INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 2 This psalm is the second in order, and so it is called in Acts 13:33; which shows that the book of Psalms was in the same form in the apostles' days as now, and as it ever had been; and though it is without a title, yet certain it is that it is a psalm of David, since the tw... [ Continue Reading ]
WHY DO THE HEATHEN RAGE,.... Or "the nations"; which some understand of the Jews, who are so called, Genesis 17:5; because of their various tribes; and of their rage against the Messiah there have been many instances; as when they gnashed upon him with their teeth, and at several times took up stone... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KINGS OF THE EARTH SET THEMSELVES,.... Rose and stood up in great wrath and fury, and presented themselves in an hostile manner, and opposed the Messiah: as Herod the great, king of Judea, who very early bestirred himself, and sought to take away the life of Jesus in his infancy; and Herod Antip... [ Continue Reading ]
LET US BREAK THEIR BANDS ASUNDER,.... These are not the words of the apostles, nor of the saints in Gospel times, encouraging one another, notwithstanding the rage and opposition of Jews and Gentiles against their Master and his interest, to break asunder the bands of wickedness, the idolatrous cust... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT SITTETH IN THE HEAVENS SHALL LAUGH,.... At the rage and tumult of the Heathen; at the vain imaginations of the people; at the opposition of the kings of the earth; at the mad counsel of the rulers, against him and his Messiah; and at their proposal to one another to throw off the yoke and go... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SHALL HE SPEAK UNTO THEM IN HIS WRATH,.... Or, "and he shall speak to them"; so Noldius: that is, the Lord that sits in the heavens, and laughs, and has the Heathen, the people, the kings and rulers in derision, shall not only silently despise their furious and concerted opposition to him and h... [ Continue Reading ]
YET HAVE I SET MY KING UPON MY HOLY HILL OF ZION. Or, "behold, I have set", c. so Noldius by Zion is meant the church of God, especially under the Gospel dispensation see Hebrews 12:22; so called, because, as Zion was, it is the object of God's love and choice, the place of his habitation and reside... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL DECLARE THE DECREE,.... These are the words of Jehovah's Anointed and King, exercising his kingly office, according to the decree and commandment of the Father: for these words refer not to the following, concerning the generation of the Son, which does not depend on the decree and arbitrary... [ Continue Reading ]
ASK OF ME,.... Jehovah is either here again introduced speaking, or these words are a continuation of the Son's account of what his Father said unto him; which do not suppose any superiority in the one, or inferiority in the other; but are only expressive of the Father's great respect and affection... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT BREAK THEM WITH A ROD OF IRON,.... Not his inheritance and possession among the Gentiles, the chosen ones given him by the Father; these he delights in, takes care of, protects, and preserves: but the stubborn and rebellious ones among the Heathen, and in each of the parts of the world, w... [ Continue Reading ]
BE WISE NOW THEREFORE, O YE KINGS,.... This address is made not so much to the kings of the earth in David's time, as to those who would be under the Gospel dispensation, and times of the Messiah; and particularly who would rise up, and set themselves against the Lord and his Anointed, Psalms 2:2; a... [ Continue Reading ]
SERVE THE LORD WITH FEAR,.... Not the creature, neither more, nor besides, nor with the Creator; God and mammon cannot both be served; nor any fictitious and nominal deities, the idols of the Gentiles, who are not gods by nature; but the true Jehovah, the one and only Lord God, he only is to be wors... [ Continue Reading ]
KISS THE SON,.... The Son of God, spoken of in Psalms 2:7; the word used is so rendered in Proverbs 31:2; and comes from another which signifies to "choose", and to "purify", or "to be pure"; hence some render it "the elect" or "chosen One", or "the pure One" k; and both agree with Christ, who is Go... [ Continue Reading ]