Psa 2:1-6 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Ps 2:1-12: Ps 2 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 ) or to destruction (2:9 ). The New Testament identifies Jesus as this descendant (see Acts 13:33 ; 1 Cor 15:25-27 ; Heb 1:5 ; 5:5 ; Rev 19:15 ). Summary for Ps 2:1-3: 2:1-3 Their futile paths lead to death (1:4 , 6 ), but fallen human beings unite in opposing the true God and his Messiah. 2:1 plans: The Hebrew verb rendered “meditate” in 1:2 here suggests an attitude of opposing the Lord in speech (Isa 59:13 ) or in thought (Ps 38:12 ; Prov 24:2 ).

Summary for Ps 2:1-12: Ps 2 ^a 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 ^b) or to destruction (2:9 ^c). The New Testament identifies Jesus as this descendant (see Acts 13:33 ^d; 1 Cor 15:25-27 ^e; Heb 1:5 ^f; 5:5 ^g; Rev 19:15 ^h).
Summary for Ps 2:1-3: 2:1-3 ⁱ Their futile paths lead to death (1:4 ^j, 6 ^k), but fallen human beings unite in opposing the true God and his Messiah. 2:1 ^l plans: The Hebrew verb rendered “meditate” in 1:2 ^m here suggests an attitude of opposing the Lord in speech (Isa 59:13 ⁿ) or in thought (Ps 38:12 ^o; Prov 24:2 ^p).
2:2 ^q The kings hate the Lord’s established order in the world, so they desire to be independent of him (see 36:4 ^r). They scheme about dominating the Lord’s people (31:13 ^s; see 83:1-4 ^t). 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 ^u; 13:33 ^v; Heb 1:5 ^w; 5:5 ^x), fulfills the role in which these earlier kings failed.
2:3 ^y break their chains: These kings believe that acknowledging the true God and his chosen ruler will result in their enslavement (Isa 28:22 ^z; 52:2 ^aa; cp. Lam 3:7 ^ab; Rom 1:1 ^ac; 1 Cor 7:22 ^ad; Titus 1:1 ^ae).
Summary for Ps 2:4-6: 2:4-6 ^af 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 ^ag 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 ^ah; 59:8 ^ai).
2:6 ^aj my chosen king: The Lord establishes his anointed ruler.