Hence, he will argue his case to the Lord in the hope of a favorable response to his prayer. But positively, what is true of him? In Act One (2:1‑3), David raises the question about the chaos in the world, and the kings and rulers come forth in a … As if he had said, they have been devising and setting things in a goodly frame to catch flies; they have been spinning a fine thread out of their brains, as the spider doth out of her bowels; such is their web, but when they have their web they cannot cut it out, or make it up into a garment. Literally, as in Psalm 1:2, only here in bad sense, mutter, referring to the whispered treasons passing to and fro among the nations, “a maze of mutter’d threats and mysteries.”. Psalm 2 is considered to be a royal psalm. First, we’ll examine the message of the psalm. The Torah likewise uses this expression for other great individuals. Why do nations make a noise, tumultuate, or rage? Psalm 1 2 Commentary: So, what we saw in our Psalm 1 1 Meaning article was all very negative.We only so far know what the blessed man DOESN’T do. The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” 2. However, their scheme causes the Lord to laugh and to defeat their evil plan. He would be His anointed King.. Who would govern His people Israel and become the Head of the mystic Body, which is the Church. Acts 17:5-6. Joseph Caryl, 1647. refers to the commotion as already begun, while the future in the next clause expresses its continuance. The psalm itself doesn’t explicitly tell us whether it’s speaking of David or one of his descendants. (Read Psalm 2:1-6) We are here told who would appear as adversaries to Christ. There may be an allusion to the rolling and roaring of the sea, often used as an emblem of popular commotion, both in the Scriptures and the classics. 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying, 3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. They shall go naked and cold, notwithstanding all their spinning and weaving, all their plotting and devising. In Psalm 1 the theme is the contrast between the righteous and the wicked person; in Psalm 2 the theme is the contrast between the rebellion of wicked rulers and nations and the rule of God’s righteous Messiah. Blessed are those that put their trust in You and blessed is the Lord our God, for His mercy and grace endures for ever and ever, towards those that love and trust Him, AMEN. Acts 17:5-6. God is long-suffering towards the fallen race of man and is not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to faith in Christ Jesus. The Revolt! 1. Psalm 2:1–6 portrays nations arrayed in military fashion against the Lord God and His anointed King. Those who know the Lord and delight themselves in Him and His Word of truth, will receive the dear desire of their heart. After we have thus attentively considered the subjects apart, let us look at them together, and we shall behold the full beauty and majesty of this most charming poem. The prophet gives us a elegant description to this purpose. Neither in Spain, nor elsewhere, can be pointed out the burial place of Christianity; it is not, for the living have no tomb. A vain thing, because a thing successless, their hands could not perform it. Finally, we’ll ask how this psalm speaks to the task of world evangelization. Psalms Book One The Way of the Righteous and the Wicked. Psalm 2 is the second psalm of the Book of Psalms, generally known in English by its first verse, in the King James Version, "Why do the heathen rage".In Latin, it is known as "Quare fremuerunt gentes".Psalm 2 does not identify its author with a superscription. If we read over the Psalm, first with an eye to the literal David, the meaning is obvious, and put beyond all dispute by the sacred history. These verses show that all trust in man in the service of God is vain. Psalm 1:6, ESV: "for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish." Their goal is to become independent of His plans and purposes. We can defy God and perish, or we can surrender to Him and be blessed. Lowth has the following remarks upon this Psalm: "The establishment of David upon his throne, notwithstanding the opposition made to it by his enemies, is the subject of the Psalm. From the beginning. Psalm 1:6 Parallel Verses [⇓ See commentary ⇓] Psalm 1:6, NIV: "For the LORD watches over the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked leads to destruction." Psalm 1 2 Commentary: Delight. To prevent Jesus Christ, the King of kings, and Lord of lords, … Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? According to the Talmud, Psalm 2 is a continuation of Psalm 1. Psalm 2 – The Reign of the LORD’s Anointed. Verse 1. The word with which Paul renders this in the Greek denotes rage, pride, and restiveness, as of horses that neigh, and rush into the battle. The content of Psalm 2, together with many prophetic passages about the second coming of Christ, … Thank You that Your Word stands fast for ever and that the day is coming when Christ will rule this earth with equity and justice - and You will break those that oppose Your plans and purposes and dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel. But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people. + 2 The kings of the earth take their stand And high officials gather together * as one + Against Jehovah and against his anointed one. And in Spain, two monumental pillars were raised, on which were written: --. The apostles applied this idea to the persecution of Jesus by Israel's religious leaders (Acts 4:27–28). Two sermons by John Newton. Psalm 2:1-5 English Standard Version 2016 (ESV) Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? Literally, as in Psalm 1:2, only here in bad sense, mutter, referring to the whispered treasons passing to and fro among the nations, "a maze of mutter'd threats and mysteries." “Psalm 11”: A vision of the Lord on His throne (verse 4), is all the righteous need for security in the face of the threat of the wicked (verse 2). Psalm 2:1-12 2 Why are the nations agitated And the peoples muttering * an empty thing? The Hebrew verb is not expressive of an internal feeling, but of the outward agitation which denotes it. Herod, the fox, plotted against Christ, to hinder the course of his ministry and mediatorship, but he could not perform his enterprise; it is so all along, therefore it is said, Why do the heathen imagine a vain thing? In compliance with this admonition, if we take another survey of the Psalm as relative to the person and concerns of the spiritual David, a noble series of events immediately rises to view, and the meaning becomes more evident, as well as more exalted. As this world is the kingdom of Satan, unconverted men, of every rank, party, and character, are stirred up by him to oppose the cause of God. The word “Advent” is derived from the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming.” a) Of Christ! the Almighty, is translated from the word Shaddai (If you are thinking of the Amy Grant song right … God loves and delights to cross worldly proverbs and worldly craft. Indeed the gospel of grace has been preached to the nations for almost 2000 years.. and the invitation to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ for the salvation of our soul and life everlasting has been preached freely to whosoever will come by faith. But asking.. why the heathen rage in this way, is not simply a question that we are asking, as we live in this lost and dying world, with its increasingly corrupt world system. A) Recorded in Psalm 2 and beyond! The reference here is to the agitation among the nations in respect to the divine purpose to set up the Messiah as king over the world, and to the opposition which this would create among the nations of the earth. Whole Psalm. All rights reserved. The satanic plans of these foolish, prideful people is to break free from the sovereign rule of their Creator God. Psalm 1 assumes that salvation has already taken place: “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. God's purpose for the human race was for man to have dominion over the earth. Second, we’ll look at how the New Testament uses it. The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the LORD and against his anointed, saying, “Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.” The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. The Message of Psalm 2. But positively, what is true of him? He would be His anointed King.. Who would govern His people Israel and become the Head of the mystic Body, which is the Church. Psalm 1 2 Commentary: So, what we saw in our Psalm 1 1 Meaning article was all very negative.We only so far know what the blessed man DOESN’T do. Let us read it with the eye of faith, beholding, as in a glass, the final triumph of our Lord Jesus Christ over all his enemies. The colouring which may perhaps seem too bold and glaring for the king of Israel, will no longer appear so when laid upon his great Antitype. Acts 4:24–26 in the New Testament attributes it to David. The past tense of this verb (Why have they raged?) Psalm 2:1 Translation & Meaning. The heathen, גוים goyim, the nations; those who are commonly called the Gentiles. Title. Rage. But the rulers of the earth generally have been most active. "They weave the spider's web ... Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works." A vain thing. Blessed are all who take refuge in him” (ESV). Like many psalms, the theme of Psalm 2 is emphasized in the final verse. The Psalm begins abruptly with an angry interrogation; and well it may: it is surely but little to be wondered at, that the sight of creatures in arms against their God should amaze the psalmist's mind. efruaxag, from fruassw, to snort or neigh, properly applied to a high mettled horse. Nothing is more irrational than irreligion. Verses 1-7: The panic that launched this psalm was not David’s but that of his apparently well-meaning counselors. Verse 1. of They will come together with a unified resolution to prevent the prophesised, second coming of Christ. Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? They have plotted to throw off the Lord's control. See Acts 4:25 . This Psalm will be best understood if it be viewed as a four fold picture. We'll send you an email with steps on how to reset your password. Proud member We shall not greatly err in our summary of this sublime Psalm if we call it THE PSALM OF MESSIAH THE PRINCE; for it sets forth, as in a wondrous vision, the tumult of the people against the Lord's anointed, the determinate purpose of God to exalt his own Son, and the ultimate reign of that Son over all his enemies. In their satanic hatred of God, these ungodly men will seek to wrench away Christ's legitimate authority and His God-given sovereign right to rule the nations of the earth, in equity and peace. 1. We see the heathen raging, roaring like the sea, tossed to and fro with restless waves, as the ocean in a storm; and then we mark the people in their hearts imagining a vain thing against God. Psalm 2 is twice as long, consisting of four stanzas and 12 verses. It is in six parts: (1) The rage of the Gentiles, the vain imagination of "people" (Jews), and the antagonism of rulers against Jehovah's anointed Psalms 2:1-3. Inasmuch as men oppose Christ, it is not good to hang our trust upon the multitude for their number, the earnest for their zeal, the mighty for their countenance, or the wise for their counsel, since all these are far oftener against Christ than for him. (Read Psalm 2:1-6) We are here told who would appear as adversaries to Christ. Verse 1-2. Verse 1 BLESSED IS THE MAN WHO WALKS NOT IN THE COUNSEL OF THE WICKED NOR STAND IN THE WAY OF SINNERS.. As a modern writer has elegantly observed: "We have here a monument raised by Paganism, over the grave of its vanquished foe. Or "the nations"; which some understand of the Jews, who are so called, ( Genesis 17:5 ) ( Ezekiel 2:3 ) ; because of their various tribes; and of their rage against the Messiah there have been many instances; as when they gnashed upon him with their teeth, and at several times took up stones to stone him, and cried out in a most furious and wrathful manner, … Psalm 2 begins with a question: “Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in … The next broom that comes will sweep away all their webs and the spiders too, except they creep apace. Psalms 2:1. The consequences of that will be dire. The content of Psalm 2, together with many prophetic passages about the second coming of Christ, gives much insight into God's attitude towards the raging heathens; the kings and rulers of the earth that plot against God and those that imagine a vain thing against the Lord and His anointed King. True blessing comes from God. "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision." May we seek to conduct ourselves in holiness of heart, as we look for the coming of the Christ - our blessed hope and great Redeemer. 4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? As we watch the frenetic desire of the globalist minority seeking to deceive the nations by calling that which is good- 'evil' and that which is evil- 'good', we see other prophetic scriptures being fulfilled - for we read in Hosea: My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because they hast rejected truth.. and Isaiah mourns: My people are gone into captivity for lack of knowledge. Verse 1-2. Psalm 2 – The Reign of the LORD’s Anointed. Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? Like many psalms, the theme of Psalm 2 is emphasized in the final verse. But in this `the people imagined a vain thing;' so far from being deceased, Christianity was on the eve of its final and permanent triumph, and the stone guarded a sepulchre empty as the urn which Electra washed with her tears. Notice that Psalm 1:2 doesn’t say that … The Word of God comes to us as His full and final revelation to man and it outlines God's divine plans and purposes, towards mankind. Verse 1. This is a preface or introduction to the whole book of the psalmist and it describes a Blessed man, also be referred to … The inspired interpretation of this is in Acts 4:25-28 which asserts its fulfilment in the crucifixion of Christ. Copyright © 2021, Bible Study Tools. The Lord sees what fools they are, and men (yea, themselves) shall see it. However, God purposed that His only begotten Son - the eternal Son of God and second Member of the Trinity, would be the one and only Man Who would restore what man lost. Meaning of Psalm 1 verse by verse. The Psalm is structured as a dramatic presentation in four acts. What does Psalm chapter 2 mean? It is certainly a question that many of us have asked over the years as we see an increasing hatred of God, a growing contempt for Jesus Christ.. His anointed Son, a multiplication of sin and evil and an ever greater distain towards those that believe in the death, burial and resurrection of Christ.. for the forgiveness of sins and life everlasting. A medal was struck by Diocletian, which still remains, bearing the inscription, "The name of Christians being extinguished." But the rulers of the earth generally have been most active. Please enter your email address associated with your Salem All-Pass account, then click Continue. The content of Psalm 2, together with many prophetic passages about the second coming of Christ, gives … Psalms 2:1-12 KJV Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? Psalm 1:6, KJV: "For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous: but the way of the ungodly shall perish." As this world is the kingdom of Satan, unconverted men, of every rank, party, and character, are stirred up by him to oppose the cause of God. The first psalm describes the difference between the blessed man and the evil man, and Psalm 2 is about triumph over the forces that oppose the faith. There are many times in history when the people of God could have asked this very question: why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? Notice that Psalm 1:2 doesn’t say that … And the Lord JESUS is the King, Whom God the Father has purposed will rule and reign, for ever and ever. Where there is much rage there is generally some folly, and in this case there is an excess of it. It was vain, not only because there was no true ground of reason why they should imagine or do such a thing, but vain also because they laboured in vain, they could not do it, and therefore it follows, He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Opposition to the gospel, unreasonable and ineffectual. ", "Diocletian Jovian Maximian Herculeus Caesares Augusti, for having adopted Galerius in the east, for having everywhere abolished the superstition of Christ, for having extended the worship of the gods." But knowing that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief.. we are a people who by God's grace ought to walk in spirit and truth. Division. Verse 1. Usually, according to ungodly people, … Rage, רגשו rageshu, the gnashing of teeth, and tumultuously rushing together, of those indignant and cruel people, are well expressed by the sound as well as the meaning of the original word. There is indeed an uncommon glow in the expression and sublimity in the figures, and the diction is now and then exaggerated, as it were on purpose to intimate, and lead us to the contemplation of higher and more important matters concealed within. California - Do Not Sell My Personal Information, "Diocletian Jovian Maximian Herculeus Caesares Augusti, for having extended the Roman Empire in the east and the west, and for having extinguished the name of Christians, who brought the Republic to ruin. In old English "imagine" was used in a bad sense; thus Chaucer, "nothing list him to be imaginatif " i.e., suspicious. The psalm itself does not identify its author, but Acts 4:25-26 clearly attributes … Psalm 26 is a brief (twelve verses) but delightful psalm (i.e., in poetic form) in which the author petitions his God for protection from some threatening, deadly force. Or "the nations"; which some understand of the Jews, who are so called, ( Genesis 17:5 ) ( Ezekiel 2:3 ) ; because of their various tribes; and of their rage against the Messiah there have been many instances; as when they gnashed upon him with their teeth, and at several times took up stones to stone him, and cried out in a most furious and wrathful manner, crucify him, … (Ps 2:1-3) the Nations are raging; ( Psalms 2:4-6) the Lord in heaven derides them; ( Psalms 2:7-9) the Son proclaims the decree; and (from 10 to end) advice is given to the kings to yield obedience to the Lord's anointed. This song expresses amazement that cultures and governments of earth would try to ignore God. The reasons why sinners rebel against God, stated, refuted, lamented, and repented of. In old English “imagine” was used in a bad sense; thus Chaucer, “nothing list him to be imaginatif ” i.e., suspicious. A weighty theme. 1851. He addresses them in His wrath and terrifies them in a display of His fury. 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