Interwoven Bible

Day 2 of your reading

Psalm 2 (WEB)

Psalm 2
Why do the nations rage,
and the peoples plot a vain thing?

The kings of the earth take a stand,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD, and against his Anointed, saying,

“Let’s break their bonds apart,
and cast their cords from us.”

He who sits in the heavens will laugh.
The Lord will have them in derision.

Then he will speak to them in his anger,
and terrify them in his wrath:

“Yet I have set my King on my holy hill of Zion.”

I will tell of the decree:
The LORD said to me, “You are my son.
Today I have become your father.

Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance,
the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.

You shall break them with a rod of iron.
You shall dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

Now therefore be wise, you kings.
Be instructed, you judges of the earth.

Serve the LORD with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.

Give sincere homage to the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish on the way,
for his wrath will soon be kindled.
Blessed are all those who take refuge in him.

The first two paragraphs of the Psalms commentary, with the exception of Psalms 1 and 2, were drafted by AI.

In the previous Psalms reading, we saw that God and King David provided us readers with a "preface" to the Book of Psalms. In today's reading, we see the conclusion of this preface. Whereas Psalm 1 talks about the difference between one individual wicked person and the corresponding righteous person, Psalm 2 talks about the difference between all the wicked people in "nations," and the Son of Yahweh, who dashes the nations "in pieces." Either comparison is a fitting way to preface the rest of the psalms, since the psalms are all about the conflict between the person writing the psalm (usually King David) and his enemies or about the conflict between God and his enemies.

In addition to being the second of a two-part preface, today's reading also prophesies about the Messiah (which means "Anointed" in Hebrew, and which would be "Christ" in Greek). King David may have been thinking of how God treated him as a son when he wrote this psalm. But we will see later in the Bible that the Apostle Paul quotes King David's words in reference to Jesus. So, even if King David didn't realize he was prophesying about the future Messiah, we know now that he was. We can proclaim the reign of Jesus the Anointed King by praying this Psalm to God today!

Today's key verse portion is, "Ask of me, and I will give the nations for your inheritance" (from Psalm 2:8). And the New Testament echo is, "Now, Lord, look at their threats, and grant to your servants to speak your word with all boldness, while you stretch out your hand to heal" (from Acts 4:29-30). Today's questions are, "How does this prophesy Jesus' passion and believers' persecution? Are you persecuted? How do you worship Yahweh with fear, rejoice with trembling, and take refuge in him?" Finally, today's prayer starts like this: Jesus, Son of Yahweh, your name fills the Psalms; today help me proclaim your reign…

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