Background
The second Psalm shows the Messiah’s victory over a rebellious enemy. This goes back to Genesis 3:15 where the seed of the serpent would fight the seed of the woman. The seed of the serpent would bruise the Messiah’s heel—a temporary wound (for Christ was raised from the dead). The seed of the woman would crush the serpent’s head—total destruction (in the lake of fire in the future).
Structure
The Psalm is structured as follows:
(Verses 1 – 3) The rebellious and their plans against the Lord and His Messiah
(Verses 4 – 9) God’s response to them—the authority of His Son, the Messiah
(Verses 10 – 12) Man’s proper conduct toward the Lord and His Messiah
Key Scriptures
Verse 7—“I will declare the decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee.” Think of how Jesus Christ would have marveled with rejoicing when he read this verse. This scripture is quoted in Acts 13:33 by Paul in Antioch of Pisidia. Paul said this was “glad tidings” and a promise that God made to the “fathers” of Israel. It is also quoted in Hebrews 1:5 and 5:5, regarding Christ being greater than any angel; and that he was a new kind of high priest (not under the Levitical law). As God’s Son, Jesus Christ had that stature.
Verse 8—”Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.” This is quoted in the Book of Revelation three times (2:27; 12:5; 19:15). All three places show Jesus Christ’s future power and authority in action. He truly will rule with an iron rod.
Verses 11 and 12—“Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son….” This mighty Psalm concludes with advice on how to be “blessed.” Serve the Lord God with respect, and show obedience and honor to His Son, the Messiah. The words “Kiss the Son,” can also be translated “kiss the ground,” showing obedience and respect to a superior and lord. I Corinthians 8:6 explains this truth beautifully: “But to us there is but one God, the Father, of [from] whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by [means of] whom are all things, and we by him.”
FOR FURTHER STUDY
All 150 of The Psalms in Poetic Form are available from Amazon in a book, either Large Print or a smaller Bedside Reader. Also available for free with a Kindle Unlimited membership. Enjoy!
The entire blog series is now available in the publication The Psalms: Background & Structure with Key Scriptures Explained.
Jesus Christ died for us while we were still sinners. He loved the unlovable. We weren’t even “good.” We were unlovable—at least from a human point of view. But Jesus Christ was able to take on his mission, his calling, to die for us because he lived with his Father’s love. 