The Certainty of the Righteous One’s Exaltation to the Throne

Though no author is ascribed, yet Acts 4:25, 26, attributes it to David. The psalm starts off with a question and ends with a blessing. In between the two, the answer is given to the query, and the sovereignty of God declared. There is an obvious Messianic content. The psalm reveals the purposes of God in the divine appointment of His Son to the kingship and rule of His people.

The New Testament attests to its prophetic content, and Acts 4:24–27 show how all the apostles confirmed this. Also, Paul, in Acts 13:32–33, and in Hebrews 1:5, establishes the psalm as speaking of Christ. Men are called upon to exercise wisdom, and to subject themselves to this King before it is too late.

Pastor Jeff O’ Neil

Psalm 2

¹Why rage the heathen? and vain things
Why do the people mind?
²Kings of the earth do set themselves,
And princes are combin’d,

To plot against the LORD, and his
Anointed, saying thus,
³Let us asunder break their bands,
And cast their cords from us.

⁴He that in heaven sits shall laugh;
The Lord shall scorn them all.
⁵Then shall he speak to them in wrath,
In rage he vex them shall.

⁶Yet, notwithstanding, I have him
To be my King appointed;
And over Zion, my holy hill,
I have him King anointed.

⁷The sure decree I will declare:
The LORD hath said to me,
Thou art mine only Son; this day
I have begotten thee.

⁸Ask of me, and for heritage
The heathen I’ll make thine;
And, for possession, I to thee
Will give earth’s utmost line.

⁹Thou shalt, as with a weighty rod
Of iron, break them all;
And, as a potter’s sherd, thou shalt
Them dash in pieces small.

¹⁰Now therefore, kings, be wise; be taught,
Ye judges of the earth:
¹¹Serve GOD in fear, and see that ye
Join trembling with your mirth.

¹²Kiss ye the Son, lest in his ire
Ye perish from the way,
If once his wrath begin to burn:
Bless’d all that on him stay.