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Gleanings in the Psalms

Psalm 2

We shall not greatly err in our summary of this sublime Psalm if we call it THE PSALM OF MESSIAH THE PRINCE; for it sets forth, as in a wondrous vision, the TUMULT of the people against the Lord's Anointed; the DETERMINATE PURPOSE of God to exalt His own Son, and the ULTIMATE REIGN of that son over all His enemies.

C.H. Spurgeon

Verse 1 – "Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?"

In Spain, two monumental pillars were once raised on which were written: - "Diocletian Jovian Augustus, for having extinguished the name of Christians who brought the republic to ruin… For having everywhere abolished the superstition of Christ, and extended the worship of the gods".

As a modern writer has observed: "We have here a monument raised by paganism, over the grave of its vanquished foe. But, in this 'The people imagined a vain thing;' so far from being deceased, Christianity was on the eve of its final and permanent triumph… Neither in Spain, nor elsewhere can be pointed out the burial place of Christianity".

Joseph Caryl

Verse 1 – "WHY do the heathen rage…?"

Their opposition is altogether unjust, without cause, and reasonless: for, on being asked, they cannot render a reason WHY.

David Dickson

Verse 4 – "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh…"

Those attempts of the kingdom of Satan, which in our eyes are formidable, in His are despicable.

Matthew Henry

Verse 4 – "…shall laugh".

Not that God laughs as men do; but the expression points at the absurdity of men's undertaking of impossibilities.

Martin Luther

Verse 6 – "Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion".

NOTICE … (1) The Royal office and character of our glorious Redeemer … He is a KING. (2) The authority by which He reign… He is MY King. (3) The particular kingdom over which He rules…
The Temple was built upon Mount Zion and is, therefore, called a HOLY hill. Christ's throne is in His Church, it is His headquarters, and the place at His peculiar residence… Whatever be the plots of hell and earth to the contrary, He reigns by His Father's ordination.

Stephen Charnock

Verse 11 – "Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling".

This fear of God qualifies our joy. If you abstract fear from joy, joy will become light and wanton;' and if you abstract joy from fear, fear then will become slavish.

William Bates

Verse 11 – "…rejoice with trembling".

Our safety consists in a due proportion of hope and fear. When devoid of hope, we resemble a ship without an anchor; when unrestrained by fear, we are like the same vessel under full sail without ballast.

Thomas Scott

This is another Psalm which divides men into two classes; two classes which will be fully revealed in the day of God's judgment. When the Psalmist considers this day of God's judgment he is forced to ask a question regarding something which seems to have been a source of wonder to him… "WHY do the heathen rage?" This greatly resembles our Lord's question to Paul when he halted him on the road to Damascus… "Saul, Saul, WHY persecutest thou me?" To those who wilfully choose to set themselves against Christ this Psalm should speak with force… In the light of God's coming Day of judgment, WHY do you rage against Him?

This Page Title – Gleanings in the Psalms – Psalm 2
The Wicket Gate Magazine "A Continuing Witness".
Internet Edition number 37 – placed on line July 2002
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