Mike's Day 2: “I have installed my king on Zion, my holy hill ...”

Psalm 2: a prayer of defiance. Though the nations conspire against the LORD (thus against Israel), the Anointed-King, the one LORD names as his own Son and rules from Zion (Jerusalem), will rule with an 'iron sceptre'; therefore those plotting kings should 'be wise', 'be warned', 'Serve the LORD with fear','rejoice with trembling' and ultimately 'Kiss the Son' in order to stave off his anger.

This is a bit of an angry one. It is a Psalm about the Messiah (Anointed One), probably David, chosen by God to both rule his people and defeat the enemies of the people of God. One of the functions of the Messiah was to defeat the enemies of Israel, thereby bringing salvation. The Messiah's victory would be God's victory, and perhaps the high point of David's reign is captured in the millitary victories of 2 Samuel 8 & 9 (before the Bathsheba incident) and preceded by God's message to David through Nathan (2 Sam 7), which reads:

"I will provide a place for my people Israel and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be distrubed. Wicked people will not oppress them anymore, as they did at the beginning and have done ever since the time I appointed leaders over my people Israel. I will also give you rest from all your enemies."

Psalm 2 recalls this 'promise', if you like. Note that it is against the nations that rage and conspire against Israel, not against the nations per se. The function God had for Israel was twofold, to defeat evil, and be the the source of blessing for the nations.

This Psalm had special meaning for the early church: read Acts 4:23-31. It is attributed directly to their 'father' David, who spoke the words of God by the Holy Spirit (v.25). The peoples are all those who conspired against Jesus, whom God anointed (v.27). The Psalm of salvation for Israel has then been fulfilled in Jesus; the successor mentioned by Nathan in 2 Sam vs. 12 is Jesus.

'Blessed are all who take refuge in him.'