1. Indirectly Messianic Psalms
Present-Day Historical Events Psalm 1:1-3
Gentile kings revolted against their tribute status during Solomon’s reign. But David also foresaw final fulfillment in Messiah, the King.
Psalm 45:6-7
Sung at a Hebrew monarch’s wedding; the
king is addressed as “God” by virtue of his
office. But Christ addressed as “God” by virtue
of His nature (Hebrews 1:8-9).

2. Indirectly Messianic Psalm
Psalm 45:6-7 – “Your throne, O God, is
forever and ever; a scepter of righteous-
ness is a scepter of Your kingdom. You
love righteousness and hate wickedness.
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed
You with the oil of gladness more than
Your companions.”
The writer to the Hebrews quoted these verses in reference to Jesus. They originally referred to Solomon.

3. The Psalmist Presents His Message
The Way of the Ungodly is the Way of Rebellion
The Psalmist Presents His Message
in Four Scenes.
First Scene on Earth: The psalmist angrily
questions why enemies would think up a plot
that could not succeed (vv. 1-3).
They form a rebel coalition against the King of
Israel.

4. Enemies During Jesus’s First Coming
Peter applies Psalm 2:1-2 (See Acts 4:25-27)
Gentiles (nations): Represented by the Romans
People: Represented by Israel
Kings: Pontius Pilate – represented by Rome
Rulers: Herod with chief priests and scribes

5. Comparing Psalm 1:2b and Psalm 2:1
“And in His law he meditates day and night.”
“The people imagine, plot, meditate upon, devise a vain thing.”
While the blessed man meditates upon Torah,
the Gentiles and the people meditate upon
a vain thing (that is, overthrowing the King).

6. Comparing Psalm 1:2b and Psalm 2:1
Two Widely Divergent Purposes of Meditation
The righteous man wants to deepen his fellowship with and understanding of the LORD (Ps. 1).
The wicked want their independence; therefore they rebel against the LORD and His Anointed (Ps. 2).

7. Psalm 2:4-6 Outline
Second Scene in Heaven: The psalmist declares the Sovereign LORD’s attitude toward His opponents (vv. 4-6).
The psalmist presents the LORD’s attitude with a series of contrasts and comparisons.
Contrast: Spiritual Status
Comparison: Contempt
Comparison: Anger
Contrast: Official Action

8. The Evolution of Kingship in Israel
Abrahamic Covenant – Land, Seed, Blessing
Enlargement of Seed Aspect – Gen. 35 (kings)
Mosaic Covenant Made – Exodus (Sinai)
[The Law: Moral, Civil, Ceremonial]
IV. Mosaic Covenant Renewed – Deuteronomy
Responsibilities of the King (Deut. 17)
VI. The Judges – Mediators (Samson, Gideon)
VII. Israel Rejects Yahweh as King – 1 Samuel 8
VIII. The Davidic Covenant – 2 Samuel 7
IX. The Mediatorial Kingdom Split (931)
X. Northern (722); Southern (586); No King

9. Psalm 2:7-9 Outline
Third Scene in Heaven: The psalmist quotes the Son’s affirmation (vv. 7-9).

10. Psalm 2:7 in the New Testament
Acts 13:33 – Speaks of His Resurrection Day
Hebrews 1:5 – Son “Begotten” into a Royal Position By His Anointing
Hebrews 5:5 – Begotten into a Melchizedekian priesthood

11. Revelation 2:26-27 and Psalm 2:9
Overcomers and the Kingdom
“And he who overcomes, and keeps My works
until the end, to him I will give power over the
nations. He shall rule them with a rod of iron;
they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s
vessel.

12. Enemies At Jesus’s Second Coming
Allusion to Psalm 2:9a in Revelation 19:15
Enemies At Jesus’s Second Coming
John in Revelation 19:15 alludes to Psalm 2:9a: “You shall break them with a rod of iron.”
“Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword,
that with it He should strike the nations.
And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron (19:15).

13. Psalm 2:10-12 Outline
Fourth Scene on Earth: The psalmist exhorts the heathen (vv ).

14. Example of Antithetical Parallelism
Psalm 1:6 – “For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly
shall perish.” 
Notice how the contrastive conjunction
(“but”) introduces the opposite half of the
parallelism: 
“The way of the righteous” corresponds to “the way of the ungodly,” and “knows”
corresponds to “shall perish.”
Common in Proverbs.

15. Psalm 2
Psalm 2 provides no explicit identification of historical background or authorship. Possible historical background occurred when kings were rebelling against Israel’s king. Israel’s king is styled as a son of Yahweh by the word of Yahweh.

16. Psalm 2 Psalm 2 does not contain a “title.”
The person who arranged Book One (possibly David) placed Psalm 1 and Psalm 2 together because of the framing device. Psalm 1 begins with “blessed,” and Psalm 2 ends with “blessed.”

17. Psalm 2
Psalm 2 is a prophecy, stressing Messianic themes. Psalm 2 is concerned for Torah in terms of the Son’s rule. Acts 13:33—the “second Psalm”: David’s words of assurance to Solomon. Connection with 2 Samuel 7: son of the father.
Most Psalms are laments (individual and community) and individual songs of thanksgiving.

18. Psalm 2
Psalm 2 is known as an “indirectly Messianic” psalm. The writer may have had in mind a current Israelite king first, yet he also awaited final fulfillment in the ultimate King (cf. Psalm 45, 72).

19. Typico-Prophetic Messianic Psalm
Psalm 22:1 – “My God, My God, why
have you forsaken Me?”
Purely Prophetic Messianic Psalm
Psalm 110:1 – The LORD said to my
Lord, “Sit at My right hand till I make
Your enemies Your footstool.”
In the first, David described his present experience; Jesus quoted it from the cross. Christ used the second as fulfillment in every respect.

20. Psalm 2’s New Testament Connections
Present-Day Historical Event (Psalm 1-3)
Gentile kings revolted against their tribute status during the reign of Solomon.
Enemies At Jesus’s First Coming (Acts 4:25-27)
Gentiles: Romans
People: Israel
Kings: Pontius Pilate – represents Rome
Rulers: Herod with chief priests and scribes
Enemies At Jesus’s Second Coming (Rev. 19:15)
You shall break them with a rod of iron (Ps. 2:9a); Now out of His mouth goes a sharp sword, that with it He should strike the nations. And He Himself will rule them with a rod of iron (19:15).

21. Basic Outline: Psalm 1 What the Righteous Man Does Not Do (v. 1)
What the Righteous Man Does Do (v. 2)
What the Righteous Man is Likened To (v. 3)
What the Wicked are Likened To (v. 4)
What the Wicked Shall Not Do (v. 5)
What the LORD Knows (v. 6)