Judges through Poets 13a- Psalm 1 contd and Psalm 2
Psalm 1 contd
Blessed [happy] is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Structure
V1-3 the concrete foundation of the righteous
V4-5 the tragic nature of the wicked
V6 a contrast between the ultimate end of the righteous and wicked
Christians need to take care of worldly things with a heavenly mindset. We need to get involved with scripture, making it part of a routine.
V3 describes the effects of spending time in the word of God. The man of God who immerses himself in the torah will thrive. The righteous man performs good works out of his character.
V4 the ungodly man is the exact opposite of the righteous man. ‘Not so the ungodly, they are not so’ in the Septuagint. The wicked man is antagonistic to the torah and doesn’t bear good fruit. See Duet 32:32-34.
V5 is the consequence of the unrighteous lifestyle. The evil man will not stand in the judgment. The wicked will be without excuse before Christ. They will call for rocks to fall on them (Rev 6).
V6 The Lord knows the way of the righteous. To know something in the Hebrew language is to have an intimate relationship with that object. God has intimate fellowship with the upright. Jesus said: ‘my sheep will hear my voice and I know them.’
The way of the wicked will perish. Prov 14:12 ‘there is a way that seems right to a man, but it’s end is death.’
There are two types of men in the world:
1) The seed of the woman. He is happy, loves Jesus and loves Jesus.
2) The seed of the serpent. He is wicked, hates scripture, rejecting Jesus.
God will separate these two types of people at the judgment.
Prov 13:1 ‘A wise son accepts his Fathers discipline, a scoffer does not accept rebuke’
Prov 15:12 'A scoffer does not love one who corrects him, Nor will he go to the wise.’
Same word used for scoffer is used for mocker in Psalm 1.
Psalm 2
1 Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. 5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: 6 “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.” 7 “I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break[a] them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’” 10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son,[b] lest He[c] be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
Psalm 1 defines the godly and ungodly. Psalm 2 gives an example of the conflict between the godly and the ungodly. Psalm 1 and 2 employ similar language. Eg 1:6 and 2:12.
When Paul quotes Psalm 2 in Acts 13:33, some early Greek manuscripts read ‘ín the first Psalm’. This might indicate that these Psalms were one Psalm.
Acts 4:25-26
25 who by the mouth of Your servant David[b] have said: ‘ Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? 26 The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ.’[c]
NT claims that David is speaking of himself in Psalm 2. The rebellion in the time of David (explained in this Psalm) patterns with a rebellion in the time of Jesus. This Psalm doesn’t display direct verbal prophecy.
Structure (by ideas and parallels):
V1-3
V4-6
V7-9
V10-12
Stanza 1: v1-3
Many nations are plotting against David. These countries want to seize their freedom from the rule of God and His appointed King. The nations are senselessly rebelling against God. David uses rhetorical questions to illustrate the stupidity of fighting against God.
V2-3 the nations stand together to confront God and his anointed one. In v3 the leaders pronounce their declaration of revolution.
The NT applies the pattern of Psalm 2 to Christ’s-context. See Acts 4:25-28. In Psalm 2 we see the revolt of the nations against the anointed King. Now we see Herod wanting to kill the Son of David, Jesus.
There’s nothing in Psalm 2 which is predictive prophecy. Psalm 2 can be understood in its historical context.
Stanza 2: v4-6 YHWH’s response to the nations
The creator surveys the scene and responds in three ways:
1) God laughs/scoffs at the nations v4- the word for laugh/scoff has the idea of derision with it
2) God will speak to the people in anger and terrify the people v5- like a bull with raging nostrils
3) God declares that He has set up His King on Mount Zion
Stanza 3: v7-9 the Davidic King speaks the decree against the raging nations
God has begotten His King. V7 is typological of Christ. See Acts 13:32-33.
V8- God will extend His rule to the ends of the earth.
Blessed [happy] is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the seat of scoffers; 2 but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night. 3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water that yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers. 4 The wicked are not so, but are like chaff that the wind drives away. 5 Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous; 6 for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.
Structure
V1-3 the concrete foundation of the righteous
V4-5 the tragic nature of the wicked
V6 a contrast between the ultimate end of the righteous and wicked
Christians need to take care of worldly things with a heavenly mindset. We need to get involved with scripture, making it part of a routine.
V3 describes the effects of spending time in the word of God. The man of God who immerses himself in the torah will thrive. The righteous man performs good works out of his character.
V4 the ungodly man is the exact opposite of the righteous man. ‘Not so the ungodly, they are not so’ in the Septuagint. The wicked man is antagonistic to the torah and doesn’t bear good fruit. See Duet 32:32-34.
V5 is the consequence of the unrighteous lifestyle. The evil man will not stand in the judgment. The wicked will be without excuse before Christ. They will call for rocks to fall on them (Rev 6).
V6 The Lord knows the way of the righteous. To know something in the Hebrew language is to have an intimate relationship with that object. God has intimate fellowship with the upright. Jesus said: ‘my sheep will hear my voice and I know them.’
The way of the wicked will perish. Prov 14:12 ‘there is a way that seems right to a man, but it’s end is death.’
There are two types of men in the world:
1) The seed of the woman. He is happy, loves Jesus and loves Jesus.
2) The seed of the serpent. He is wicked, hates scripture, rejecting Jesus.
God will separate these two types of people at the judgment.
Prov 13:1 ‘A wise son accepts his Fathers discipline, a scoffer does not accept rebuke’
Prov 15:12 'A scoffer does not love one who corrects him, Nor will he go to the wise.’
Same word used for scoffer is used for mocker in Psalm 1.
Psalm 2
1 Why do the nations rage, And the people plot a vain thing? 2 The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the LORD and against His Anointed, saying, 3 “Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.” 4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. 5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, And distress them in His deep displeasure: 6 “Yet I have set My King On My holy hill of Zion.” 7 “I will declare the decree: The LORD has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You. 8 Ask of Me, and I will give You The nations for Your inheritance, And the ends of the earth for Your possession. 9 You shall break[a] them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’” 10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings; Be instructed, you judges of the earth. 11 Serve the LORD with fear, And rejoice with trembling. 12 Kiss the Son,[b] lest He[c] be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
Psalm 1 defines the godly and ungodly. Psalm 2 gives an example of the conflict between the godly and the ungodly. Psalm 1 and 2 employ similar language. Eg 1:6 and 2:12.
When Paul quotes Psalm 2 in Acts 13:33, some early Greek manuscripts read ‘ín the first Psalm’. This might indicate that these Psalms were one Psalm.
Acts 4:25-26
25 who by the mouth of Your servant David[b] have said: ‘ Why did the nations rage, And the people plot vain things? 26 The kings of the earth took their stand, And the rulers were gathered together Against the LORD and against His Christ.’[c]
NT claims that David is speaking of himself in Psalm 2. The rebellion in the time of David (explained in this Psalm) patterns with a rebellion in the time of Jesus. This Psalm doesn’t display direct verbal prophecy.
Structure (by ideas and parallels):
V1-3
V4-6
V7-9
V10-12
Stanza 1: v1-3
Many nations are plotting against David. These countries want to seize their freedom from the rule of God and His appointed King. The nations are senselessly rebelling against God. David uses rhetorical questions to illustrate the stupidity of fighting against God.
V2-3 the nations stand together to confront God and his anointed one. In v3 the leaders pronounce their declaration of revolution.
The NT applies the pattern of Psalm 2 to Christ’s-context. See Acts 4:25-28. In Psalm 2 we see the revolt of the nations against the anointed King. Now we see Herod wanting to kill the Son of David, Jesus.
There’s nothing in Psalm 2 which is predictive prophecy. Psalm 2 can be understood in its historical context.
Stanza 2: v4-6 YHWH’s response to the nations
The creator surveys the scene and responds in three ways:
1) God laughs/scoffs at the nations v4- the word for laugh/scoff has the idea of derision with it
2) God will speak to the people in anger and terrify the people v5- like a bull with raging nostrils
3) God declares that He has set up His King on Mount Zion
Stanza 3: v7-9 the Davidic King speaks the decree against the raging nations
God has begotten His King. V7 is typological of Christ. See Acts 13:32-33.
V8- God will extend His rule to the ends of the earth.
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