Whereas the first Psalm brought out a contrast between the happy man and the sinner, the second Psalm sets the tumultuous rebellion of the ungodly against sure exaltation of the Son of God, the Messiah. The ungodly, who are driven away as chaff in Psalm 1, are here in Psalm 2 smashed into pieces (v. 9). What Psalm 2 reveals, that Psalm 1 only implies, is the person of Messiah. While Christ is well characterized in the description of the happy man of Psalm 1, His name is not overtly stated; however, in Psalm 2, His persona is clearly revealed. The Messianic implication of Psalm 2 are hard to deny for even the very name “Mashiach” (Hebrew for Messiah and translated as “Anointed”) appears in verse 2 of the Psalm. In addition, the second Psalm is often quoted in the New Testament to provide Scriptural confirmation of Jesus’ Messianic office and expected glorious and royal return. Jesus, whose “sonship” was confirmed by the Father at His baptism, was first clearly revealed as the Son, here in Psalm 2. The first century church understood the crucifixion of Christ by the nations and rulers of the world in light of the raging of the nations described in verse 1. John in his Revelation describes Christ as the one “who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron,” not unlike the description of His rule in Psalm 2:9.
The Messianic hope that Psalm 2 raises is that the anointed king Messiah will rule by God’s appointment; that although this dark world would foolishly seek to drive God out of existence, that in the end He will subdue all nations under His feet. In light of this, the only wise response on the part of humanity is that of repentance and worship.
