Bible Commentaries
Psalms 2

Verses 1-12

Psalms 2:0

Historical Background - Psalm two is a messianic psalm. The Jews in Jesus' day believed that Jesus was going to establish an earthly kingdom immediately and reign, without the cross, the burial, the resurrection, the ascension, and the second coming experiences.

Frances J. Roberts says that Psalm Two will be fulfilled with the events that surround the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Note:

“This is the night of man’s rebellion and disobedience. Ye are beginning to see the fulfillment of the second Psalm . But in this night, the door shall be opened. It shall be opened by the Bridegroom, and they who are watching, and they who have maintained their lamps of witness shall go in. Others shall see and shall desire to enter, but shall be too late. See that thy witness not cease. Only as ye have a full supply of My Spirit can the fire of testimony be kept alive. They who hold darkened lamps could scarcely be unbelievers; for the lamp is My Word. My Word without My Spirit can produce no witness. The fire is the witness, and the fire cometh never from the Word alone, but always from the Word and the oil of the Spirit. See that ye lose not the oil. When those who possess the oil have been taken away, where shall ye go to buy? Be filed, My people, and be burning, for when I come I shall come for the living, not for the dead; for the Living Witness I shall preserve to carry the light over into the Kingdom Age.” [16]

[16] Frances J. Roberts, Come Away My Beloved (Ojai, California: King’s Farspan, Inc., 1973), 159.

Characteristics There are a number of New Testament references to Psalms 2:0:

1. Acts 4:25-26 (quotes Psalms 2:1-2) - After the priest, captains of the temple and the Sadducees had threatened Peter and John for preaching Jesus and healing the lame man.

2. Acts 13:33 (quotes Psalms 2:7) Paul was in the Antioch synagogue on his first missionary journey and said that God raised Jesus from the dead.

3. Hebrews 1:5 (quotes Psalms 2:7) - A reference to Jesus Christ and his unique Glory.

4. Hebrews 5:5 (quotes Psalms 2:7) - In reference to Christ’s priesthood.

Theme (Calling) The theme of Psalms 2:0 is the Lord calling the nations to worship the Son. The book of Psalms is written from the perspective of the passions of the heart. Thus, note how Psalms 2:0 emphasizes the passion of the heathen’s rebellion and the passion of the Lord’s response to sinners. This psalm emphasizes God’s call to the nations to repent and bow down to His Son, exalted as King over all nations. Psalms 2:0 follows Psalms 1:0, which emphasizes God’s predestination for mankind, and reveals that we have been predestined to divine blessings if we will meet the condition of desiring and obeying God’s word. Thus, Psalms 1:2 serve as an introduction to the book of Psalms in that they give us the first two phases of God’s plan of redemption for mankind, which are predestination and divine calling. if we will meet the condition of desiring and obeying God’s word

Structure (Persecutions of the Early Church and God’s Deliverance) - Acts 5:17-42 and Acts 12:1-24 record the persecution of the early Church and Herod’s judgment, which serves as an illustration of Psalms 2:1-5. In Acts 12:1-4 the heathen were raging against the Church by putting Peter in prison (Psalms 2:1-3). In Acts 12:18 Peter’s miraculous escape from prison stirred up the city and put it in derision (Psalms 2:4). In Acts 12:20-23 God vexes them by killing King Herod (Psalms 2:5). Psalms 2:7-9 describes the progress of the Gospel as it is preached to the nations and confirmed by signs and wonders from heaven. Psalms 2:10-12 offers every nation on earth a choice of blessing for receiving the Gospel or divine judgment for rejecting it.

The divine judgments upon the rebellious in Psalms 2:1-6 serve as examples for other nations in God’s call for repentance (Psalms 2:10-12), just as the judgment upon Egypt and Israel’s deliverance recorded in the book of Exodus served as a warning to the Canaanite nations.

Outline Here is a proposed outline of Psalms 2:0:

Psalms 2:1-3 - Rebellion of Nations (Psalms 2:3 - their confession)

Psalms 2:4-6 - Reaction of God (Psalms 2:6 - God’s confession)

Psalms 2:7-9 - Reply given Decree from God Son reigns

Psalms 2:10-12 - Response Needed

Psalms 2:10 - Instruction from God.

Psalms 2:11 thru 12a,b - Reverence to God

Psalms 2:12 c - Blessed with God

Psalms 2:1-3 Rebellion of the Nations Psalms 2:1-3 describes nations in rebellion against God. This rebellion is progressive in the words, “rage…imagine…set themselves…take counsel together.” For example, in Jesus ministry, there was a progression of events in the persecutions He received from the religious Jews that went from anger to murder.

“rage” The Pharisees were offended (Matthew 15:12).

Matthew 15:12, “Then came his disciples, and said unto him, Knowest thou that the Pharisees were offended, after they heard this saying?”

“imagine” The Pharisees imagined thoughts to kill Jesus (John 5:16; John 5:18; John 7:1; John 8:37; John 8:40).

John 5:16 And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day.”

“set themselves” and “take counsel together” The Pharisees determined to kill Jesus and made plans to carry out their evil counsel (Matthew 26:3-5, Mark 3:6).

Matthew 26:3-4, “Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.”

Mark 3:6, “And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.”

Psalms 2:1-3 Rebellion of the Nations Psalms 2:1-2 tells of the heathen gathering together and setting their hearts against God. This passage of Scripture is quoted in Acts 4:25-26, when the religious authorities were most outraged at the early Church. These are the kinds of people who persecuted Paul and Jesus Christ, as well as the New Testament church.

Acts 4:25-26, “Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ.”

According to Acts 4:25-28, Psalms 2:1-2 was fulfilled by the events listed in Acts 4:27:

1. By Herod, when he slew all the children under 2 years old in Bethlehem and all coasts.

Matthew 2:16-18, “Then Herod, when he saw that he was mocked of the wise men, was exceeding wroth, and sent forth, and slew all the children that were in Bethlehem, and in all the coasts thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had diligently enquired of the wise men. Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, In Rama was there a voice heard, lamentation, and weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they are not.”

2. By Pontus Pilate with the Gentiles:

Luke 23:24, “And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required.”

3. By the people of Israel:

Acts 3:13, “The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go.”

4. By the Herod of Jesus ministry:

Acts 4:27, “For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,”

Psalms 2:1 Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?

Psalms 2:1 “Why do the heathen rage” Word Study on “rage” - Holladay says the word “rage” means, “restless,” the NASB reads, “in an uproar,” the NIV reads, “rage,” the RSV reads, “conspire.” This word describes what happens when you kick over their ant bed. The ants begin to swarm, as if in a rage.

Psalms 2:1 “and the people imagine a vain thing” Comments - These rebellious imaginations are worthless meditations because no one plans against God and succeeds (Deuteronomy 28:29, Romans 1:21-25).

Deuteronomy 28:29, “And thou shalt grope at noonday, as the blind gropeth in darkness, and thou shalt not prosper in thy ways: and thou shalt be only oppressed and spoiled evermore, and no man shall save thee.”

Psalms 2:1 Comments - The rage of the heathen and their imaginations leads to conspiracies and vain plots, which are described in the next verse. When we set our heart to do what we want to do, and not what God plans for us, we are also, as believers, guilty of this. God’s wrath could be kindled against us. So, we too, should serve God fearfully (Psalms 2:11).

Psalms 2:11, “Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.”

Psalms 2:2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,

Psalms 2:2 “The kings of the earth set themselves” Comments - The NIV reads, “The kings of the earth take their stand.”

Psalms 2:2 “and against his anointed” Word Study on “anointed” - We get the English word “Messiah” from a transliteration of the Hebrew word “anointed” ( מָשִׁיחַ ) (H4899). We can see the translation of Messiah as the Anointed One in Acts 4:27, which refers to Psalms 2:1-2. The title “Christ” means “the Anointed One,” since it is the Greek equivalent of the Hebrew word “Messiah” (John 1:41).

Acts 4:27, “For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed , both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together,”

Acts 10:38, “How God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him.”

John 1:41, “He first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ .”

Scripture References Note a similar verse:

Psalms 45:7, “Thou lovest righteousness, and hatest wickedness: therefore God, thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

Psalms 2:3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

Psalms 2:3 Comments - Psalms 2:3 is a statement made by the people mentioned in Psalms 2:2, who are rising up in rebellion against God and His word as man clings to his traditions. To the spiritual minded, the truth sets you free (John 8:32), but the ungodly see the Word of God as bondage. To the carnal minded, God’s Word is a restriction, and worldliness appears to be freedom.

John 8:32, “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.”

Illustrations - The ungodly want to break God's Words and cast them away.

John 8:37, “I know that ye are Abraham's seed; but ye seek to kill me, because my word hath no place in you .”

Luke 19:14, “But his citizens hated him, and sent a message after him, saying, We will not have this man to reign over us.”

Revelation 19:19, “And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army.”

Psalms 2:4-5 God’s Response to Man’s Rebellion - In response to such persecutions by the world, God's children prayed to God. The Lord answers the prayers of His children when they cry out to Him. One illustration is the early Church responding to persecutions by praying to Him (Acts 4:24), so that the powers of Satan are broken (Acts 4:27-29). Another illustration is Jehoshaphat's prayer for deliverance in 2 Chronicles 20:1-30. A third illustration is Hezekiah's prayer for deliverance in 2 Chronicles 32:1-19.

Acts 4:24, “And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is:”

Acts 4:27-31, “For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done. And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness.”

After God destroyed Pharaoh's army in the Red Sea, Moses sang a song of deliverance, saying “And in the greatness of thine excellency thou hast overthrown them that rose up against thee: thou sentest forth thy wrath, which consumed them as stubble.” (Exodus 15:7)

Psalms 2:4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.

Psalms 2:4 “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh” Comments - God sits, or dwells, in Heaven (Psalms 11:4). God also laughs (Psalms 37:13; Proverbs 1:26). Why does God laugh? Because man's rebellion is like the tools in a man’s hand in rebellion against the man himself. It is as silly as the axe and saw, or the rod and staff rebel against the man who is using them (Isaiah 10:15).

Psalms 11:4, “The LORD is in his holy temple, the LORD'S throne is in heaven: his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men.”

Psalms 37:13, “The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.”

Proverbs 1:26, “I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;”

Isaiah 10:15, “Shall the axe boast itself against him that heweth therewith? or shall the saw magnify itself against him that shaketh it? as if the rod should shake itself against them that lift it up, or as if the staff should lift up itself, as if it were no wood.”

In Jeremiah, it is like the potter and clay to the one who made them (Jeremiah 18:6).

Jeremiah 18:6, “O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter? saith the LORD. Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in mine hand, O house of Israel.”

Psalms 2:4 “the Lord shall have them in derision” - Comments - It means, “A laughing in contempt or scorn, or making fun of.”

Psalms 2:4 Scripture Reference - Note:

Acts 5:39, “But if it be of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God.”

Psalms 2:5 Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.

Psalms 2:5 Comments - Psalms 2:5 b becomes more intense in force than 25a because the Hebrew uses the Piel construction. The verb “vex” is used in the intensive form, meaning, “to terrify.” (Hebrews 10:31) Thus, the NIV reads, “Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,”

Hebrews 10:31,”It is a fearful thing to tall into the hands of the living God.”

Psalms 2:6 Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.

Psalms 2:6 “Yet have I set my king” - Comments - Jesus Christ is the King of Kings (1 Timothy 6:15, Revelation 17:14; Revelation 19:16).

1 Timothy 6:15, “Which in his times he shall shew, who is the blessed and only Potentate, the King of kings, and Lord of lords;”

Revelation 17:14, “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.”

Revelation 19:16, “And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Psalms 2:6 “upon my holy hill of Zion” Comments - In God's presence, no sin dwells. Zion is a place of holiness. We will not make it to Heaven with sin in our lives (Psalms 24:3-4, Matthew 5:8, Hebrews 12:14).

Psalms 24:3-4, “Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.”

Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”

Hebrews 12:14, “Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:”

In the millennial reign, Zion will be the Messianic seat, and in the new heavens and earth, it will be the “The new Jerusalem”. (See Revelation 21:2 thru Psalms 22:5). Note other references to Zion:

Psalms 48:1-2, “Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion , on the sides of the north, the city of the great King.”

Isaiah 2:2-3, “And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD'S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.”

Revelation 14:1, “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion , and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father's name written in their foreheads.”

Psalms 2:6 Comments - God places His Son in Zion by defeating His enemies in a similar way that David took Jerusalem from the Jebusites who were mocking him (2 Samuel 5:6-7).

2 Samuel 5:6-7, “And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither. Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.”

Psalms 2:7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.

Psalms 2:7 “I will declare the decree” Comments - A decree was issued by a king, and man was unable to alter its words.

2 Chronicles 30:5, “So they established a decree to make proclamation throughout all Israel, from Beersheba even to Dan, that they should come to keep the passover unto the LORD God of Israel at Jerusalem: for they had not done it of a long time in such sort as it was written.”

Ezra 5:13, “But in the first year of Cyrus the king of Babylon the same king Cyrus made a decree to build this house of God.”

Ezra 5:17, “Now therefore, if it seem good to the king, let there be search made in the king's treasure house, which is there at Babylon, whether it be so, that a decree was made of Cyrus the king to build this house of God at Jerusalem, and let the king send his pleasure to us concerning this matter.”

Ezra 6:1, “Then Darius the king made a decree , and search was made in the house of the rolls, where the treasures were laid up in Babylon.”

Esther 2:8, “So it came to pass, when the king's commandment and his decree was heard, and when many maidens were gathered together unto Shushan the palace, to the custody of Hegai, that Esther was brought also unto the king's house, to the custody of Hegai, keeper of the women.”

Daniel 3:10, ”Thou, O king, hast made a decree , that every man that shall hear the sound of the cornet, flute, harp, sackbut, psaltery, and dulcimer, and all kinds of musick, shall fall down and worship the golden image:”

Esther 8:8 says that the writing, or decree, of a king may no man reverse. If the decree of a king cannot be reversed by man, how more irreversible is the decree from God (Psalms 119:89).

Esther 8:8, “Write ye also for the Jews, as it liketh you, in the king's name, and seal it with the king's ring: for the writing which is written in the king's name, and sealed with the king's ring, may no man reverse.”

Psalms 119:89, “For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven.”

God’s Word has been spoken in Psalms 2:7. Because this divine decree has already been made (foreordained), Jesus could say, “Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above…” (John 19:11), and the early Church could say, “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God…” (Acts 2:23), and “For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.” (Acts 4:28).

John 19:11, “Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.”

Acts 2:23, “Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:”

Acts 4:28, “For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.”

Psalms 2:7 “the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee” - Comments - According to Acts 13:33, Psalms 2:7 speaks of the Resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jesus was begotten at his first birth with Mary. He was begotten at His second birth with the resurrection.

Acts 13:33, “God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.”

This decree was made at Jesus' baptism (Matthew 3:17, Mark 1:11, Luke 3:22).

Matthew 3:17, “And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Mark 1:11, “And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Luke 3:22, “And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said, Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased.”

It was made at the Mount of Transfiguration (Matthew 17:5, Mark 9:7, Luke 9:35).

Matthew 17:5, “While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.”

Mark 9:7, “And there was a cloud that overshadowed them: and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.”

Luke 9:35, “And there came a voice out of the cloud, saying, This is my beloved Son: hear him.”

This phrase is the first in a series of statements that God makes about Jesus Christ in the book of Hebrews (Hebrews 1:5).

Hebrews 1:5, “For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?”

Thus, Psalms 2:7 is a reference to Jesus’ resurrection from dead by the Father (Acts 13:33), and also, a reference to the Son's uniqueness divinity (Hebrews 1:5; Hebrews 5:5).

Acts 13:33, “God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.”

Hebrews 1:5, “For unto which of the angels said he at any time, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son?”

Hebrews 5:5, “So also Christ glorified not himself to be made an high priest; but he that said unto him, Thou art my Son, to day have I begotten thee.”

Psalms 2:8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.

Psalms 2:8 “I shall give thee” - Comments - In the Hebrew, this is the cohortive (or emphatic), meaning “I shall certainly give thee.”

Psalms 2:8 “the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession” Comments - This inheritance includes all things, for Jesus is Lord over all.

Psalms 2:8 Comments - Jesus did ask, in fulfillment of prophecy, in His prayer in John 17:1-26. We, as priests, can pray and intercede. We can ask for heathen and the parts of the earth.

John 17:4-5, “I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.”

Psalms 2:8 Illustration - In 1984, I was working with Jack Emerson in Panama City, Florida. I was helping start a church with him. We had been praying for a piece of land for three years. On Monday morning, I went to him and we talked about this need. The Lord have quickened to me this verse in Psalms. I said that the Bible tells us to ask Him, and He will give us some land, based on this passage of Scripture. Jack then asked how much land we should ask for. I said that this verse says, “the uttermost parts,” so let us pray for all of the available land in this area. Within seven days, a man called Jack and asked him if he could sell us his piece of property. We purchased this lot quickly. Then a neighbor, who had seen us buy the land, asked us if we would like to purchase some of his land across the street. We again purchased a second piece of property. Jack and I had prayed a pray of agreement together, and God honoured His Word.

Psalms 2:8 Scripture References - Note similar verses:

Psalms 22:27-28, “All the ends of the world shall remember and turn unto the LORD: and all the kindreds of the nations shall worship before thee. For the kingdom is the LORD'S: and he is the governor among the nations.”

Daniel 7:13-14, “I saw in the night visions, and, behold, one like the Son of man came with the clouds of heaven, and came to the Ancient of days, and they brought him near before him. And there was given him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed.”

Psalms 2:9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

Psalms 2:9 “Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron” Comments - Iron is used as a symbol of strength and authority throughout Scriptures. Until King David led the nation of Israel in to obedience to the Laws of God, the children of Israel lacked the wisdom to exploit the natural resources of iron and brass. But once God gave them the use of these metals, Israel began to rule in power and authority. In the building of the Temple, David had accumulated a tremendous amount of these metals (1 Chronicles 22:16).

1 Chronicles 22:16, “Of the gold, the silver, and the brass, and the iron, there is no number. Arise therefore, and be doing, and the LORD be with thee.”

In contrast, the children of Israel were oppressed during the time of the Judges because their enemies were using iron (Judges 1:0; Judges 19:0; Judges 4:3).

Judges 1:19, “And the LORD was with Judah; and he drave out the inhabitants of the mountain; but could not drive out the inhabitants of the valley, because they had chariots of iron .”

Judges 4:3, “And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron ; and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.”

During the time of King Saul, the Philistines also oppressed the children of Israel because of the advantage of having iron weapons (1 Samuel 13:19-22).

1 Samuel 13:19-22, “ Now there was no smith found throughout all the land of Israel : for the Philistines said, Lest the Hebrews make them swords or spears: But all the Israelites went down to the Philistines, to sharpen every man his share, and his coulter, and his axe, and his mattock. Yet they had a file for the mattocks, and for the coulters, and for the forks, and for the axes, and to sharpen the goads. So it came to pass in the day of battle, that there was neither sword nor spear found in the hand of any of the people that were with Saul and Jonathan: but with Saul and with Jonathan his son was there found.”

Thus, we can see how iron represents strength. It is used as a symbol of strength and authority in Scripture in the phrase, “a rod of iron.” (Revelation 2:27; Revelation 12:5; Revelation 19:15)

Revelation 2:27, “And he shall rule them with a rod of iron ; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.”

Revelation 12:5, “And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron : and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.”

Revelation 19:15, “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron : and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”

Psalms 2:9 “thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel” - Comments - God dashes them in pieces due to sin (Isaiah 30:14, Jeremiah 19:11).

Isaiah 30:14, “And he shall break it as the breaking of the potters' vessel that is broken in pieces; he shall not spare: so that there shall not be found in the bursting of it a sherd to take fire from the hearth, or to take water withal out of the pit.”

Jeremiah 19:11, “And shalt say unto them, Thus saith the LORD of hosts; Even so will I break this people and this city, as one breaketh a potter's vessel, that cannot be made whole again: and they shall bury them in Tophet, till there be no place to bury.”

Jesus will judge the nations

Revelation 19:15, “And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.”

Revelation 19:18, “That ye may eat the flesh of kings, and the flesh of captains, and the flesh of mighty men, and the flesh of horses, and of them that sit on them, and the flesh of all men, both free and bond, both small and great.”

Psalms 2:9 Comments - The Church will rule over all with Jesus, for He is Lord over all. We as kings can rule and reign with Him, becoming rulers over nations (Revelation 2:26-29).

Revelation 2:26-27, “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.”

Revelation 12:5, “And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne.”

Psalms 2:10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

Psalms 2:10 “Be wise now therefore” - Comments - Note that they have just heard God’s decree. Therefore, God hold them accountable for having this much wisdom.

Psalms 2:10 “be instructed, ye judges of the earth.” - Comments - Learn to be instructed by God and receive his wisdom. See Proverbs 2:1-5 and James 1:5-7, which tells us how to find wisdom.

Psalms 2:10 Comments - In other words, take His counsel, lest you perish in the way with Him. The Lord’s charge in Psalms 2:10 could be directed to the kings and rulers who are in rebellion in verse two, or to other kings of nations as the Kingdom of God expands over the earth.

Psalms 2:11 Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.

Psalms 2:11 “Serve the Lord with fear” - Comments - This means to obey the Lord. Blessed are those who obey His word! (Hebrews 12:28)

Hebrews 12:28, “Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:”

Psalms 2:11 Comments - Serve in the fear of the Lord. Tremble while rejoicing, for the joy of the Lord is our strength. We should serve God fearfully, rather than rebel in vain (Psalms 2:1).

Psalms 2:11 Scripture References - Note similar verses:

Mark 5:33, “But the woman fearing and trembling, knowing what was done in her, came and fell down before him, and told him all the truth.”

Ephesians 6:5, “Servants, be obedient to them that are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in singleness of your heart, as unto Christ;”

Philippians 2:12, “Wherefore, my beloved, as ye have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”

Psalms 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Psalms 2:12 “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way” Comments - A king was honoured by kissing his feet or his ring, in reverence. Kissing is also a sign of submission. So, Psalms 2:12 would be translated, “humble yourselves before God,” or “do homage,” or, “praise Him, lest He be angry.” Without faith, it is impossible to please Him. We are to set our affections upon the Son, and be devoted to this King.

Scripture References - Note similar verses:

John 5:23, “ That all men should honour the Son , even as they honour the Father. He that honoureth not the Son honoureth not the Father which hath sent him.”

Romans 14:11, “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me , and every tongue shall confess to God.”

Philippians 2:9-11, “Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him , and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”

Psalms 2:12 “when His wrath is kindled but a little” - Comments - The RSV, NIV, and NASB say, “his wrath can, or will, be quickly kindled.” A man in rebellion to God will meet God’s wrath.

Psalms 2:12 “Blessed are all they that put their trust in him” Comments - There are two extremes in Psalms 2:12. A person will either receive God’s wrath or he will receive His blessings. We are blessed when we humbly place our trust in Him (Matthew 18:3, Mark 10:14-15).

Matthew 18:3, “And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.”

Mark 10:14-15, “But when Jesus saw it, he was much displeased, and said unto them, Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.”

Scripture References - Note similar verses:

Psalms 34:8, “O taste and see that the LORD is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”

Jeremiah 17:7, “Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.”