Psalm 2

1 Why do the heathen rage,

and the people imagine a vain thing?

2 The kings of the earth set themselves,

and the rulers take counsel together,

against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,

3 "Let us break their bands asunder,

and cast away their cords from us."

4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh;

the LORD shall have them in derision.

5 Then he shall speak unto them in his wrath,

and vex them in his sore displeasure, [saying,]

6 "Yet I have set my king

upon my holy hill of Zion."

7 I will declare the decree:

the LORD hath said unto me, "Thou art my Son;

This day I have begotten thee.

8 Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen

for thine inheritance,

and the uttermost parts of the earth

for thy possession.

9 Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron;

thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.

10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings;

be instructed, ye judges of the earth.

11 Serve the LORD with fear,

and rejoice with trembling.

12 Kiss the Son,

lest he be angry, and you perish from the way,

when his wrath is kindled but a little.

Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

JW: There is nothing in this psalm which is not applicable to Christ, but some things which are not all applicable to David. Threatenings denounced against the adversaries of Christ's kingdom, ver. 1-6; Promises made to Christ, ver. 7-9; Counsel given to all, to submit to him, ver. 10-12.

[On verse 7:] 'My Son'- which tho' it may in some sort be said to, or of David, yet much more properly belongs to Christ, who is commonly known by this title both in the Old and New Testament, and to whom this title is expressly appropriated by the Holy Ghost, who is the best interpreter of his own words, Acts 13.33, Heb. 1.5. 'This day' - This may be understood either, Of his eternal generation. This day, from all eternity, which is well described by 'this day,' because in eternity there is no succession, no [yesterday], no [tomorrow], but it is all as one continued day or moment without change or flux; or, Of the manifestation of Christ's eternal son-ship in time; which was done both in his birth and life, when his being the son of God was demonstrated by the testimony of the angel, Luke 1.32, and of God the Father, Matt. 3.17; 17.5, and by his own words and works; and in his resurrection, which seems to be here mainly intended, of which day this very place is expounded, Acts 13.33.

[On verses 10-11:] 'Now' - while you have time for repentance and submission. 'Fear' - With an awful sense of his great and glorious majesty. 'Rejoice' - do not esteem his yoke your dishonour and grievance; but rejoice in this inestimable grace and benefit. 'Trembling' - This is added to warn them of taking heed that they do not turn this grace of God into wantonness.

Though this Psalm is referenced in Acts 13.33, as Wesley notes, the context of which is about Christ's resurrection, I still find it providential that this Psalm is in view on Epiphany, which I posted on earlier today. Epiphany, as was said then, has to do with the revelation of Jesus as the Christ and God's Son. This is made very public in Jesus' baptism when the voice came from heaven saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased."

Notice this: Christ heard these words at his baptism. Immediately following his baptism, Jesus, as we know, went into the wilderness and was tempted by the devil. Does one of the temptations sound familiar to the next line in this psalm? "Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage." Remember how the devil tempted Jesus with bestowing authority over the whole world? (See Matt. 3.8-9; Luke 4.5-7.) And it is precisely Christ's Son-ship that Satan is trying to attack as it tempts Him. Jesus knew who had the ultimate authority and who was speaking to him. He knew his Father's voice. We would do well to be acquainted with the Shepherd's voice.

I appreciate Wesley's Christological take on this Psalm. His approach stays true to his introduction to the Psalter, and stays true to the tradition of the Church to read Scripture through the lens of Christ.

One final note on this Psalm: I'm intrigued by the language of verse 3 - "Let us break their bands asunder..." Maybe I'm reading too much into this or maybe I've just got some of Charles Wesley's lyrics from the Nativity on my mind, but I am curious if Charles was using the language of the rulers who conspire against the Anointed and turns the words on their head to show that it is the Anointed who will be the One to "break bands" asunder. Hymn VI of the Nativity collection, which I blogged on last month, has this lyric: "Those Infant-hands shall burst our bands and work out our salvation."