The Sermon for Evensong on Wednesday, May 6th, 2026: A Sermon on Psalm 2
INTRODUCTION
Psalm 2 is the first of the royal psalms (scholars agree on these as the royal psalms: 2, 18, 20, 21, 45, 72, 89, 101, 110, 132, 144). These psalms originally provided the theology of the Davidic monarchy and were probably used whenever the king participated in temple worship. However, after the loss of the monarchy in Judah’s defeat by the Babylonian armies in the sixth century B.C., these psalms came to be interpreted to refer to the Messiah, a king anointed by God who would rule over Israel and the nations of the world.
When we read these psalms as Christians, we interpret them to refer to the Lord Jesus Christ, and to his Second Coming, when he shall establish his rule over all the nations of the world.
It is important also to consider Psalm 2 as an introduction, with Psalm 1, to the whole of the Psalter. In Psalm 1, the importance of obeying the law of the Lord and living a righteous life is emphasized, because the Lord knows the way of the righteous and causes them to live forever. In Psalm 2, we see why it is important to love and serve the Lord in view of his future rule over all the world.
Psalm 2 can be divided into various sections: verses 1-3 deal with the rebellion of the nations against the Lord and his Messiah; verses 4-6 speak of the Lord’s laughter at the futile rebellion of the nations, but also of his anger at them, and his announcement of establishing his King on Mount Zion; verses 7-9 consist of the Messiah, God’s anointed King, rehearsing the decree of God that establishes his kingship, and promising his effective sovereignty over them; verse 9-11 are a warning to the rulers of the world to reconcile with the Messiah or perish.
EXPOSITION
The first verse asks why the godless nations rage angrily and imagine a vain thing. The implication is that they do not want to be ruled by Christ or by God. They want to be free to govern themselves as they see fit. Verse 2 describes the kings and rulers standing up and taking counsel against the Lord and his anointed King. This very verse is quoted by the Christians gathered in prayer in Acts 4, when they are praying for boldness to speak the word of God. They interpret Psalm 2:2 as predicting the attacks on Jesus Christ by King Herod, Pontius Pilate, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel. Godless leaders and nations feel that the Lord Jesus Christ has bound them as prisoners, and they want to escape this bondage.
God first laughs at them, knowing that their efforts are futile. Though they crucified Jesus Christ, and though they keep persecuting and killing Christians, God knows that they cannot win the battle. He then speaks to them in anger, telling them of his decree, that he has set his King upon the holy hill of Zion. This means that the Lord Jesus Christ will return in power to Jerusalem and rule the nations from there (Zechariah 14).
In verses 7-9, the Lord Jesus Christ rehearses the decree God has given him, beginning with the words, “Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee” (verse 7). These words are similar to what God said to Jesus after his baptism in the River Jordan, and St. John testifies in John 1:14, that the Word was made flesh, and lived among us, and we saw his glory, “the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth” ((John 1:14b, KJV). In the next part of the decree, the Son tells us that God will give the nations as his inheritance and all the world, and he will rule over them with a rod of iron and break them in pieces like a clay vessel (vv.8-9). This means absolute rule over the world. Rebellion will no longer be tolerated.
The final verses of the Psalm advise the rulers of the world to serve the Lord in fear and rejoice in him with reverence, calling for them to be reconciled with him or face destruction. A blessing is pronounced on all who put their trust in the Messiah, whom we believe to be the Lord Jesus Christ.
CONCLUSION
Many people today are rebelling against the Lord Jesus Christ and against God. Neither rulers nor people can succeed in this ultimately, and to avoid eternal death, all need to come to the Lord Jesus Christ, repent of their sinful rebellion, and put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ, accepting his full governance and control of their lives.