In this passage there are three basic “scenes” or “movements.”
The first shows the rulers of the world conspiring against God; they want to throw off his “oppressive” bond.
The second shows God’s response to their efforts; derision. He sees their pathetic attempts to stand against what they don’t even understand, and it would be laughable; if it were not so serious (see for example God’s warning at the end of the passage).
The third then, is a warning against such foolishness, and a call to embrace Yahweh as true King.
The passage closes with a coda of sorts; it resets and reorients the reader. It offers assurance that we don’t come under God’s reign and rule in order to “miss” his wrath, as much as we do it to find well being.
I have a lot of questions about this passage, but for now I’ve worked through it the following way.
It seems to me that scenes one and two are general in nature; that is, they are not talking about specific kings or rulers that David was actually facing. To be sure, it would fit the story of his life if they were specific, but the context seems to point to a more general message.
The point seems to be to let the reader know that, “this is the way things are,” or, “these are the kinds of things that happen in the world.” In other words, this is a representation of the cosmic play that is working itself out in the unseen apparatus of reality. That is why I choose to think of them as scenes or acts.
Psalm 2 seems to be a picture of the cosmic play between the anti-kingdoms of earth, and the kingdom of Yahweh.
[Spoiler Alert]: Yahweh wins.
In this passage there are three basic “scenes” or “movements.”
The first shows the rulers of the world conspiring against God; they want to throw off his “oppressive” bond.
The second shows God’s response to their efforts; derision. He sees their pathetic attempts to stand against what they don’t even understand, and it would be laughable; if it were not so serious (see for example God’s warning at the end of the passage).
The third then, is a warning against such foolishness, and a call to embrace Yahweh as true King.
The passage closes with a coda of sorts; it resets and reorients the reader. It offers assurance that we don’t come under God’s reign and rule in order to “miss” his wrath, as much as we do it to find well being.
I have a lot of questions about this passage, but for now I’ve worked through it the following way.
It seems to me that scenes one and two are general in nature; that is, they are not talking about specific kings or rulers that David was actually facing. To be sure, it would fit the story of his life if they were specific, but the context seems to point to a more general message.
The point seems to be to let the reader know that, “this is the way things are,” or, “these are the kinds of things that happen in the world.” In other words, this is a representation of the cosmic play that is working itself out in the unseen apparatus of reality. That is why I choose to think of them as scenes or acts.
Psalm 2 seems to be a picture of the cosmic play between the anti-kingdoms of earth, and the kingdom of Yahweh.
[Spoiler Alert]: Yahweh wins.