Psalm 2

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 2

As the foregoing psalm was moral, and showed us our duty, so this is evangelical, and shows us our Saviour. Under the type of David's kingdom (which was of divine appointment, met with much opposition, but prevailed at last) the kingdom of the Messiah, the Son of David, is prophesied of, which is the primary intention and scope of the psalm; and I think there is less in it of the type, and more of the anti-type, than in any of the gospel psalms, for there is nothing in it but what is... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 2:1-6

We have here a very great struggle about the kingdom of Christ, hell and heaven contesting it; the seat of the war is this earth, where Satan has long had a usurped kingdom and exercised dominion to such a degree that he has been called the prince of the power of the very air we breathe in and the god of the world we live in. He knows very well that, as the Messiah's kingdom rises and gets ground, his falls and loses ground; and therefore, though it will be set up certainly, it shall not be... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 2:7-9

We have heard what the kings of the earth have to say against Christ's kingdom, and have heard it gainsaid by him that sits in heaven; let us now hear what the Messiah himself has to say for his kingdom, to make good his claims, and it is what all the powers on earth cannot gainsay. I. The kingdom of the Messiah is founded upon a decree, an eternal decree, of God the Father. It was not a sudden resolve, it was not the trial of an experiment, but the result of the counsels of the divine wisdom... read more

Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - Psalms 2:10-12

We have here the practical application of this gospel doctrine concerning the kingdom of the Messiah, by way of exhortation to the kings and judges of the earth. They hear that it is in vain to oppose Christ's government; let them therefore be so wise for themselves as to submit to it. He that has power to destroy them shows that he has no pleasure in their destruction, for he puts them into a way to make themselves happy, Ps. 2:10. Those that would be wise must be instructed; and those are... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 2

INTRODUCTION TO PSALM 2 This psalm is the second in order, and so it is called in Acts 13:33 ; which shows that the book of Psalms was in the same form in the apostles' days as now, and as it ever had been; and though it is without a title, yet certain it is that it is a psalm of David, since the twelve apostles of Christ with one voice ascribe it to him, in which no doubt they the generally received sense of the Jewish Acts 4:24 ; and the Messiah is the subject of and that it is a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 2:1

Why do the Heathen rage ,.... Or "the nations"; which some understand of the Jews, who are so called, Genesis 17:5 ; 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, crucify him, Luke 4:28 ; though it is best to interpret it of the Gentiles, as the apostles seem to do in ... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 2:2

The kings of the earth set themselves ,.... Rose and stood up in great wrath and fury, and presented themselves in an hostile manner, and opposed the Messiah: as Herod the great, king of Judea, who very early bestirred himself, and sought to take away the life of Jesus in his infancy; and Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee, who is called a king, Mark 6:14 ; who with his men of war mocked him, and set him at nought; and Pontius Pilate, the governor of Judea, who represented the Roman... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 2:3

Let us break their bands asunder ,.... These are not the words of the apostles, nor of the saints in Gospel times, encouraging one another, notwithstanding the rage and opposition of Jews and Gentiles against their Master and his interest, to break asunder the bands of wickedness, the idolatrous customs and practices of the Heathens, and to throw off the insupportable yoke of bondage, of Jewish traditions and ceremonies, see Isaiah 58:6 ; but of the Heathen, the people, and kings of the... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 2:4

He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh ,.... At the rage and tumult of the Heathen; at the vain imaginations of the people; at the opposition of the kings of the earth; at the mad counsel of the rulers, against him and his Messiah; and at their proposal to one another to throw off the yoke and government of them both. This is a periphrasis of God, "who dwells in the heavens", and sits there enthroned; though he is not included and comprehended in them, but is everywhere; and his being... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - Psalms 2:5

Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath ,.... Or, "and he shall speak to them"; so Noldius: that is, the Lord that sits in the heavens, and laughs, and has the Heathen, the people, the kings and rulers in derision, shall not only silently despise their furious and concerted opposition to him and his Messiah, but shall at last speak out unto them, not in his word, but in his providences; and not in love, as to his own people, when he chastises them, but in great wrath, inflicting severe... read more

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