A.      The psalm begins with a scene of rebellion against God.

                                                             1.      Psalm 2:1-2 – Why are the nations in an uproar and the peoples devising a vain thing?  The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against the LORD and against His Anointed…

                                                             2.      This passage of prophecy was fulfilled when Christ was tried and crucified in Jerusalem.

a.       In verse 2, the term "Anointed” is from the Hebrew word mashiyach or Messiah.  It refers to God’s anointed King, Christ Jesus (see Acts 2:29-36).

b.       The first Christians quoted this psalm in a prayer and identified the persons and events that fulfilled it in Acts 4:23-30.

i.         The psalm is quoted in vv. 25-26, and the fulfillment is stated in vv. 27-28 – "For truly in this city there were gathered together against Your holy servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.”

ii.        These Christians also saw that they were part of this prophecy (v. 29).

B.      Notice the words of the rebellious kings and rulers that reveal their resentment toward God’s authority.

                                                             1.      Psalm 2:3 – [saying,] "Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!”

                                                             2.      The enemies of God viewed His authority as bondage, and they sought to avoid their perceived oppression by rebelling against God, rejecting His Christ, and resisting the gospel of salvation.

                                                             3.      Of course, the effort of these rulers was "a vain thing” (v. 1).  They would have had more success in preventing the sun from rising than in restraining the plan of God (Isa. 55:11; Eph. 3:11).

C.      Application for today: Resistance is futile.

                                                             1.      All who attempt to prevent God from achieving His purposes are practicing futility and vanity.  This is true of individuals, organizations, false religions, governments, or any other entity that opposes Almighty God.

                                                             2.      Notice Isaiah 46:9-11 – "Remember the former things long past, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is no one like Me, declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things which have not been done, saying, ‘My purpose will be established, and I will accomplish all My good pleasure…Truly I have spoken; truly I will bring it to pass.  I have planned it, surely I will do it.”

II.      THE LORD HAS INSTALLED HIS KING

A.      The psalm continues with a view into heaven and a message from the God of heaven and earth.

                                                             1.      Psalm 2:4-6 – He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them.  Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury, saying, "But as for Me, I have installed My King upon Zion, My holy mountain.”

                                                             2.      The laughter of God is never a good thing for the objects of His laughter (Ps. 37:13; 59:8).  God laughs only at those who attempt to threaten, oppose, or overthrow Him, for their efforts are ridiculous.

                                                             3.      In His anger, God announced the failure of His enemies, for He has installed the King whom they tried to resist.

a.       Again, this King is Christ Jesus, the Anointed of God (Acts 2:29-36).

b.       Consider the meaning of "Zion, My holy mountain.”

i.         Zion was the hill upon which the temple of God was built, but it was often used in prophecy as a figure of God’s kingdom.

ii.        In Isaiah 2:2-4, Isaiah described how the "mountain of the house of the LORD” (Zion) would be established above all other mountains in the "last days” (see Dan. 2:24-45).  He said that all nations would come to the mountain to learn the word of God and that the nations would enjoy peace in the mountain.  This means that God’s kingdom is greater than all other kingdoms, it is the source from which the word of God flows, and it is the place of peace for all nationalities of people.

iii.      Christ has now been seated on the throne as the King of Zion, the mountain of God (see Heb. 12:22-29).

B.      Next, the psalmist records the testimony of God’s chosen King, who is the Christ.

                                                             1.      Psalm 2:7-9 – "I will surely tell of the decree of the LORD: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You.  Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession.  You shall break them with a rod of iron, You shall shatter them like earthenware.’”

                                                             2.      Christ declares the decree of Jehovah unto Himself.  There are three parts of this decree:

a.       Christ is the Son of God.  This passage is quoted in Acts 13:33 and Hebrews 1:5; 5:5.

b.       Christ received the whole world as an inheritance.  Jesus said as much in Matthew 28:18 – "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”

c.        Christ crushes His enemies.  This passage is quoted in Revelation 2:27; 12:5; 19:15.

C.      Application for today:  Christ is the King.

                                                             1.      When Christ ascended back to heaven, He was seated at the right hand of God on the throne of David where He now reigns (Acts 2:29-36).  Those who attempted to prevent Him from taking the authority in the kingdom of God have failed.

                                                             2.      Therefore, it is the solemn responsibility of every man, woman, and child on earth to submit to their King.  He is the authority over the whole earth.

III.   TAKE WARNING

A.      Finally, the psalm gives a warning and instruction for all kings lest they become caught up in the rebellion against Jehovah and His Christ.

                                                             1.      Psalm 2:10-12 – Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; take warning, O judges of the earth.  Worship the LORD with reverence and rejoice with trembling.  Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled.  How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!

                                                             2.      The rulers of the earth must come to their senses and not cast their lot with the failed rebels who resisted God.  God’s Christ has already triumphed, and it is foolish to resist His overwhelming victory.

                                                             3.      Rather than rebel, the rulers and their nations must worship Jehovah and give reverence to His Son.  Otherwise, they will provoke the wrath of God and their own destruction.

B.      Application for today: Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.

                                                             1.      Compare the last phrase in verse 12 with Psalm 33:12 (Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD, the people whom He has chosen for His own inheritance) and Psalm 144:15 (How blessed are the people who are so situated; how blessed are the people whose God is the LORD!).

                                                             2.      At one time, the United States was recognized by itself and others as a Christian nation.

a.       In 1892, the U.S. Supreme Court stated in its ruling on Church of the Holy Trinity v. United States:

But, beyond all these matters, no purpose of action against religion can be imputed to any legislation, state or national, because this is a religious people.  This is historically true.  From the discovery of this continent to the present hour, there is a single voice making this affirmation…There is a universal language pervading them all, having one meaning.  They affirm and reaffirm that this is a religious nation.  These are not individual sayings, declarations of private persons.  They are organic utterances…These, and many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic utterances that this is a Christian nation.

b.       In 1892, there were Jews, Muslims, and unbelievers in the United States, but it was universally recognized that the nation was founded upon Christian beliefs.

                                                             3.      This is no longer the case, for even the President has said:

a.       "Whatever we once were, we are no longer a Christian nation – at least, not just. We are also a Jewish nation, a Muslim nation, a Buddhist nation, and a Hindu nation, and a nation of nonbelievers.” (June 28, 2006)

b.       "We do not consider ourselves a Christian nation or a Jewish nation or a Muslim nation...” (April 6, 2009)

                                                             4.      If blessings come to those nations who take refuge in the Lord, then what comes to those nations who reject Him?  "The wicked will return to Sheol, even all the nations who forget God” (Ps. 9:17; see also Ps. 50:22).