Bible Commentaries
Psalms 2

Bell's Commentary on the BibleBell's Commentary

Verses 1-12

  1. Intro: Hearing Voices
    1. This world is getting so noisy, so many voices vie for attention. The result? we start listening to wrong instructions. It’s important that we have discernment in a very noisy world, littered with everything from political propaganda to assaulting advertisements.
      1. God is in control & one day bring all these voices, governments, & earthly powers into submission.
    2. Ps: This outline from unashamedly stolen from Warren Wiersbe Psalms :)
  2. THE VOICE OF THE NATIONS (1-3) the voice of defiance
    1. It’s interesting…
      1. God formed the nations (Gen.10:5 babel) From these the coastland peoples of the Gentiles were separated into their lands, everyone according to his language, according to their families, into their nations.
      2. God provided for the nations (Acts.14:16,17) In the past he permitted all the nations to go their own ways, but he never left them without evidence of himself and his goodness. For instance, he sends you rain and good crops and gives you food and joyful hearts.
      3. God determined the nations histories (Acts 17:26) From one man(Adam) he created all the nations throughout the whole earth. He decided beforehand when they should rise and fall, and he determined their boundaries.
    2. So, why do the nations rebel? They seek freedom w/o God.
      1. P.T. Forsythe said, “The purpose of life is not find your freedom. The purpose of life is to find your master.”
      2. ​​​​​​​Authority demands submission. Mt.11:29 Take My yoke upon you & learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
    3. The world is a mess morally, intellectually, socially, politically, economically and ecologically because it has defied God.
      1. History shows that the Gentile nations have rejected God’s people, God’s Word, God’s Christ.
      2. They are like little proud Nebuchadnezzar’s, who want their own way & refuse to admit that God rules in the affairs of men.
      3. This fulfillment will ultimately climax as “the kings of the earth” unite to fight against God.
        1. Rev.19:19 And I saw the beast, the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against Him who sat on the horse and against His army.
    4. The world is trying to drown out the truth. It’s voice of defiance is clear.
      1. Over the noise of the Nations, listen for the assuring voice of God.
      2. Take inventory of the voices you are listening to.
  3. THE VOICE OF THE FATHER (4-6) the voice of derision
    1. ​​​​​​​What is God laughing yet? He’s laughing at puny little kings and rulers, who have united to shake their fists at His throne and tell him they don’t want him to rule over them. (2,3)
      1. God laughs because the Kingdom is secure. The king has been established. Jesus is God’s King.
  4. THE VOICE OF THE SON (7-9) the voice of declaration
    1. ​​​​​​​We are told in Acts 13:30-33 this vs.7 was quoted/speaking about Jesus’ resurrection.
    2. Jesus runs the universe by decree not by democracy. (see 7a)
      1. God’s decrees will succeed. Puny foolish men w/their godless living will not eradicate or hinder His decrees.
      2. God decrees that Jesus Christ is His Son.
      3. God decrees that He will break the rebellious nations w/a rod of iron.
      4. God’s decrees will succeed...as He has already given the nations to His Son.
        1. So the devil then was just offering them early to Jesus in the wilderness...the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. And he said to Him, All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me. Mt.4:8,9
    3. Ask of Me - How was Jesus to ask?
      1. ​​​​​​​While He was on earth, He prayed like one of us. He prayed alone. He prayed with His disciples. He prayed in the wilderness, in the Garden, and on the cross. He continues to pray in heaven today. And whenever individuals, pastors, churches pray for the success of His cause, He is asking.
        1. Whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you. Jn.16:23
      2. *Join with the Son...adopt a country (you picked up at communion table). Pray for that nation. Missionaries to be sent there. Word of God in their language/ distributed. Freedoms there. Teachings there. God’s love shown there. Salvation brought there.
  5. THE VOICE OF THE SPIRIT (10-12) the voice of decision
    1. ​​​​​​​Many depend on philosophy, psychology & history...these disciplines are helpful, but Christians must rely first & foremost on the Spirit of God to reveal truth. [I’m not putting down these disciplines]
    2. The closing 3 verses are an appeal from the spirit to the sons of men to submit themselves now to Jesus Christ. The spirit appeals to every area of personality: the mind, the heart, the will.
      1. ​​​​​​​The Mind(10) be wise...be instructed- see Ps.1a,2 the counsel of the ungodly
      2. The Heart (11) serve the Lord - serve the Lord not sin. Instead of rebelling & resisting, bow to Christ & serve Him.
        1. In searching for liberty, the rebellious crowd practices anarchy, for freedom without authority is anarchy. www [anarchia: an = w/o - arkhos = chief/ruler]
        2. But the way to real freedom is by submission & not by rebellion.
          1. To throw off God’s will is to invite bondage & destruction.
      3. The Will (12) kiss the Son - pay homage to Him. Show loving surrender to Him
    3. A kiss can mean many things:
      1. A kiss speaks of Reconciliation(to bring together)Jacob/Esau long estranged
        1. God has been reconciled to the world by the cross of Christ [Righteousness and peace have kissed at the cross. Ps.85:10] S.oS.1:2 Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth.
      2. A kiss speaks of Allegiance & Honor- kiss the feet of a king/Eastern custom
        1. It can refer to the solemn token or sign of honor which subjects were accustomed to yield to their sovereigns.
      3. A kiss speaks of Worship - eg. baal
        1. 1 Kings 19:18 Yet I have reserved seven thousand in Israel, all whose knees have not bowed to Baal, & every mouth that has not kissed him.
        2. Hos.13:1b,2 the people of Ephraim sinned by worshiping Baal and thus sealed their destruction. Now they continue to sin by making silver idols, images shaped skillfully with human hands. “Sacrifice to these,” they cry, “and kiss the calf idols!”
      4. Kiss the Son - the sinful woman in Lk.7 (women of the night)
        1. Lk.7:44-48 (to Simon) Look at this woman kneeling here. When I entered your home, you didn’t offer me water to wash the dust from my feet, but she has washed them with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You didn’t greet me with a kiss, but from the time I first came in, she has not stopped kissing my feet. You neglected the courtesy of olive oil to anoint my head, but she has anointed my feet with rare perfume. I tell you, her sins - and they are many - have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love. Then Jesus said to the woman, Your sins are forgiven.
      5. Have you been reconciled to Jesus? Haver you kissed Him? Embrace Him, depend upon Him.
    4. Ps.1 opened w/a beatitude, Ps.2 closes w/one. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him. (nlt) But what joy for all who take refuge in him. (msg) But if you make a run for God - you won’t regret it.
    5. So, are you listening to the right voices? Again the world is trying to drown out the truth. It’s voice of defiance is clear.
      1. Over the noise of the Nations, listen for the assuring voice of God. And take inventory of the voices you are listening to.
    6. (Msg) Why the big noise, nations? Why the mean plots, peoples? Earth-leaders push for position, Demagogues and delegates meet for summit talks, The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers: “Let’s get free of God! Cast loose from Messiah!” Heaven-throned God breaks out laughing. At first he’s amused at their presumption; Then he gets good and angry. Furiously, he shuts them up: “Don’t you know there’s a King in Zion? A coronation banquet Is spread for him on the holy summit.”
    7. Let me tell you what God said next. He said, “You’re my son, And today is your birthday. What do you want? Name it: Nations as a present? continents as a prize? You can command them all to dance for you, Or throw them out with tomorrow’s trash.”
    8. So, rebel-kings, use your heads; Upstart-judges, learn your lesson: Worship God in adoring embrace, Celebrate in trembling awe. Kiss Messiah! Your very lives are in danger, you know; His anger is about to explode, But if you make a run for God - you won’t regret it!
Bibliographical Information
Bell, Brian. "Commentary on Psalms 2". "Bell's Commentary". https://studylight.org/commentaries/eng/cbb/psalms-2.html. 2017.