion through his glorious gospel, some remnants will remain until his second coming, when he crushes that final enemy, death.
So, in this time between the comings of Christ, how should the Christian live in light of Psalm 2:1-3? Oppose the folly of our kings. Speak out against their vanity. Take no part in their fruitless rebellions against the Lord's Anointed. Pray for national repentance. In your sphere of influence, honor Christ as King, and serve him with joy. This brings us to our second point in verses 4-6:
2. The Lord's Response (vv. 4-6).
He who sits in the heavens shall laugh;
The Lord shall hold them in derision.
Then He shall speak to them in His wrath,
And distress them in His deep displeasure:
"Yet I have set My King
On My holy hill of Zion."
Our God is not intimidated by these foolish rebellions of men. Whether in David's day, in Christ's time, or our own, when kings and nations rage against him, he finds their efforts puny, even comedic. He sits in the heavens and laughs. They cannot overthrow him, but he certainly can overthrow them.
But God is not merely amused. He holds these rebels in derision. He mocks and ridicules them. Then he speaks to them, not in delight or amusement, but in wrath and anger. He distresses or terrifies them in his deep displeasure, his fierce anger. When God laughs at the folly of kings, his fierce anger is not far behind!
God's response is completed in verse six. He declares that Christ is enthroned on Zion's holy hill. Yes, God set David on Zion's holy hill for a time. Yes, David's sons reigned in this earthly city for many generations. But each of their reigns proved to be temporary. Jerusalem itself proved to be temporary. It was overrun by Babylon, Greece, and Rome. But God's plan of setting a king on Zion's holy hill was not over. It was just beginning!
David and his earthly sons were but types and shadows of the King of kings! The grandeur and glories of the earthly Jerusalem were but types and shadows of the new Jerusalem coming down from above! And God has kept his promises. Jesus Christ, great David's greater Son, is enthroned on Zion's holy hill today! And this heavenly Zion can never be destroyed by earthly rebels. It is far beyond their reach. As Paul declares in 1 Corinthians 15, Christ will reign until he puts all his enemies under his feet. As long as we see enemies of Christ plotting against him in this world, we may be certain that God, the Father has set Christ as King on Zion's holy hill, and he is still at work! Every king and every nation must fall before him.
One of the greatest stories of the Lord responding to the folly of kings takes place shortly after the flood in Genesis chapter 11. God instructed Noah and his sons to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. Instead, they chose to settle in one place and build a tower to reach heaven. If ever the folly of kings and the rebellion of nations was displayed, it was here. And God responded. He confused their languages so they could not communicate with one another. Their plots failed, as they always will when kings and nations make war against Christ the King.
Brothers and sisters, take comfort in the certainty of Christ's victory and His present reign. No king or ruler of this earth can thwart his plans, so we need not fear their foolish attempts. Yes, they may plan their one-world order, but it will crumble to the dust before him. Yes, they may pursue immortality through science, but they will die like every other man ever has. Yes, they may attempt to destroy the earth through bioengineering and gene manipulation, but the Lord will destroy them.
Jesus Christ our King sits on Zion's holy hill, far beyond the reach of the plots and schemes of men. He will reign until he has defeated every enemy. He is victorious and will be victorious. So when God sits in the heavens and laughs at the foolishness of men, we may laugh with him. When he lays his enemies in the dust, we may rejoice in him. And when he completes his great work, our temporary earthly trials will turn to eternal joy in his presence. That will be a glorious day! Now we come to our third point in verses 7-9:
3. The Lord's Decree (vv. 7-9).
"I will declare the decree:
The Lord has said to Me,
'You are My Son,
Today I have begotten You.
Ask of Me, and I will give You
The nations for Your inheritance,
And the ends of the earth for Your possession.
You shall break them with a rod of iron;
You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.'"
David now proclaims the decree of the Lord in response to the raging of the nations. But even as the Lord declared David his son, begotten that day by faith, David stood as a type of the far greater Son, Jesus Christ, begotten before the dawn of creation. David was given a small kingdom for a single lifetime, but the Father promises to give Christ, the greater Son, the nations for his inheritance, and the ends of the earth for his possession. Whatever promises David received are fulfilled in his far greater Son, Jesus Christ!
These verses are quoted or alluded to in the New Testament several times. To better understand the intent and right interpretation of them, we should consider those references. In Hebrews 1:5, God applies this declaration of Sonship as a superior rank to that of the angels. While David might be called a son of God by faith in the promise and by virtue of his royal position as a king over God's people, Christ fulfills this position in a fullness David never could. Indeed, Christ, as the only begotten Son of God, is infinitely superior to angels and all other created beings. Yes, this even includes all foolish kings and raging nations of this world.
In Acts 13:33, Paul, addressing the gathered Jews of Antioch in Pisidia, applies verse 7 to Jesus Christ. Unlike David, who began to be a son of God by faith, Christ was the eternally begotten Son of God. But Christ was revealed to be the only begotten Son of God on that day, in that specific time.
Christ was revealed to be the Son of God several times, but one clear example would be his baptism in the Jordan River. After John baptized Jesus, we read in Matthew 3:16-17:
When He had been baptized, Jesus came up immediately from the water; and behold, the heavens were opened to Him, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting upon Him. And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."
Clearly, the Father did declare Jesus to be his Son, his beloved Son in whom he is well pleased!
Though David asked and received an inheritance through the fall of several surrounding nations, Christ asks and receives every nation, even to the ends of the earth. While some suppose that Christ has forgotten to ask for the nations, or that he is waiting until some point in the future, history does not support their theories. Paul declares the increasing glory of Christ in Philippians 2:9-11:
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
The exaltation of Christ took place in his death, resurrection, and ascension. Yes, we should expect it to take time for the nations to bow in worship, but they certainly will bow. Christ will extend his kingdom to the ends of the earth through the preaching of his gospel! The day will come when every knee bows and every tongue confesses Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. Our Savior and King will receive his inheritance!
But what about those kings and nations that resist this call? Resistance will be futile. The nation or king who refuses to bow in worship will be broken with his rod of iron and dashed to pieces like a potter's vessel. History demonstrates the truth of verse 9. Many great kings and rulers have raised themselves against our great King, but every one of them has been dashed to pieces in due time. What became of that great Roman emperor Nero? What of Ivan the Terrible? What of Bloody Mary, Queen of the Scots? What of Napoleon the Great? What of Josef Stalin? What of Adolf Hitler? They are all dead, dashed to pieces like fragile pottery, broken by the iron rod of the just and holy wrath of God! But Christ lives and reigns from Zion's holy hill!
There is no better picture of Christ's triumph in history than his appearance as the white horse rider of Revelation 6:2:
And I looked, and behold, a white horse. He who sat on it had a bow; and a crown was given to him, and he went out conquering and to conquer.
John saw Jesus both conquering, in the present, and riding onwards to conquer with finality in the future. Despite many setbacks and failures, church history clearly demonstrates that Christ is advancing his Gospel conquest to the ends of the earth. Every knee will one day bow before our Savior and King!
The present reign of Christ ought to bear great fruit in our lives. When the nations rage, God's people may rest in his decree that Christ will certainly claim his inheritance. When our nation rages against the Lord and his Anointed, may we remember that this rebellion will not last. When the Supreme Courts of our land issue judgments in defiance of our Supreme King, may we remember that their rebellion will be dashed to pieces like fragile pottery. When our intellectual elites attempt to disprove the existence of God and erase every trace of him from our culture, may we remember that they themselves will be erased from the earth, but Christ will continue to advance. God will cast down every foolish king in his own time and way. Righteous rulers, however, will honor Christ as King and serve him with joy!
So far, in our passage this morning, we have seen the folly of kings. We have seen how the Lord responds to this foolishness and his holy decree. Now we come to our fourth point in verses 10-12:
4. The Kings' Duty (vv. 10-12).
Now therefore, be wise, O kings;
Be instructed, you judges 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,
When His wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
David now calls kings to wisdom. This is a call to learn wisdom, to gain understanding, and to practice prudence. Serving the Lord is not merely right, it is wise. When David calls judges to be instructed, it is a call to be forewarned, to understand the consequences of their decisions. This fear that they ought to exhibit in their service to the Lord is not merely fear in the way we usually think of it but, rather, a holy reverence for One far superior. He calls them to rejoice in trembling. This trembling is an involuntary response you may experience because of something terrifying or glorious beyond human comprehension. But David calls for this trembling as a result of rejoicing. The service of wise kings brings them abundant, overflowing joy! This is a joy so great that the human body cannot maintain its usual demeanor. This is the type of trembling a bride and groom might feel when they take each other's hands in the wedding ceremony. Such is the overwhelming joy in the service of our great King!
Finally, David concludes with two paths kings and people may walk in verse 12. He calls all kings and nations to kiss the Son. Those who refuse will perish. Those who submit will be blessed. Only in a limited sense can this final verse refer to David. Kissing can be a symbol of honor to a king, but it can also be a sign of worship to a god. In the former sense, Samuel kissed Saul in 1 Samuel 10:1, as a sign of respect for God's calling him to be king over Israel. But in the latter sense, the Lord encouraged Elijah in 1 Kings 19:18, telling him that there remained 7,000 faithful men in Israel, men who had not bowed to Baal or kissed him.
In David's time, a king might be appeased by such a display of reverence and submission, but only temporarily. Earthly kings are temperamental and temporary. Their emotions may change quickly, and their reigns are for but a few years. But the man who kisses Christ, who comes to him in submission and reverence, submits to a far greater King. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. When he sets his love on a man, he never removes it. And his reign is eternal! There is no better king than our King Jesus!
While David was prone to irrational outbursts of anger, our King is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness. But do not test him! Though his anger comes slowly, it will surely come upon those who refuse to submit to him, and it will fuel the eternal fires of hell. When God's wrath is kindled, sinners perish in the way. We see this most clearly in the case of kings and rulers who plot against the Lord and face death and God's wrath earlier than would seem ordinary.
But there is another path; the most wicked kings and nations may repent and place their trust in our good and gracious King Jesus. In Christ, they will find heavenly, eternal blessings, but often their repentance leads to earthly blessings as well.
One of the most stunning illustrations of these verses is recorded in the book of Jonah. As we studied through that book a few months ago, we learned how Jonah proclaimed God's wrath against the wicked ways of Nineveh. Unlike David, we have no evidence that Jonah even encouraged the Ninevites to repent. But they did, led by their king. The king of Nineveh chose the path of wisdom. He repented in sackcloth and ashes, called all his people to fasting and prayer, and God blessed that Gentile nation for their repentance. Consider the goodness and graciousness of our King! Truly, all those who put their trust in him are blessed!
Much like Psalm 1, here in Psalm 2, two paths are set before kings and nations. Kings and rulers must submit to Christ, or they will fall by his sword. People and nations ought to kiss the Son lest they perish. God's wrath is real, and it is terrifying. Though he is slow to anger, his anger will come upon those who continue in rebellion. So, may we all devote ourselves to serving the Lord with fear and reverence. May we know the overwhelming joy found in serving Christ our King!
There is a path of wisdom and blessedness, and that path is found in serving Christ. The other path is the one all others walk. This second path is wide and easy. It tells you that all roads lead to heaven, that you can live however you want, serve whatever gods you want, and all will be well. This is the road of folly! This is the road to destruction! Every one of us has sinned against God and broken his law. Every one of us has earned his just and holy wrath. Do not imitate those foolish kings who test the patience of God and ultimately perish in the way. Instead, repent of your sins and trust in Jesus Christ. Salvation and blessing are found in Christ alone!
This point would not be complete without one final call to kings. I very much doubt these words will ever be heard by our President or any in the halls of Congress or the courts, but just the same, it is my duty to repeat David's call to them. President Biden, Members of Congress, Justices of the Supreme Court; Governor DeWine, members of the Ohio legislature, all Ohio courts, and all local elected officials: the second Psalm applies to you. God calls you to submit to Jesus Christ, his Son. Though many of you have rebelled against him for years, and you may suppose you may escape his just and holy wrath, even now, in your latter days, God calls you to repent. Yes, our God is slow to anger. Yes, he has been very patient with you. But if you continue in rebellion, you will surely perish in the way. His wrath will be kindled against you, and you will bear the weight of your sin in the fires of hell for all eternity. None can say when your day of reckoning will come, but it will come. Repent today. There is only one way for you to escape the wrath of God, and that is through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Wise kings honor Christ as King and serve him with joy.
Conclusion
As we conclude today, remember this: raging against Christ is folly. God, the Father, is infinitely more powerful than all the gathered armies of the world, and he has given the nations to Christ, the Son. Wise kings must honor Christ as King and serve him with joy, or they will fall before his just and holy wrath. Brothers and sisters, may we all honor Christ our King. May we joyfully serve him all our days.
