Psa 2 | EE | STEP | Why are nations planning together? Why are people having such stupid ideas?

Psalms 2

God Rules OK!

1 Why are nations planning together?

Why are people having such stupid ideas?

2 ^{▼▼This verse is empty because in this translation its contents have been moved to form part of verse Psa 2:3.} ^{▼▼In this translation, this verse contains text which in some other translations appears in verses Psa 2:2-Psa 2:3.}3 Why are their kings saying,

‘We will not obey the LORD?’

Why are their leaders saying,

‘We will not do what his Messiah says?’ ^{▼▼2:2-3 Verses 1-3: Though all the good kings of Israel were messiahs (God’s kings) it is really about Jesus the Messiah. A man named Luke wrote a part of the Bible that we call Acts. In Acts 4:25-26 he repeated Psalm 2: 3. He tells us there that Herod and Pilate were 2 of the leaders that the Psalm meant! Herod and Pilate were the leaders that killed Jesus. Some of the people in the psalm were the Jews that killed Jesus. They all decided that Christ (the Greek word for ‘Messiah’) must die.}

4 He that is sitting above the skies will laugh.

The Lord will say that they are stupid.

5 Then he will say angry words to them.

He will make them very frightened because he is so angry.

6 He will say, ‘I myself put my king in Zion.

I put him on my holy mountain.’ ^{▼▼2:6 Verses 4-6; God put David in Zion as king. When David died, his son Solomon became king and so on. Jesus was the last man that God put as king in Jerusalem. Herod, Pilate and the Jews killed Jesus. Where Jesus died Pilate wrote, ‘The King of the Jews.’ Really, Jesus offered himself and God said that he was king. ‘Sitting above the skies’ means ‘in heaven.’}

7 I will tell you what God has decided to do.

The LORD said to me, ‘You are my son.

Today I have given you the honour that goes with that name.

8 Ask me for anything! I will give you nations.

The whole world can be yours.

9 You will rule them with an iron sceptre.

You will break them like a clay pot.’ ^{▼▼2:9 Verses 7-9: Jesus is the only person ever born on earth a son of God. Everyone else must become a son of God by becoming born again. ‘Born again’ means ‘believing in Jesus.’ God then gives us new life. It is as though we start life again! In Acts 13: 33 Luke repeated another verse from Psalm 2. He wrote, ‘Paul said that the words ‘You are my son’ came true when God raised Jesus from the dead.’ Paul was a friend of Luke. Acts tells the story of the start of the Church.}

10 So now, you kings, be careful.

You world leaders, listen to this:

11 Become the servants of the LORD.

Remember that he is very powerful.

12 Kiss his son or God will be angry.

He may be so angry that you will die.

Only the people that come to the LORD are really happy.

He will make them safe. ^{▼▼2:12 Verses 10-12: This part is important today. We must all become servants of the LORD. If we do not we will die. We will not live with Jesus always in heaven. When we come to Jesus, he becomes our friend. But we must remember who he is. Jesus is God! We must not become too friendly. Though we are friends, we are also servants. But this is the only way to become happy and safe.}