Psalm 2
“I have set my king upon my holy hill of Zion” (Psalm 2:6).
— David Rice
The Book of Psalms contains 150 chapters. “The Jews … divided it into five books, corresponding to the Five Books of Moses” (Jamieson, Fausset and Brown Commentary). This is a common division of the book, the five segments being chapters 1‑41, 42‑72, 73‑89, 90‑106, and 107‑150. This division is also supported by the appearance of the word “Amen” in the closing verses of the first four of these sections —
“Amen, and Amen” (Psalm 41:13)
“Amen, and Amen” (Psalm 72:19)
“Amen, and Amen” (Psalm 89:52)
“Amen” (Psalm 106:48).
These are the only four verses in the book that contain the word “Amen,” serving as a conclusion of each segment. The word “Amen” appears in the closing verse of that section, except Psalm 72, where one more verse follows. Verse 20 states, “The prayers of David the son of Jesse are ended.” Thereafter Psalms 73 through 83 open with a mention of Asaph.
However, David does reappear as the source of some later psalms also (86, 101, 103, 108, 109, 110, 122, and others).
Psalm 2
Psalm 1 opens the book with a brief description of godly ones, “that walk not in the counsel of the ungodly … his delight is in the law of the LORD … He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water” (verses 1‑3).
Psalm 2, a brief psalm of 12 verses, speaks about King David, but pertains prophetically to King Jesus. David ruled for 40 years, and was anointed three times. Once as a young man while Saul still reigned (1 Samuel 16:13), again over Judah after the passing of Saul (2 Samuel 2:4), and a third time after the northern tribes of Israel requested him to be their king also (2 Samuel 5:3).
Jesus also in a sense is anointed three times. He was anointed at the opening of his ministry when he was baptized in the Jordan and he received the holy Spirit in the figure of a dove (Matthew 3:16). Later, at his resurrection, he became anointed as our king and priest in glory (Hebrews 1:8, 9). When the Kingdom is established, Jesus and the Church will then serve as kings and priests to bless “all the families of the earth” (Revelation 20:6, Genesis 12:3).
Mount Zion
King David reigned from the “holy hill of Zion,” which was on the lower south eastern portion of ancient Jerusalem, which David seized from Jebusites (2 Samuel 5:6, 7). When Psalm 2:6 says “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion,” this refers literally to God’s favor to King David. The name “Zion” later expanded to the north to include the temple mount, where Solomon built the temple (Psalm 132:13, 48:2, Isaiah 8:18).
However, David’s reign is symbolic of the reign of King Jesus, who descended from King David through Jesus’ mother, Mary. Evidently David was born in Bethlehem, for his father Jesse and his family was from there (1 Samuel 6:1, 4, 18, 17:12). More than a thousand years after the birth of David, our Lord Jesus was also born in Bethlehem. “Thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting” (Micah 5:2, Matthew 2:1).
Jesus is our King and Priest presently, during the Gospel Age (Hebrews 8:1). During the Kingdom, Jesus will serve as King and Priest for the world, together with the Church, glorified with him in heaven (Revelation 20:6). These two segments of Jesus’ reign connect symbolically to two parts of David’s reign — seven years over his own people, Judah, and the remainder of his reign over all Israel (2 Samuel 2:11, 1 Kings 2:11).
Thus, when Psalm 2:6 says “Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion,” though it refers to David directly, it has a deeper meaning to the kingly authority of Jesus, which spans two ages — the present Gospel Age, and the Kingdom for mankind. In what follows, we will consider the application of Psalm 2 to Jesus.
Psalm 2:1‑5
“Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? (2) The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed [Jesus], saying, (3) Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us” (Psalm 2:1‑3).
The first two verses above are applied to Jesus directly in Acts 4:25‑27, by disciples of Jesus who recognized that Herod, Pilate, and Israelites, had united against Jesus, who on the third day after his painful death, was triumphantly raised from the dead.
In this respect, Jesus’ victory through God’s power showed that the afflicters of Jesus were ineffective. “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh.” God “shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure” (Psalm 2:4, 5).
As time passed, the enemies of Christ who persecuted him each suffered for their actions. Herod (Antipas) was exiled to Gaul, which today is France. Pilate was removed as governor about 36 AD by the Syrian governor Vitellius, according to Josephus. Some Christian writers report that he later died by suicide after being summoned to Rome by Emperor Tiberius. Caiaphas was removed as High Priest in 36 or 37 AD by the governor of Syria, Lucius Vitellius, perhaps in part because of is association with Pilate. Many Israelites suffered death or expulsion from Jerusalem during the seven year conflict against Rome, from 66 to 73 AD.
The term “laugh,” applied to an expression of God, appears also in Psalm 37:13, 59:8, and Proverbs 1:26. “The LORD shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming” (Psalm 37:13). “Thou, O LORD, shalt laugh at them; thou shalt have all the heathen in derision” (Psalm 59:8). “I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh” (Proverbs 1:26). In each case it applies against ungodly ones who act for their interests, against what is right, or those who are more righteous.
The Lord’s people are advised to be patient in godly conduct, as Jesus was. “Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently … cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil” (Psalm 37:7, 8). “I will wait upon thee: for God is my defence” (Psalm 59:9). “Whoso hearkeneth unto me shall dwell safely … quiet from fear of evil” (Proverbs 1:33).
Jesus was highly rewarded for his remarkably patient endurance. If we follow his example, and are patient in difficult experiences, we will join in his reward. That will be a remarkable privilege. One that we do not deserve. But one generously tendered by the giver of all good.
Psalm 2:6‑8
“Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. (7) I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee” (Psalm 2:6,7).
These texts refer to the resurrection of Jesus and his appointment as our King. The Hebrew word for “begotten” can refer either to begettal or to birth, depending on the context. As God is the active agent here, and as God is considered masculine, it is understandable that the term is rendered “begettal” in many translations. The Young’s Literal Translation says “I today have brought thee forth,” referring not to spiritual begettal (at Jesus’ baptism), but to spiritual birth (at Jesus’ resurrection).
This meaning is affirmed in Acts 13:33. Here Paul was speaking in a synagogue in Antioch of Pisidia, about Jesus. “God hath fulfilled the same unto us their children, in that he hath raised up Jesus again; as it is also written in the second psalm, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.” Notice Paul’s application, not to the begettal of Jesus at Jordan, but to his raising up at his resurrection.
The New World translation says, “You are my son, I have become your Father this day.” The NIV translation says, “You are my son; today I have become your father.” Jesus of course was the “son of God” from the beginning. Even the fallen spirits acknowledged this in Matthew 8:29, “What have we to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of God? Art thou come hither to torment us before the time?” But at the resurrection of Jesus, he received life on a higher plane than he had before he came to earth. He was not simply restored to his former status. He received a new nature, of higher glory and standing.
Remarkably, God offers an elevation for consecrated followers of Jesus, to share a portion of that standing. “To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality” (Romans 2:7).
For Jesus’ devoted sacrifice, there is a further blessing from God. “Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession” (Psalm 2:8). Jesus, who gave his life for mankind, now receives them as his possession, for the purpose of restoring them to everlasting life. This also comes in two stages. First the Gospel Age with its heavenly calling, followed by the Kingdom on earth with its earthly calling.
Not only Israelites are to be governed, directed, and led to life through Jesus, but the entire Gentile world as well, “the heathen” to “the uttermost parts of the earth.” Jesus’ control of mankind ultimately will become universal. Presently both Jews and Gentiles of faith are permitted into the remarkable privilege of becoming part of his team. In the Kingdom, blessings will extend to every person.
Psalm 2:9‑12
“Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.” Judgment evidently is part of the process, and the present Gospel Ag opened with judgments. In the first trumpet, Israel received judgment (Revelation 8:7). In the second trumpet, Rome received judgment (Revelation 8:8, 9).
The second age of redemption, the blessed Kingdom approaching, also is introduced by judgments, in order to direct the attention of mankind to their heavenly rulers. To the deeply persecuted church of Thyatira, the promise to overcomers includes this. “He [an overcomer] shall rule them [the nations] with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers.” Today, since 1914, a time of trouble is shaping the landscape of mankind to prepare them for the blessings of the Kingdom. Two World Wars, six million Jews extinguished in the Holocaust, many millions more slain subsequently by brutal dictators, and today a war of attrition between Russia and Ukraine, remind mankind of the horrors of the rule of sin and death.
Another conflict is pending (Ezekiel 38, Revelation 16:16, 19‑21). Then, at last, the command “peace, be still” (Mark 4:39) will come from our Master, and the Kingdom will move the world to peace and righteousness. “Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. (11) Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. (12) Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little” (Psalm 2:11, 12). In time, all leaders will hear this, and seek peace above ambitious schemes.
“Blessed are all they that put their trust in him” (Psalm 2:12). Every person that learns to trust Jesus will be blessed. That blessedness will be everlasting.