Dale Ridge church of Christ

                The Book of Psalms contains several types of psalms.  One of these is the royal psalm.  Royal psalms concern the Davidic line of kings.  As a whole, these types of psalms poetically proclaim that the king is divinely appointed, that the people will be blessed if they follow him, that God will deliver him and give him victory over his enemies.  At times, these royal psalms are Messianic.  In other words, they point forward to the fulfillment of Jesus being the One who would sit at the right hand of God.  Royal psalms such as Pss. 2, 110 and 118 are referred to several times in the New Testament and establish the wonderful truth that Jesus is the King of kings and Lord of lords.  Sadly though, not all have accepted Him as their King. 

                David Kimhi, a Jewish Commentator who wrote around AD 1000, discusses one of the Royal Psalms—Psalm 2.  While he makes many interesting remarks about this psalm, he denies its Messianic nature.   This psalm is twelve verses long and can be easily divided into four sections of three verses each:  1) The nations plot against God’s annointed (Psalm 2:1-3Psalm 2:1-3
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
2 ¹ Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? rage: or, tumultuously assemble imagine: Heb. meditate 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 bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.  

); 2) God’s fulfilled plan for His annointed (Psalm 2:4-6Psalm 2:4-6
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
4 He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. ⁵ Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. vex: or, trouble ⁶ Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. set: Heb. anointed upon...: Heb. upon Zion, the hill of my holiness  

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); 3) The annointed one’s own words of what God would do for him (Psalm 2:7-9Psalm 2:7-9
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
7 I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. the decree: or, for a decree ⁸ Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. ⁹ Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.  

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); and 4) How the nations should respond to the annointed one (Psalm 2:10-12Psalm 2:10-12
English: King James Version (1611) - KJV
10 Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. ¹¹ Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. ¹² Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.  

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).  Kimhi believes that this psalm only has historical reference to King David.  While this may be true, it has so much more.  In forthcoming articles, Kimhi’s arguments will be considered.  Considering these will help to highlight the importance of this amazing psalm.   

Published by Michael  Email This Post  Print This Post
Filed under: Authors, Doctrine, Michael Carter on July 16th, 2008