I. REVOLT OF THE NATIONS (1-3). WORLD INSURRECTION. OPPOSITION TO GOD'S ANOINTED. GENTILE DEFIANCE. I. World Commotion (I). 2. Wrongful Meditation (r). 3. Wicked Association (2). 4. Wily Machination (2 ). 5. Wilful Proposition (3 ). II. REACTION OF THE LORD (4-6). WRATHFUL INTERVENTION. ACCESSION OF GOD'S ANOINTED. DIVINE DISPLEASURE. r. Uncompromising Deity (4-5). Ever-watchful God. 2. Unshakable Kingdom (6). Everlasting Realm.
ID. RESPONSE OF THE KING (7-9) WONDERFUL INTIMATION. DOMINION OF GOD'S ANOINTED. MESSIANIC DECREE. 1. Unique Relation (7). 2. Universal Possession (8). Subjugation by Power. 3. Unsparing Administration (9). IV. RECOMMENDATION TO THE NATIONS, (10-12). WISE INJUNC TION. SUBMISSION TO GOD'S ANOINTED. PERSONAL DIRECTION. 1. Well-advised Attention (10). 2. Worthy Occupation (II). 3. Warning Admonition (12ab). 4. Weighty Conclusion (12c). PRIMARY AssoCIATION.-Authorship of this psalm is determined by the quotation at Acts iv. 25, where it is attributed to David. Date is less certain, but it probably belongs to a late period of David's reign, maybe to the time when Solomon was first appointed king and a revolt of subject nations threatened as well as domestic troubles. The psalm is undoubtedly based upon the great promise of 2 Sam. vii. 12 ff. The structure is dramatic in form, different speakers being heard; the psalmist (1-2), the conspirators quoted (3), the psalmist (4-5), the Lord quoted (6), the Anointed (7a), the Lord quoted (7h-9), the psalmist (10-12). PROPHETIC ANTICIPATION.-One of the better known Messianic psalms, see 'Notes on the Messianic Psalms," Appendix I. Here we find the counsels of God concerning His Christ, rejected by earth but owned by heaven. One and two are applied to the coalition of Jews and Gentiles against our Lord (Acts iv. 25-28) at His first advent. There will be a more complete fulfihnent when the remnant of Israel in the last days will meet the full fury of the final storm of opposition to God, the nations then attempting to throw off the last semblance of the Christian yoke. Besides other quotations in the New Testament the language of this psalm is frequently borrowed in Revelation in connection with the fierce conflict and final triumph of Christ's Kingdom, xii. 5; xiv. 15; xxi. 26-27. Pss. i. and ii. again seen to be complementary, showing Israel's two great sins in rejecting God's double testimony to the nation, (i) Disobedience to His Law, i.; (ii) Disownment of His Son, ii. Law emphasised, i.; Prophecy emphasised, ii.-two great divisions of the Old Testament.
PERSONAL APPLICATION.-Perhaps best summed up in outline. (a) the Fact of rebellion (1-3), (b) the Fury of rebellion (1), (c) the Focus of rebellion (2), (d) the Folly of rebellion (4), (e) the Failure of rebellion (5-6), (f) the Frustrator of rebellion (7-9 ), (g) the For giveness for rebellion (10-12). The world to-day is very restive under divine restraint (1-2). It is madness for the many to stand against the Mighty. It is better to have God for us than against us, Ron1. viii. 31. God ever watches the course of events on earth (4). There is a limit to divine patience (5). The world is to be subjugated by power not saved by preaching (9). Submission to the Son is the only way to escape destruction (10-12). Happy indeed are all who take refuge in Him, especially during the period ofHis rejection (12), c£ David as type (1 Sam. xxii. 1-2). Distinguish the true kiss of homage and the false kiss of betrayal (12 with Luke xxii. 48). VERSE NOTES 1 " ( f ) . . rage, see margm- peop es, or, races o men - nnagme or as marg., s.H.w., i. 2, but here in bad sense. Note outward tumult and inward thought. 2. "kings ... earth" ctr. "My King" (6); expression occurs nine times in the Book of Revelation. 3. Language refers to the yoke of subjection and the reins of restraint-note (a) the Preparation (2a); (b) the Plotting (2b); and (c) the Proposal (3). 4. Translate verbs in present tense, "laugheth ... derideth ... " dramatic description of divine displeasure, c£ vbs. in 1-2; fig. anthropopatheia (App. III, 9) human language used to describe God's attitude and actions without fear of lowering Him to a human levd. dis 1 " 1i fi th 5. sore sp easure t. ery wra . 6. hr. "And I (emph.) have established ... " Jehovah answers the rebels' words (3) ; men set Him on a cross-His title "King of the Jews" was His condemnation. "Zion" was the name of the ancient stronghold which became the City of David (2 Sam. v. 7) consecrated by the presence of the ark till the temple was built ; poetical and prophetical name for Jerusalem in the character of the Holy City, the earthly dwelling-place of Jehovah; in the glorious future the Messiah's throne will be set in this centre of the millennial metropolis. "d " £ S ff. "M S " ( £ M M . h' ecree, c . 2 am. vu. 12 .y on c . att. lll. 13 = ess1a s divine nature-"Jehovah's Anointed" (3) = Messiah's divine office; "Son", i.e. "Only-be7otten" in His relation to God-"Firstbom" in His relation to man. "Messiah' {Christ ) and "Son of God" are titles freq.assoc. inNew Testament, so in this Psalm. "This day," historically of the king's accession, prophetically of Messiah's resurrection {Acts xiii. 33; Heb. i. 5; v. 5) corresponding to the king's adopted sonship in the rite of anointing, see App. I. 8. Our Lord has not yet asked, c£ Jno. xvii. 9. Dominion over the nations is not expressly mentioned in 2 Sam. vii., but c£ Ps. lxxxix. 27.
JO 9. hr. "Thou shalt shepherd them with a rod (or, sceptre) . . . "-even a shepherd's rod can smite with severity, e.g. Moses' rod in Egypt; so Rev. ii. 27; xii. s; xix. I 5. "Thou shalt shatter ... " fig. of easy and complete destruction. 10. "De admonished ye judges ... ", i.e. rulers generally. II. This is the "everlasting gospel" of Rev. xiv. ý7- Rejoicing is to be tempered with reverence. 12. "Son," word in original lmusual in Old Testament not same as in 7, but refers to same person. For the kiss of homage, sec I Sam. x. I; 1 Kings xix. 18, etc.-"lest He", meaning san1e whether re£ to Jehovah or to the Son-"in the way"= primarily, "lest you find your proposed expedition lead only to ruin," but the spiritual apr,lication must not be passed over-hr. "For quickly may His anger blaze forth.' Note the closing beatitude, as margin. Book One. I. Revelation of the Divine Ruler, i.-viii. 2. The Ren1nant, iii.-vii. Exercise and Experience.
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