The circumstances which called forth this Psalm stand out clearly. A king of Israel, recently placed upon the throne, and consecrated by the solemn rite of anointing to be Jehovah's representative in the government of His people, is menaced by a confederacy of subject nations, threatening to revolt... [ Continue Reading ]
_Why_ The Psalmist gazes on the great tumult of the nations mustering for war, till the sight forces from him this question of mingled astonishment and indignation. Their insurrection is at once causeless and hopeless. _the heathen_ Better, as R.V., the nations. _Gôyim_, variously rendered in A.V.... [ Continue Reading ]
The muster of the nations and its design.... [ Continue Reading ]
_The kings of the earth_ In contrast to -my king," Psalms 2:6. Cp. the use of the phrase in striking contexts, Psalms 76:12; Psalms 89:27; Psalms 102:15; Psalms 138:4; Psalms 148:11; Isaiah 24:21. _set themselves_ The tenses of the original in Psalms 2:1 give a vividness and variety to the picture [ Continue Reading ]
The words of the kings and rulers exhorting one another to cast off _the yoke_of subjection. Bands are the fastenings by which the yoke was secured upon the neck (Jeremiah 27:2; Jeremiah 30:8; Nahum 1:13; &c.): cords are perhaps merely synonymous with _bands_: but as the language of the previous cla... [ Continue Reading ]
_He that sitteth in the heavens_ Enthroned in majesty (Psalms 123:1), but withal watching and controlling the course of events upon the earth (Psalms 11:4; Psalms 103:19; Psalms 113:4 ff.; Revelation 5:13; Revelation 6:16). _shall laugh … shall have them in derision_ Or, _laugheth … mocketh at them_... [ Continue Reading ]
The poet-seer draws aside the veil, and bids us look from earth to heaven. There the supreme Ruler of the world sits enthroned in majesty. With sovereign contempt He surveys these petty plottings, and when the moment comes confounds them with a word.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then_ There is a limit to the divine patience. He will not always look on in silence. If they persist in their folly He must speak, and His word (like that of His representative, Isaiah 11:4) is power. _vex_ Trouble, confound, dismay, with panic terror, paralysing their efforts. Cp. Psalms 48:5; P... [ Continue Reading ]
_Yet have I set_ R.V., Yet I have set. The first stanza ended with the defiant words of the rebels: the second stanza ends with the answer of Jehovah. The sentence is elliptical, and the pronoun is emphatic: -Why this uproar, when it is _I_Who have set up My king" &c. The meaning of the word rendere... [ Continue Reading ]
_the decree_ The solemn and authoritative edict, promulgated in the promise made to David and his house through Nathan (2 Samuel 7:12 ff). _hath said unto me_ Better, said unto me (R.V.), or, said of me. this _day_ The day when he was anointed king. If Nathan was (as is commonly supposed) Solomon'... [ Continue Reading ]
Jehovah has acknowledged the king as His own: and now the king takes up Jehovah's declaration, and appeals to the Divine decree of sonship, and the promise of world-wide dominion.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ask of me_ Inheritance is the natural right of sonship. Yet even the son must plead the promise and claim its fulfilment. Dominion over the nations is not expressly mentioned in 2 Samuel 7; but cp. Psalms 89:27. _inheritance … possession_ Words frequently applied to the gift of Canaan to Israel (Ge... [ Continue Reading ]
_Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron_ A figure for the severity of the chastisement that awaits rebels. Or perhaps, -an iron _sceptre_" (Psalms 45:6), symbol of a stern and irresistible rule. But the word rendered _break them_, if read with different vowels, may mean _rule_(lit. _shepherd) them... [ Continue Reading ]
_Be wise now therefore Now therefore_should stand first, as in R.V., emphatically introducing the conclusion to be drawn from the statements of the preceding verses. _kings … judges of the earth_ Not the rebel leaders of Psalms 2:2 exclusively, though the warning has a special significance for them... [ Continue Reading ]
The poet speaks, drawing the lesson from the great truths which have been set forth. There is a better way. Submission may avert destruction. The leaders of the nations are exhorted to be wise in time, and accept the suzerainty of Jehovah instead of resisting until His wrath is kindled.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Serve_ The context indicates that political submission to Jehovah in the person of His representative is primarily intended. Cp. Psalms 18:43; Psalms 72:11. But the wider meaning must not be excluded. _Serve_and _fear_are words constantly used with a religious meaning; and political submission to I... [ Continue Reading ]
_Kiss the Son_ According to this rendering the exhortation to serve Jehovah is followed by an exhortation to pay homage to His representative. For the _kiss_of homage cp. 1 Samuel 10:1; 1 Kings 19:18; Job 31:27; Hosea 13:2. But this rendering must certainly be abandoned, (1) Not to mention some mino... [ Continue Reading ]