Purpose: In this session we will see three points concerning this Psalm’s Messianic character that points to Jesus.
- The Details within Psalm 2 Is Messianic
- The Torah-Messiah structure in the Psalms suggests Psalm 2 is Messianic
- The New Testament interprets Psalms 2 is Messianic
The Details within Psalm 2 Is Messianic
- Reference to Messiah: “His Anointed” (v.2b)= Literally the Hebrew word for Anointed is the word Messiah.
- Global Conspiracy: “Why are the nations restless And the peoples plotting in vain? 2 The kings of the earth take their stand And the rulers conspire together Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,” (v.1-2)=This Messiah is the concern of nations and kings plotting against Him. The Anointed One here is not an ordinary person.
- Son will possess the world: ““I will announce the [d]decree of the Lord: He said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have fathered You. 8 Ask it of Me, and I will certainly give the [e]nations as Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth as Your possession.” (v.7-8)= It is not just the Messiah has the nations against Him; He is the One that is in view who has authority to rule the world and possess it.
- Son will judge Kings: “Now then, you kings, use insight; Let yourselves be instructed, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve the Lord with [j]reverence And rejoice with trembling.” (v.10-11)
- Homage to the Son: “Kiss the Son, that He not be angry and you perish on the way, For His wrath may be kindled quickly. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him!” (v.12)
The Torah-Messiah structure in the Psalms suggests Psalm 2 is Messianic
There are Psalms in the book of Psalms placed next to each other which one will be on God’s Written Word while another will be God’s Incarnate Word (the Messiah).[1]
Psalm 18 and 19
- Psalm 19 is about God revealing Himself in the World (Psalm 19:1-6) and the Word (Psalm 19:7-14).
- Psalm 18 and Psalm 19 are connected; notice both Psalms mentioned that the phrase “Lord, my rock” in the beginning of Psalm 18 (Psalm 18:1) and end of Psalm 19 (Psalm 19:14)
Psalm 118 and 119
- Psalm 119 is about God’s Word.
- Psalm 118 contain Messianic Prophecy: “A stone which the builders rejected Has become the chief cornerstone. 23 This came about from the Lord; It is marvelous in our eyes. 24 This is the day which the Lord has made; Let’s rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:22-24)
Psalm 1 and 2
- We see the linguistic connection between Psalm 1 and Psalm 2.
- The pattern of Torah Psalm next to a Messianic Psalm with connection with each other through the use of the same vocabulary reinforce our interpretation of Psalm 2 as Messianic.
The New Testament interprets Psalms 2 is Messianic
- Psalm 2:1 is alluded to in Revelation 11:18: “And the nations were enraged, and Your wrath came, and the time came for the dead to be judged, and the time to reward Your bond-servants the prophets and the saints and those who fear Your name, the small and the great, and to destroy those who destroy the earth.””[6]
- Psalm 2:2 is alluded to in Revelation 11:18: “who by the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our father David Your servant, said, ‘Why were the nations insolent, And the peoples plotting in vain? 26 The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the Lord and against His Christ.’”[7]
- Acts 4:25-26 record Psalm 2:2 being cited.
- Who does this refer to? The next verse in Acts 4:27 indicates it is Christ that fulfilled this passage.
- Psalm 2:7 is alluded to in Matthew 3:17; 17:5.
- The first passage is God the Father identifying Jesus during Jesus’ baptism.
- The second passage is God the Father identifying Jesus during the Transfiguration.
[1] For more on this see O. Palmer Robertson, The Flow of the Psalms (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing).
[2] Robert Cole, “Psalm 1-2” in The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2018), 479.
[3] Robert Cole, “Psalm 1-2” in The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2018), 479.
[4] Robert Cole, “Psalm 1-2” in The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2018), 479.
[5] Robert Cole, “Psalm 1-2” in The Moody Handbook of Messianic Prophecy (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Publishers, 2018), 479.
[6] Source: https://drbarrick.org/files/studynotes/Psalms/Ps_002.pdf.
[7] Source: https://drbarrick.org/files/studynotes/Psalms/Ps_002.pdf.
The Domain for Truth 
Going to look at this more in-depth later but seems interesting
Thanks! I think it is interesting! Man the Word of God continue to blow my mind week after week with our church ongoing mid-week series through Messianic prophecies!
It continues to blow my mind as well. No matter what I am studying there is always something new i never noticed before.
Thank you Jim for adding depth to my own reading of Psalm 2. I will look at these different pairings of Psalms with a new light.
Praise God thanks for checking this outline post and I hope God’s Word amazes you and I!
Excellent insight about Psalm 2. Thanks for the wisdom.
Shalom!
I appreciate the way you point out the parallel structure of the Psalms in reference to God’s Anointed. That is a helpful reminder. And, I think that showing how these biblical messages refer to the Chief of God’s Anointed–Jesus the Christ (the Messiah)–is an encouragement to Christians and an aid in our witnessing efforts.
The Christian faith is not a New Testament faith, but a Biblical one. The Bible, as you’ve shown to your readers in your response to skeptics looking for contradictions, is a cohesive book of many books, written by many men through the inspiration of God the Holy Spirit. This is just one further verification to the individual that has listening ears that God’s Word is true and the coming of Christ was a prophetically foretold (also verified) event.
One thing that I think is helpful, and I’m sure that you’ll agree is that these Messianic passages first applied to the Lord’s other anointed David, 2nd King of Israel. David served as a type or shadowy representation of the anti-type, Jesus of Nazareth. But their ultimate fulfillment comes in the One of God we call Christ Jesus.
Continue the good work, brother!
In Christ,
Kristafal
Good point about the Bible’s being cohesive in spite of the centuries it took to be written and the diversity of authors the Lord used to write it. The shepherd/king, the physician/historian, and the fisherman/prophet are just a few examples mentioned here, who all point to Messiah as Lord and judge.
Amen so many motifs and titles that points to Jesus! Thanks for reading this sister! Hope your day is going well!
I do agree that there are Psalms that have referent to David and then typologically to the Messiah; but also at other times there’s direct prophecies of Christ that can’t be talking about David such as in Psalms 16 and acts 2 Peter said it can’t be David. What do you think??
I think that is an excellent question. One that I am not sure I can answer with complete clarity in this comment thread. But I will to try. Or at least, to give my limited understanding a showing.
First, I wholeheartedly agree that when Peter speaks of David’s comment in Psalm 16:10 (cf. Acts 2:31) that David as the Lord’s prophet being inspired of the Holy Spirit spoke ultimately of Christ (his descendant) to come. The apostle inspired by the same Spirit reveals to his listeners (and us, his readers) this truth as understood by David. A similar looking ahead may be seen in Job’s confession, when he says, “As for me, I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth. Even after my skin is destroyed, Yet from my flesh I shall see God; Whom I myself shall behold, and whom my eyes will see and not another” (Job 19.25-27a; NASB). That with confidence Job testified that he would see his God, his Redeemer, with his own eyes though he would eventually die. This confidence was that God would not allow him to remain in that state of death, for one day God would restore him in the flesh. Something only possible because of the substitionary sacrifice that Christ Jesus took upon Himself–though the grave was not able to hold Him!
Second, I agree that when Peter spoke of David’s words they were ultimately fulfilled in Christ. For only the incarnated Lord would have power over both life and death; He being the Resurrection of the dead (cf. John 11.25-26).
Third, I would emphasis that when David first penned these inspired words–here speaking of Psalm 16–that they were initially about him. That is an expression of his own heart, his own commitment, his own trust and security in the Lord of Hosts. That is to say, Psalm 16 is a personal expression of a believer in the one and only God of heaven and earth. “Preserve me, O God, for I take refuge in You” (Psa 16.1). This was David’s heartfelt conviction that his security in life and death rested in Yahweh alone. Thus, Psalm 16:10 should be read contextually with the entire flow of thought in the rest of this prayer or song of praise. Thus, when David says, “Therefore my heart is glad and my glory rejoices; my flesh also will dwell securely. For You [Yahweh] will not abandon my soul to Sheol [the grave]; Nor will You allow Your Holy One to undergo decay [or corruption]” (Psa 16.9-10; brackets added for clarity).
Fourth, we know that Christ is the Holy one of God. That is, the chief or “Holy of holies” of God Almighty. But that same expression “holy one” is not limited in use to Christ, but is applied in a general sense to all of God’s children (cf. Lev 20.7-8; Dan 7.18, 27). In this sense, David is a holy one that won’t see corruption or be left to the grave. He understands or confidently asserts that the believer’s destiny is not stationed there.
Fifth, then what do we make of Peter’s assertion? Is it not a contradiction to claim that David asserted this truth for himself, but also in the Spirit applied it to the ONE who would come after him and accomplish this? As you well know a contradiction is something stated in the same way or in the same place with the same emphasis or sense. This then isn’t a contradiction, but an understanding that takes at face value that when David first penned these words they were an expression of his own heart (convictions). That they were built on the confidence of God’s Word (e.g. Job 19.25-27). That they were inspired by the Holy Spirit. Thusly, they were true for David to declare about himself, but in hope to look forward to Jesus Christ as the only foundation that makes these things possible. A hope similarly expressed by all the household of faith that came before him (David).
In this, I do not deny what Peter stated on Pentecost. David did look ahead to Christ where his hope rested. This he did as inspired by the Holy Spirit resting his confidence in none other but God’s chief Anointed or “Holy One.” And yet, these words were confidently asserted by the believer David in relation to his eternal state. His strength was because God strengthened him (“I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand [power or strength], i will not be shaken” Psa 16.8) to set his hope on such.
So, even in this, I still think it is an instance of “both” not either/or. I hope this helps you understand my thoughts on the matter.
I would like to add that Peter’s emphasis to the crowd at Pentecost was that Jesus the descendant of David was by far greater than David for Jesus did not tardy long in the grave.
Supposed to say “tarry” not tardy. iPhone autocorrected it incorrectly
Brother,
That is a thorough answer! I do see that they are not mutually exclusive in an either/or matter. Thanks for sharing that. You should make that into a post (your comment)….what do you think?
I could do that. Do you think it would be helpful?
I do think it is helpful. You spent a lot of time on the comment. Even those who disagree will find it lead them to think more deeper the NT use of the OT. A win-win in my book!
I see what you’re saying. I spent less time on it than you might suppose. About 10-15 minutes. After I sent it to you I noted a few areas where I wasn’t as clear as I would have liked to be. I’ll try to get something ready tomorrow. Take care brother and thanks for the encouragement.
Thanks much the insight! 🙌🙌🙌
You are welcome thanks for checking it out sister!!
I love that this Psalm is part of the thread woven into Scripture through a variety of very different people – David, Luke, John (and Peter) – all pointing to the same Messiah and Judge of the world.
Good point: “There are Psalms in the book of Psalms placed next to each other which one will be on God’s Written Word while another will be God’s Incarnate Word (the Messiah).”
It’s amazing to see the arrangement of a Messianic psalm next to a Torah Psalm! Blessings to you!
One can’t help but to be amazed with this Prophecy
Agree! It is marvelous to us who understand the Word! Praise God for His revelation!!!
Praise and thanksgiving to God
It is amazing how long ago from today that David wrote this. And to think, how long it was written before Christ. Then we see how well it lines up with who Christ is and what he has done and will do. God preserved this for us to point to his glory and greater pleasure. It blows the mind and touches the heart.
Amen it definitely blows my mind and also warm my heart to love Jesus! Amen!!
Thanks for this good outline. Psalm 2 is clearly Messianic. I was curious how rabbis interpreted Psalm 2 and found several versions. Some rabbis thought Psalm 2 pointed to a historic Davidic King while others thought it prophesied the Messiah of the last days (not Jesus).
Good detective work with searching what rabbis think of this passage! I do think it is definitely Messianic since this Son is someone quite extraordinary. Sounds like from your research this can become a post on your blog???
Thanks! I’m frequently curious about how Jewish rabbis explain away/rationalize OT passages that prophesy of Jesus. That could morph into a post someday.
[…] concern in this post. Recently, I read a very interesting article by a fellow blogger entitled, “Psalm 2 is Messianic”. We have never met, so I don’t know him personally, but we have interacted a number of times […]
[…] Psalm 2 is Messianic — The Domain for Truth […]
Amen and Amen.
Reblogged this on clydeherrin.
Thank you for this scriptural walk. Rich with detail. So much so that I just want to soak in it. That our Lord God has condescended to us in such a way, through His word, through His Son, takes my breath away. All praise and glory to Him.
The Scripture is so rich with Messianic grace! Thanks Dora for reading this, I trust your new Year day went well!
[…] 6.) Psalm 2 is Messianic […]
[…] There are Psalms in the book of Psalms placed next to each other which one will be on God’s Written Word while another will be God’s Incarnate Word (the Messiah).[1] […]