Indirectly Messianic Psalms

Psalm 45:6-7Sung at a Hebrew monarch’s wedding; the king is addressed as “God” by virtue of his office. But Christ addressed as “God” by virtueof His nature (Hebrews 1:8-9).

Present-Day Historical Events Psalm 1:1-3Gentile kings revolted against their tribute status during Solomon’s reign. But David also foresaw final fulfillment in Messiah, the King.

Indirectly Messianic Psalm

Psalm 45:6-7 – “Your throne, O God, isforever 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 Way of the Ungodly is the Way of Rebellion

First Scene on Earth: The psalmist angrilyquestions why enemies would think up a plot that could not succeed (vv. 1-3).

They form a rebel coalition against the King ofIsrael.

The Psalmist Presents His Messagein Four Scenes.

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

Comparing Psalm 1:2b and Psalm 2:1Psalm 1:2b 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).

Comparing Psalm 1:2b and Psalm 2:1

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).

Two Widely Divergent Purposes of Meditation

Second Scene in Heaven: The psalmist declares the Sovereign LORD’s attitude toward His opponents (vv. 4-6).

Psalm 2:4-6 Outline

The psalmist presents the LORD’s attitude with a series of contrasts and comparisons.

• Contrast: Spiritual Status• Comparison: Contempt• Comparison: Anger• Contrast: Official Action

The Evolution of Kingship in IsraelI. Abrahamic Covenant – Land, Seed, BlessingII. Enlargement of Seed Aspect – Gen. 35 (kings)III. Mosaic Covenant Made – Exodus (Sinai)

[The Law: Moral, Civil, Ceremonial]IV. Mosaic Covenant Renewed – DeuteronomyV. Responsibilities of the King (Deut. 17)VI. The Judges – Mediators (Samson, Gideon)VII. Israel Rejects Yahweh as King – 1 Samuel 8VIII. The Davidic Covenant – 2 Samuel 7IX. The Mediatorial Kingdom Split (931)X. Northern (722); Southern (586); No King

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

Psalm 2:7-9 Outline

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

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 thenations. He shall rule them with a rod of iron; they shall be dashed to pieces like the potter’s vessel.

Allusion to Psalm 2:9a in Revelation 19:15

Enemies At Jesus’s Second ComingJohn 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).

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

Psalm 2:10-12 Outline

Example of Antithetical ParallelismPsalm 1:6 – “For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodlyshall 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.”

Psalm 2Psalm 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.

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.”

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.

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).

Typico-Prophetic Messianic Psalm

Psalm 22:1 – “My God, My God, why have you forsaken Me?”

Psalm 110:1 – The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at My right hand till I makeYour enemies Your footstool.”

Purely Prophetic Messianic Psalm

Psalm 2’s New Testament ConnectionsPresent-Day Historical Event (Psalm 1-3)

Enemies At Jesus’s First Coming (Acts 4:25-27)

Enemies At Jesus’s Second Coming (Rev. 19:15)

Gentile kings revolted against their tribute status during the reign of Solomon.

• Gentiles: Romans• People: Israel• Kings: Pontius Pilate – represents Rome• Rulers: Herod with chief priests and scribes

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).

Basic Outline: Psalm 1

I. What the Righteous Man Does Not Do (v. 1)

II. What the Righteous Man Does Do (v. 2)III. What the Righteous Man is Likened To

(v. 3)IV. What the Wicked are Likened To (v. 4)V. What the Wicked Shall Not Do (v. 5)VI. What the LORD Knows (v. 6)