Why Do the Nations Rage? (Psalm 2): Notes and Discussion

Below are links and doctrinal notes for the psalm Why Do the Nations Rage? by Joe Tyrpak. Feel free to chime in with comments or questions.

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LINKS FOR OH WHY DO THE NATIONS RAGE (PSALM 2)

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DOCTRINAL NOTES

Because God delights in worship that is biblical, thoughtful and passionate—what we often call intentional—please consider the following overview of the biblical texts and doctrinal themes behind the psalm Why Do the Nations Rage?:

Psalm 2 is a musical exposition of the Lord’s covenant promises to David: “I will raise up your offspring after you, who shall come from your body, and I will establish his kingdom. …I will be to him a father, and he shall be to me a son. …Your throne shall be established forever” (2 Samuel 7:11-16). These promises to David referred in some part to Solomon, in other parts to the whole Davidic line, and ultimately to Jesus Christ, the son of David whose reign will never cease. The point of Psalm 2 is to highlight the invincible sovereignty of the Lord and His chosen king, despite so many rulers on earth who would like to overthrow it.

Verse 1. Psalm 2:1-3 describe the uproar of the wicked rulers against the authority of the Lord. Verses 4-6 then contrasts that tumult with the stability of the Lord’s throne. The Lord is so unaffected by the plotting of the world rulers that He is ridiculing their foolishness—they actually think they can overthrow the throne of God! The Lord reaffirms His covenant commitment to David: “I have set my king on Zion” (2:6).

Verse 2. The Lord’s anointed king (the “Messiah”) then speaks (2:7-9). He rehearses exactly what God has decreed to Him. He essentially says, “I am God’s chosen king. God has anointed me to be ruler over all other world rulers and to powerfully subdue any rebellion.”

Verse 3. The last three verses of Psalm 2 apply the truth which the first nine verses articulated. In the conclusion, the Lord’s counsels to the world rulers to submit themselves to the reign of God and His Son. “Kiss the Son” essentially means, “Come before the throne of Christ and—as they would in the ancient world—get on your knees and kiss His feet. Show the Messiah that you are totally submitted to Him.”

Verse 4. Psalm 2 is prominent in the New Testament. It’s quoted four times and alluded to 14 times! One of the most prominent quotations is in Acts 4:23-31. Peter and John were persecuted for preaching the name of Jesus. As they were released from prison, they were threatened not to preach in His name again. The Christians in Jerusalem responded to this persecution by prayerfully rehearsing the words of Psalm 2 and begging God for continued boldness. It’s clear that they directly applied the words of this Psalm to Jesus Christ, the ultimate Davidic King, the Son of God (cf. Hebrews 1:5). The entire city of Jerusalem had recently tried to thwart God’s rule by killing God’s Son, but in doing so they merely worked out God’s predetermined will. God magnified His sovereignty by raising Jesus from the dead (cf. Acts 3:14-15), a reality which fueled the disciples’ fearlessness in the face of persecution.

Verse 5. “You art My Son. This day I have begotten You” is quoted in Acts 13:33, where “this day” is clearly understood as a reference to the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Similarly, Romans 1:4 says that Jesus Christ was “declared to be the Son of God with power … by the resurrection from the dead.” In other words, Jesus Christ’s resurrection was an explosive statement of His deity. The New Testament everywhere teaches that the resurrected Christ is going to soon return to this planet, judge the rebellion that is so rampant, and establish His throne with dreadful authority. That will be the final fulfillment of Psalm 2 (notice how Revelation 19:15 alludes to Psalm 2:9). Even so, come, Lord Jesus!

So the message of Psalm 2 is this: Jesus Christ is the great sovereign of the world, the King of kings and Lord of lords. Every person should submit himself to the authority of Jesus Christ; every believer should not be worried by the ungodly efforts to tear down Christ’s authority; every believer should spread the message of Jesus’ authority to every person in the world; and every believer should endure every trial with solid confidence in Jesus Christ’s reign and authority. Christian, worshipfully sing every word of this Psalm in your heart to the Lord.

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