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Psalm 2 - Kiss the son, lest he be angry
Putting Psalm 2 in it's context is difficult because we don't know who wrote it, or when. While David is the author who wrote most Psalms (he was called "the sweet Psalmist of Israel" in 2 Samuel 23:1), many other authors are included too. We have some clues though. Let's take a look:
>Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. (Psalm 2:1-3 KJV)
So it is a time where the anointed King of Israel reigns over other nations as well as Israel. Their service is not willingly offered. "let us break their bands asunder" sounds like tribute is being paid to this king.
>Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. (Psalm 2:6 KJV)
This tells us the King was ruling from Jerusalem, rather than Hebron, Samaria or Gibeah as at other times.
>Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him. (Psalm 2:12 KJV)
This verse sounds like a father had set up the Kingdom and was passing it on to his son.
I would suggest that this Psalm may be based around the time at the end of David's reign and the beginning of Solomon's. David's military campaigns had successfully secured the borders and brought the surrounding nations into tribute. These Kings had to decide whether to continue serving and passing tribute money to Solomon, or risk war if they refused.
Some of the details in the Psalm still do not fit completely, which is why this Psalm must ultimately be a prophecy of Jesus. Jesus will reign over all the world, not just a part of it:
>Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and **the uttermost parts of the earth** for thy possession. (Psalm 2:8 KJV)
Of him the LORD would say:
>...Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. (Psalm 2:7 KJV)
Which is applied to Jesus in the new testament book of Hebrews:
>For unto which of the angels said he at any time, **Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee**? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? (Hebrews 1:5 KJV)
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You can read more from Rob de Jongh at www.woodland.press
