The Importance of Psalm 2

Psalm 2 “1 Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One.

This Psalm starts off with a question, “Why do the nations conspire and the people plot in vain? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One.”

The Psalmist assumes that the kings of the earth and the rulers are against the Lord and his Anointed One.

This Psalm is one of the most quoted Psalms in the Bible. The “anointed one” is the Hebrew for the New Testament “Christ.” “Christ” means “anointed one.” Every time the New Testament refers to “Christ” or to “Son of God” it is making a reference back to this Psalm. Specific verses are quoted twice in Acts and twice in Hebrews.

Every time the New Testament uses the phrase “son of God” as it applies to Jesus, or every time that it uses the term “Christ” or anointed one, it is referring back to this Psalm.

This Psalm is a Messianic Psalm. When it is quoted in the New Testament, it is done so in relation to Jesus the Messiah. He is the Anointed one, He is the Christ.

For example, Peter had healed a man. The authorities threatened them, but ended up letting them go. When they returned to the church, they prayed this prayer. Ac 4:24 -30 “24 …“Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heaven and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. 25 You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David: “‘Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26 The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his Anointed One.’ 27 Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen. 29 Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. 30 Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.””

This Psalm is a Psalm of security in the midst of conflict. Since David’s time, through Jesus, and even today, there is a battle between the world we live in and Jesus Christ.

1Jo 2:15 “15 Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”

Jesus said, Joh 7:7 “7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify that what it does is evil.”

Joh 15:18 -19 “18 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. 19 If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”

Whenever you speak out against evil, the world will hate you for doing so. Whether the issue is abortion, homosexuality, injustice, prejudice, or greed, if you speak up, you will find people who will shout you down.

Why do you think we need laws to protect whistleblowers? These people report on crimes done in their own organizations. They may tell the truth, but they are hated. Some face the possibility of criminal prosecution, demotion or being fired on their job. When people speak out against evil, the world will hate them for doing so.

So the battle goes on.

But the Christian realizes that our battle is not against people. The apostle Paul said, Eph. 6:12 “12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” We do not fight flesh and blood.” Though we may hate the evil in the world, we are reminded that God loved the people and sent his Son to die for them.

The question the Psalmist asks is this: Why does the world fight the battle? Why won’t the world receive Jesus, accept his teachings, follow his ways? Why are there such strong cultural battles going on in Europe, Asia, Africa and here in the United States? Notice verse one. The battle is fought in vain. Why fight the battle if you are going to lose?

Paul in the book of Philippians gives us this assurance. Php 2:9 -10 “9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth,” If we trust Jesus we are on the winning side. So why fight the battle if you are going to lose?

The Psalmist does not say.

This battle is real.

This Psalm may be an inauguration Psalm.

One commentator said that this Psalm was read at the inauguration of the kings of Israel. Whenever there was a change in power, the nations around would look for weaknesses and see to attack or cause greater unstableness. This was a time of real weakness, this time of transition. From his point of view, the anointed one would be the new king, with the Psalm speaking of a coming king, Jesus Christ.

This Psalm is for you.

You may be in the middle of a spiritual battle. I have had several tell me of how difficult it is at work. Often you are forced to face great opposition from people who do not hold Biblical views. They may be advocates and put real pressure on you or your department to do things that you cannot do in good conscience.

You may be facing doubts. You are constantly bombarded with messages from the radio, TV, newspapers, the internet and from your friends and family that pull you and stress you out. You feel like you are in a battle zone and you are. It is spiritual in nature.

You may be facing great pressure. Death, divorce, strained relationships, financial difficulties, warings within and without can leave you drained and confused. You are in the battle and it is spiritual in nature.

I know I am jumping ahead, but look at the last line of this Psalm. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. As the king faces his coronation, as he looks at the nations around that conspire against him, as Jesus hears Herod and Pilate debate his future, as he suffers under the pain of the whip, the slap and the curse, he can say, “Blessed are all who take refuge in him.”

Government, family, friends, the church may help us in our time of need, but our help is only partial. There is only one who can truly help, take refuge in Him. You don’t want any more pain, you don’t want any more hurt, you don’t want any more disappointment, take refuge in Him. Trust in the Lord with all your heart. Lean not on your own understandings. In all your ways acknowledge Him and he shall direct your paths.