Psalms 2

The mention of Zion (Psalms 2:6) as the royal residence shows that the psalm could not have been written earlier than the eighth year of David’s reign, when he had captured that stronghold from the Jebusites, (2 Samuel 5:6-9;) and the internal evidence carries it still forward to the time of his pious intention to build a temple, (2 Samuel 7:4-17.) Though the psalm has an historic foundation in David’s person and kingdom, yet it has always been accepted both by Jews and Christians as prophetic of Messiah, and is repeatedly quoted and applied to Christ in the New Testament. (See the notes.) The fact that the Jews admitted the Messianic application of the psalm and still sought to evade it, is thus tersely given by Perowne: “Kimchi says, ‘Some interpret this psalm of Gog and Magog, and the Anointed is King Messiah, and so our rabbies of blessed memory have expounded it; and the psalm, so expounded, is clear; but it is more natural to suppose that David spake it concerning himself, as we have interpreted it.’ R. Sol. Isaki (Rashi) makes the same statement as to the ancient interpretation, but with remarkable candour adds: ‘In order, however, to keep the literal sense, and that we may be able to answer the heretics, (that is, Christians,) it is better to explain it of David himself with reference to what is said 2 Samuel 5:17.’” The kingship of Christ, his title of “Son of God,” and his profession of Saviour, were the issues in our Lord’s day, restated by the apostles, (Acts 2:0,) and have been brought down through the ages as the great points of controversy between the true Church and the world. And this conflict, which it is the design of this psalm clearly to state predicted Genesis 3:15 will continue until “the last enemy shall be destroyed.” 1 Corinthians 15:26. The psalm is anonymous, but its author must have been himself a king, conscious of being chosen by Jehovah to this honour; and though surrounded by enemies fierce and tumultuous, who were leagued for his overthrow, confident that through Jehovah he would triumph over them. These circumstances meet only in David. The whole force of internal evidence declares for him, and is confirmed by Acts 4:25. The form of the psalm is highly dramatic, animated, bold, and triumphant. It falls into four stanzas of three verses each, of seven, six, seven, and eight lines. Psalms 2:1-3, refer to the conspiracy of the hostile nations; Psalms 2:4-6, show that God shall make void their plans; in Psalms 2:7-9, the anointed one publishes the decree for the establishment of his dominion, and the subjugation of the nations; Psalms 2:10-12, an admonition to kings to submit.