In light of the fact that God has anointed His Son to rule over the earth, the human authorities would be wise to heed this warning and worship God, rather than rebel against Him. It is to our benefit to submit to God, rather than resist Him. For those who trust in Jesus and bow their lives to Him, we will avoid suffering and loss, and will instead experience blessing and peace from Him.
In Psalm 2:10-12Psalm 2:10-12 commentary, commentary the psalmist concludes with an admonition for the kings of the earth to recognize the reality of the Messiah’s inevitable reign and therefore submit to Him. Having unveiled the futility of resisting the coming reign of God’s Messiah and the certainty of His iron-scepter rule, the psalmist addresses the very rebels whose mutiny sparked the poem: Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; take warning, O judges of the earth (v.10).
The Hebrew verb translated show discernment (“sākal”) means to act wisely in light of revealed reality. Here the reality in view is that God has already enthroned His Son and it is futile for earthly kings to defy His authority. In the face of overwhelming force, the prudent thing for any ruler to do is to surrender.
The summons singles out kings and judges. In the time of David when this psalm was written, this would represent any ruling authority. By application this admonition could be applied to any person with any kind of positional authority. All should Worship the LORD with reverence and rejoice with trembling (v. 11).
The verb rendered worship (“ʿābad”) can also mean “serve,” suggesting that what is being admonished is a practical submission to God’s will. The Apostle Paul sets forth clearly what is God’s will in his writings:
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality” (1Thessalonians 4:3).
This verse from 1 Thessalonians tells us that God’s true will for His people is to be set apart from the world by living according to His commands (“your sanctification”). The world’s way is to seek personal gain through the exploitation of others. God’s way is to love others as we love ourselves.
The word translated reverence (“yirāh”) in the phrase Worship the LORD with reverence and rejoice with trembling can also be translated as “fear.” Scripture asserts that both wisdom and knowledge begins with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7Proverbs 1:7 commentary, 9:109:10 commentary). To “fear” something is to focus upon it and adjust our actions in response to perceived consequences. To fear the LORD is to believe that the perspectives He gives us are true, and adjust our behavior accordingly.
If we believe the perspectives God gives us, and adjust our actions accordingly, it is appropriate to also rejoice. Believers are promised that if we share in Christ’s sufferings we will be joint heirs with Him and share in His inheritance (Romans 8:17Romans 8:17 commentary, commentaryRevelation 3:21Revelation 3:21 commentary). This is, indeed, a cause to rejoice. The rejoicing is accompanied with trembling because it is rooted in the fear of the LORD, which is the beginning point for both wisdom and knowledge.
The book of Hebrews echoes the sentiment of Psalm 2Psalm 2 commentary, commentary saying:
“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.” (Hebrews 12:28Hebrews 12:28 commentary).
We see from this passage in Hebrews 12Hebrews 12 commentary that believers are expected to “receive a kingdom” that is unshakable, as in a realm ruled with a “rod of iron” (Psalm 2:9Psalm 2:9 commentary). The admonition is to offer “acceptable service” with “reverence and awe” because that is the means by which we will share in His inheritance as “sons” (Hebrews 1:5Hebrews 1:5 commentary, 2:9-102:9-10 commentary, Psalm 2:7Psalm 2:7 commentary).
The final verse delivers both ultimatum to earthly authorities and benediction to all who follow: Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! (v. 12).
The command do homage literally reads “kiss the Son” (“nāshaq bar”). In the ancient Near East, vassals expressed fealty by kissing the sovereign’s hand or feet; refusal signaled rebellion. Here, the gesture is directed toward the divine Son just introduced as heir of the nations of the earth.
The warning is stark: spurned grace turns to wrath, and the destruction is the result. Those who defy God’s call will perish in the way. This reflects a Hebrew idiom describing sudden disaster overtaking one in mid-journey. Earlier in Psalm 2Psalm 2 commentary, commentary God laughed in scorn at the rebellion of earthly authorities whose power is virtually nothing as compared to the power of God (Psalm 2:1-4Psalm 2:1-4 commentary). But although God derided their rebellion, He warns them that a continuation of their resistance will result in their destruction.
God urges the kings of the earth to repent and do homage to the Son, the anointed King over all kings. There is now time to repent, but the window of opportunity will not remain open forever; His wrath may soon be kindled. God has withheld judgment, desiring that all will come to repentance (2 Peter 3:92 Peter 3:9 commentary). But His forbearance will reach an end, and His judgment will be sure (2 Peter 3:10-112 Peter 3:10-11 commentary).
The perspective of Psalm 2Psalm 2 commentary demonstrates the ultimate absurdity of rebellion against God. Revelation confirms this reality. God’s judgment is wielded by Jesus, the anointed king, who is pictured as a rider on a white horse. He is One who “strikes down the nations…and treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God” (Revelation 19:15-16Revelation 19:15-16 commentary). The kings of the earth clinging to their resistance against God will find themselves crushed like a pile of shattered pottery (v. 9).
Yet the stanza—and the psalm—ends not with threat but with promise: How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! This closing statement echoes the biblical theme that all are invited to repent and follow God. His invitation is universal, and His mercy is infinite.
To “kiss the Son” is, ultimately, to trust Him—laying down arms, confessing His lordship, and entering the joy of sharing in a reign of service to God and His ways of love and mutual benefit. Psalm 2Psalm 2 commentary began with raging nations and concludes with an invitation to join the ultimate winner: Jesus.
To trust Jesus is to gain the gift of eternal life. As Jesus explained, to receive the gift of eternal life is as simple as looking, hoping to be healed of the poisonous venom of sin (John 3:14-15John 3:14-15 commentary). To walk in faith, believing and adopting God’s perspectives, is to be sanctified—set apart from the world. It is through a walk of faith that believers are saved from the power of sin and gain the experience and reward of eternal life (Matthew 7:13-14Matthew 7:13-14 commentary, commentaryRomans 2:7Romans 2:7 commentary).
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Psalm 2:10-12 meaning
In Psalm 2:10-12Psalm 2:10-12 commentary, commentary the psalmist concludes with an admonition for the kings of the earth to recognize the reality of the Messiah’s inevitable reign and therefore submit to Him. Having unveiled the futility of resisting the coming reign of God’s Messiah and the certainty of His iron-scepter rule, the psalmist addresses the very rebels whose mutiny sparked the poem: Now therefore, O kings, show discernment; take warning, O judges of the earth (v.10).
The Hebrew verb translated show discernment (“sākal”) means to act wisely in light of revealed reality. Here the reality in view is that God has already enthroned His Son and it is futile for earthly kings to defy His authority. In the face of overwhelming force, the prudent thing for any ruler to do is to surrender.
The summons singles out kings and judges. In the time of David when this psalm was written, this would represent any ruling authority. By application this admonition could be applied to any person with any kind of positional authority. All should Worship the LORD with reverence and rejoice with trembling (v. 11).
The verb rendered worship (“ʿābad”) can also mean “serve,” suggesting that what is being admonished is a practical submission to God’s will. The Apostle Paul sets forth clearly what is God’s will in his writings:
“For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality”
(1Thessalonians 4:3).
This verse from 1 Thessalonians tells us that God’s true will for His people is to be set apart from the world by living according to His commands (“your sanctification”). The world’s way is to seek personal gain through the exploitation of others. God’s way is to love others as we love ourselves.
The word translated reverence (“yirāh”) in the phrase Worship the LORD with reverence and rejoice with trembling can also be translated as “fear.” Scripture asserts that both wisdom and knowledge begins with the fear of the Lord (Proverbs 1:7Proverbs 1:7 commentary, 9:109:10 commentary). To “fear” something is to focus upon it and adjust our actions in response to perceived consequences. To fear the LORD is to believe that the perspectives He gives us are true, and adjust our behavior accordingly.
If we believe the perspectives God gives us, and adjust our actions accordingly, it is appropriate to also rejoice. Believers are promised that if we share in Christ’s sufferings we will be joint heirs with Him and share in His inheritance (Romans 8:17Romans 8:17 commentary, commentary Revelation 3:21Revelation 3:21 commentary). This is, indeed, a cause to rejoice. The rejoicing is accompanied with trembling because it is rooted in the fear of the LORD, which is the beginning point for both wisdom and knowledge.
The book of Hebrews echoes the sentiment of Psalm 2Psalm 2 commentary, commentary saying:
“Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe.”
(Hebrews 12:28Hebrews 12:28 commentary).
We see from this passage in Hebrews 12Hebrews 12 commentary that believers are expected to “receive a kingdom” that is unshakable, as in a realm ruled with a “rod of iron” (Psalm 2:9Psalm 2:9 commentary). The admonition is to offer “acceptable service” with “reverence and awe” because that is the means by which we will share in His inheritance as “sons” (Hebrews 1:5Hebrews 1:5 commentary, 2:9-102:9-10 commentary, Psalm 2:7Psalm 2:7 commentary).
The final verse delivers both ultimatum to earthly authorities and benediction to all who follow: Do homage to the Son, that He not become angry, and you perish in the way, for His wrath may soon be kindled. How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! (v. 12).
The command do homage literally reads “kiss the Son” (“nāshaq bar”). In the ancient Near East, vassals expressed fealty by kissing the sovereign’s hand or feet; refusal signaled rebellion. Here, the gesture is directed toward the divine Son just introduced as heir of the nations of the earth.
The warning is stark: spurned grace turns to wrath, and the destruction is the result. Those who defy God’s call will perish in the way. This reflects a Hebrew idiom describing sudden disaster overtaking one in mid-journey. Earlier in Psalm 2Psalm 2 commentary, commentary God laughed in scorn at the rebellion of earthly authorities whose power is virtually nothing as compared to the power of God (Psalm 2:1-4Psalm 2:1-4 commentary). But although God derided their rebellion, He warns them that a continuation of their resistance will result in their destruction.
God urges the kings of the earth to repent and do homage to the Son, the anointed King over all kings. There is now time to repent, but the window of opportunity will not remain open forever; His wrath may soon be kindled. God has withheld judgment, desiring that all will come to repentance (2 Peter 3:92 Peter 3:9 commentary). But His forbearance will reach an end, and His judgment will be sure (2 Peter 3:10-112 Peter 3:10-11 commentary).
The perspective of Psalm 2Psalm 2 commentary demonstrates the ultimate absurdity of rebellion against God. Revelation confirms this reality. God’s judgment is wielded by Jesus, the anointed king, who is pictured as a rider on a white horse. He is One who “strikes down the nations…and treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God” (Revelation 19:15-16Revelation 19:15-16 commentary). The kings of the earth clinging to their resistance against God will find themselves crushed like a pile of shattered pottery (v. 9).
Yet the stanza—and the psalm—ends not with threat but with promise: How blessed are all who take refuge in Him! This closing statement echoes the biblical theme that all are invited to repent and follow God. His invitation is universal, and His mercy is infinite.
To “kiss the Son” is, ultimately, to trust Him—laying down arms, confessing His lordship, and entering the joy of sharing in a reign of service to God and His ways of love and mutual benefit. Psalm 2Psalm 2 commentary began with raging nations and concludes with an invitation to join the ultimate winner: Jesus.
To trust Jesus is to gain the gift of eternal life. As Jesus explained, to receive the gift of eternal life is as simple as looking, hoping to be healed of the poisonous venom of sin (John 3:14-15John 3:14-15 commentary). To walk in faith, believing and adopting God’s perspectives, is to be sanctified—set apart from the world. It is through a walk of faith that believers are saved from the power of sin and gain the experience and reward of eternal life (Matthew 7:13-14Matthew 7:13-14 commentary, commentary Romans 2:7Romans 2:7 commentary).