Psalms about Christ⤒🔗

The entire Old Testament, including the Psalms, looks forward to the Christ in Whom the fulfillment is found. However, in the Psalms, as also in various parts of the prophetic writings, there is a direct reference to the Christ or to an episode in His life. There is a difference among the Messianic Psalms. In some instances the entire Psalm is directly related to Jesus Christ and the work He has come to do, while in others there is but a small part of the Psalm which so directly referred to Him. Psalm 2 relates to Him in its entirety. This Psalm was writ­ten by David (Acts 4:25). The writer refers to things which have happened in his life and these things have their ultimate fulfillment in the coming of Jesus Christ.

A Foolish Revolt←⤒🔗

The author of this Psalm describes the people rag­ing, beside themselves with anger, and this anger is directed against the king of Israel and the One who has made him king. This attitude is unreasonable and unwise. Besides, it is a "vain thing" — they will accomplish nothing by it. It is a useless struggle. No one will ever succeed in escaping from the jurisdic­tion of this king. The nations rage and the peoples meditate a vain thing! What is wrong with these people? They never had it so good! But, this attitude has often arisen in the history of the world. Nations and peoples do not know their own welfare. They have set themselves to achieve the impossible. Not only the people who do not know any better, but the kings of the earth and the rulers take counsel together against Yahweh and against His anointed! That is the object of their hatred! They set them­selves against the God of heaven and earth. They set themselves against the God who has come with rich promises. They also set themselves against the One whom He has anointed to reign. That is the picture which the Psalmist draws.

The Psalm describes the way in which various peoples have sought to cast off David's rule. That re­volt too was aimed against the God who had anointed him. But, the revolt is worse when it is raging against David's great Son and his Lord! This revolt has been the history of the world till the pres­ent time and it will continue in the years to come. The kings and rulers and the nations and peoples do not want this One to rule over them. They want their independence! Therefore they say: "Let us break their bonds asunder and cast away their cords from us." In saying this they express their view of Messiah's reign over them. He has placed them in bonds. They are tied with cords. Let us now cast these fetters of His kingship away so that we may have freedom!

This is the way in which unbelievers look upon the rule of Jesus Christ. They do not understand that His yoke is easy and His burden is light! They be­lieve it to be a galling yoke. Besides, they believe that they can easily rid themselves of these cords and bonds. All they have to do is to break them and to cast them away. How easy it seems! He is evident­ly not able to enforce the rule He has over them. They believe that they can do as they please with His rule.

Man brags of his power over against God time and again. That is portrayed more clearly here than almost anywhere else in Scripture. The Psalmist asks "Why" do they do this? Don't they see the utter futility of opposing God and His anointed? When will men realize their limitations? Before Him they are as nothing. He has given them life and He must uphold them every moment. But nations, peoples, kings and rulers believe that they have great power! They will determine their own lot and their own destiny. We do not want this One to rule over us — away with His bonds and cords!

David suffered under the defiance of those whom he had conquered. He did not seek to punish them unduly, but they often rebelled. Jesus Christ was pursued to death because His enemies did not want His rule. His rule was gracious, but they considered it bondage.

Laughter of God←⤒🔗

What will be the reaction of the God against whom they rebel? Will He allow this defiance to go on unchecked? Will His anger be kindled so that He will consume them? We read: He that sitteth in the heavens will laugh! Is this a laughing matter when peoples and nations, kings and rulers defy His own Son? Seldom do we read that God laughed. There is not much for Him to laugh about since the fall of man. How must we understand this divine laughter in this instance. It is often explained that He laughs because of the futility of the rebellion of man against the almighty power of God. It is like a two year old defying the heavyweight boxing champion of the world! This explanation seems appropriate, but does it do justice to that which is taught us here? I think not. He will have them in derision. He looks on them with contempt. But, then he speaks to them in His wrath and He will trouble them in His sore displeas­ure. The entire context speaks concerning the anger of God burning against those who rise up against Him and against His anointed. This was also later taught by Christ when He said that the owner of the vineyard will utterly consume those evil men who did not reverence His Son but killed Him. Yet, we read that He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh!

Anger of God←⤒🔗

Is this laughter the opposite of anger or is it a part of it? I believe that herein the Lord Almighty shows His anger to the extreme. When His anger once is kindled, no one shall be able to stand before Him. Anger usually shows itself on the face of him who is angry. When that anger becomes more in­tense there may be tears in his eyes. When that anger knows no bounds, the person so angered may begin to laugh! Now there is real danger. He will not allow this defiance to go on. He will put an end to it. The rebellion of the people has essentially been against God Himself! When He now laughs at this show of defiance, His anger is indeed consuming.

Only after this laughter on the Lord's part does He begin to speak. He does not speak words of grace to these rebels. Instead, He speaks to them in His wrath. He is sorely displeased. He is going to make it abundantly clear to all those who would not have this One to rule over them that He is violently dis­pleased with them. He is in a position highly exalted above them. He is out of their reach. He can look down with contempt on all those who rage against Him. He vexes them. They are troubled. Their peace is disturbed. They thought they were in control — they could break His bonds and cast away His cords — but He laughs them to scorn and vexes them in His sore displeasure. Their folly is exposed.

The rulers together with their people have their own plans which they are seeking to carry out. Jehovah and His anointed are not in the plans of these people. They have their goals which they will seek to achieve. That their plans are folly has already been made clear. He is troubling them now, but perhaps they do not even realize where this trouble comes from.

God's Appointed King←⤒🔗

They may have their plans — God also has His plans, and His plans shall be carried out. Nothing will stop Him. "I have set My King upon My holy hill of Zion." They will not have this One to rule over them — God has set His King to reign, and He will reign! This is His own Anointed One; this psalm looks beyond David at the Christ Who is the Anointed King Whom God has set on His holy hill of Zion. This is the King to Whom homage must be brought. These peoples may think that they will be able to cast His rule from them. They will not suc­ceed. When God sets His King to reign there will be no competitors, "This is My King" — He is personal­ly united to God.

God even tells of the place from which His king will reign. He has set His king on the holy hill of Zion. Even the place will not change. David ruled from Jerusalem and more particularly, from the hill of Zion. That rule will not be displaced to another capital. It will not be found where the other kings of the earth reign. Mount Zion is the place which He has chosen and there His King will be enthroned.

The Believer's Encouragement←⤒🔗

This "Zion" becomes the symbol of the church. David's rule and David's place do not fully account for the words of this Psalm. They look beyond this great king of Judah and Israel, at the reign of the One to Whom all authority will be given. This is a Messianic Psalm. The Psalm reveals how men will react to the rule of Jesus Christ. In their folly they believe that they will be able to cause His rule to end. But, the Psalm then speaks of the certainty of His rule because God Himself has placed the Son on the throne. He is My King, My anointed! This Psalm was a source of comfort to the Apostles when they were rudely treated and imprisoned (Acts 4). This Psalm has been a source of great comfort to believ­ers throughout the years and will be such especially when the time of the end approaches. No one shall touch His anointed. No one shall be able to cast His rule aside.

Positively, this means that the rule of Jesus Christ over all peoples is assured. He shall reign un­til everything is put under His feet. He rules in be­half of His church. That church is safeguarded, regardless of the striving of the nations against the rule of King Jesus!! Let His people rejoice. Let His people have confidence. "He shall reign forever and ever."

Questions for Discussion:←⤒🔗

1. What is the relationship of the Old Testament to the New?
2. Must we find Jesus Christ on every page of the Old Testament?
3. Why do we call some Psalms Messianic and others not?
4. Do you believe that the nations are gathering against Jehovah and against His anointed today?
5. Why is it folly for the nations to rebel against the rule of the Christ?
6. What does God's laughter mean?
7. Is this a comforting Psalm or one which speaks only of strife?