Nations in Uproar
Kings and nations conspire to throw off the rule of our Father and his Anointed. He laughs, installs his King on Zion, and hands him the nations. The psalm then turns to warn the rulers themselves: submit, and take refuge while there is time.
2 1Why do the nations rage, and the peoples plot in vain? 2The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers conspire together against our Father and against his Anointed One—Jesus. a a v2 The Anointed One — Messiah — is Jesus. The early church prayed this very psalm about the rulers who conspired against him (Acts 4:25-26). 3"Let us tear off the chains they have put on us," they say, "and throw their ropes away from us."
4Our Father, enthroned in heaven, laughs; the Sovereign Father scoffs at them. 5Then he will speak to them in his anger and terrify them in his fury:
6"I myself have installed my King on Zion, my holy mountain."
7I will proclaim the decree of our Father: he said to me, "You are my Son—Jesus—today I have become your Father. b b v7 Our Father's eternal decree to the Son. The New Testament applies these words directly to Jesus — Acts 13:33, Hebrews 1:5, and Hebrews 5:5 — declaring him the Son begotten of the Father.
8"Ask me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, and the ends of the earth your possession. 9You will break them with a rod of iron; you will shatter them like a potter's jar."
10Now then, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. 11Serve our Father with reverence, and rejoice with trembling. 12Kiss the Son—Jesus—or he will be angry and you will perish along the way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. c c v12 The psalm ends with refuge in the Son — Jesus. To trust him is to be welcomed home by the Father who enthroned him.
