Psalms 1
1:2 a The law (Hebrew torah) of the Lord is the full revelation of God’s instructions (see study note on Deut 4:44).• Meditating is a process of inner reflection that can be positive (Pss 1:2 b; 63:6 c; 77:12 d; 143:5 e) or negative (see 2:1 f; 38:12 g). The Lord’s word is the object of godly meditation (119:48 h).
• Day and night includes all times, whether one is walking, standing, sitting, or sleeping (see Deut 6:7 i).
Summary for Ps 1:3-5: 1:3-5 j The future belongs to the godly. 1:3 k Well-watered trees endure and bear abundant fruit (cp. Jer 17:8 l).
1:4 m The coming time of judgment (1:5 n) will carry off the wicked and their deeds (35:5 o; 83:13 p; Isa 17:13 q; see study note on Jer 13:24).
1:5 r The wicked cannot abide the scrutiny of the Lord’s judgment; they are already condemned (see 5:5 s; 7:6 t; 101:7 u).
1:6 v The Lord’s care for the righteous and the demise of the wicked both demonstrate the Lord’s principle of retribution (see Gal 6:7-10 w). The brief and futile lives of the wicked will end, whereas the Lord and his saints will triumph (see Pss 9:5 x, 6 y, 18 z; 10:16 aa; 37:20 ab; 73:27 ac; 92:9 ad; cp. 142:4 ae; Isa 57:1 af).
• The godly (see Pss 5:12 ag; 14:5 ah) are joyful (1:1 ai) because the Lord protects and cares for them, hears them when they cry out for justice, and secures their future (see 121:3-4 aj).
• A person’s path is their life and character.
Psalms 2
Summary for Ps 2:1-12: Ps 2 ak This royal psalm pertains to the Lord’s appointment of a king descended from David. It celebrates the mission of all the kings in David’s line, and it introduces the hope of an ideal ruler who will accomplish the Lord’s goal of bringing all nations into submission (2:11 al) or to destruction (2:9 am). The New Testament identifies Jesus as this descendant (see Acts 13:33 an; 1 Cor 15:25-27 ao; Heb 1:5 ap; 5:5 aq; Rev 19:15 ar).Summary for Ps 2:1-3: 2:1-3 as Their futile paths lead to death (1:4 at, 6 au), but fallen human beings unite in opposing the true God and his Messiah. 2:1 av plans: The Hebrew verb rendered “meditate” in 1:2 aw here suggests an attitude of opposing the Lord in speech (Isa 59:13 ax) or in thought (Ps 38:12 ay; Prov 24:2 az).
2:2 ba The kings hate the Lord’s established order in the world, so they desire to be independent of him (see 36:4 bb). They scheme about dominating the Lord’s people (31:13 bc; see 83:1-4 bd). Their goal is to subvert the Lord’s rule in the world by overthrowing his anointed one (or his messiah); the Lord chose the kings of David’s dynasty to establish his kingdom throughout the earth. The New Testament confirms that Jesus, the appointed and anointed Son of God (Acts 4:26 be; 13:33 bf; Heb 1:5 bg; 5:5 bh), fulfills the role in which these earlier kings failed.
2:3 bi break their chains: These kings believe that acknowledging the true God and his chosen ruler will result in their enslavement (Isa 28:22 bj; 52:2 bk; cp. Lam 3:7 bl; Rom 1:1 bm; 1 Cor 7:22 bn; Titus 1:1 bo).
Summary for Ps 2:4-6: 2:4-6 bp The Lord finds the human threat insignificant. He provided a solution long before their rebellion. He will end their agitation through the appointment of a human agent, a descendant of David’s line who will rule the nations. 2:4 bq rules in heaven: The Lord’s place in the universe is so certain that he scoffs at humans who boast that they can rebel against his power and authority (see 37:13 br; 59:8 bs).
2:6 bt my chosen king: The Lord establishes his anointed ruler.
Summary for Ps 2:7-9: 2:7-9 bu The Lord adopted the king of David’s dynasty to conquer rebellious nations by force (see 89:26-27 bv). 2:7 bw Today I have become your Father: People in the ancient Near East commonly accepted a father-son relationship between gods and kings. In Israel, the Lord adopted kings as his sons. God set David apart as his most excellent and exalted son (89:27 bx). All descendants of David were the Lord’s representatives or agents. As an eternal member of the Godhead (John 1:1 by) and a descendant of David (Acts 13:33 bz; Heb 1:5 ca; 5:5 cb), Jesus is the true Son of God.
2:8 cc In an example of the suzerain-vassal relationship between the Lord and Israel’s king (see Deuteronomy Book Introduction, “Literary Form”), the Lord invites the king to ask for favors (see Ps 21:2 cd, 4 ce).
• All nations will be subject to David’s descendant, the Messiah.
2:9 cf The Lord gives his anointed ruler the power to conquer the nations as his inheritance (Isa 11:4 cg; Rev 2:27 ch; 12:5 ci; 19:15 cj), breaking their rebellion, resistance, and independence.
2:10 ck It pleases the Lord when his people submit to him and seek his protection. The wise accept the Lord’s rebuke and desire to repent.
Summary for Ps 2:11-12: 2:11-12 cl rejoice: Rulers must welcome the Son as their true and only King.
• Submit to God’s royal son (or Submit to God’s royal Son, or kiss the son): Kissing was an expression of submission (Hos 13:2 cm).
• The Lord gives joy to all who fear him (Ps 1:1-2 cn) and trust him (18:30 co; 34:22 cp; 119:1-3 cq).
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