Psalm 2

1   Why do the nations conspire,
    and the peoples plot in vain?
2   The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers take counsel together,
    against the LORD and his anointed, saying,
3   “Let us burst their bonds asunder,
    and cast their cords from us.”
4   He who sits in the heavens laughs;
    the LORD has them in derision.
5   Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
    and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6   “I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill.”
7   I will tell of the decree of the LORD:
  He said to me, “You are my son;
    today I have begotten you.
8   Ask of me, and I will make the nations your         heritage,
    and the ends of the earth your possession.
9   You shall break them with a rod of iron,
    and dash them in pieces like a potter’s         vessel.”
10   Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
    be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11   Serve the LORD with fear,
    with trembling 12 kiss his feet,
  or he will be angry, and you will perish in the         way;
    for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Happy are all who take refuge in him.

Daily Prayer (based on Psalm 2:10-11a)

O Lord, You are King of kings and Lord of lords. You reign over all things, all peoples, all nations, and all rulers. Yet so many leaders do not acknowledge or seek You. And even those who do can become snared by partisan, ethnic, or nationalistic agendas. So I pray today for rulers, for those who govern our own nation and the nations of the world. May they serve You first and foremost. May they be guided by Your truth and justice. May they be tools for Your righteousness on this earth.

Postscript

The Hebrew word translated as "anointed" in verse 2 is mashiach, or as we would say, messiah. In its original context, this word referred to the king of Israel, who had been anointed with oil as a sign of his God-given royal authority. Yet when we read this Psalm as Christians, we can't help but connect it to Jesus Christ. "Christ" is the anglicized form of the Greek christos, which means "anointed one" and is a translation of the Hebrew mashiach. Thus Psalm 2, when read through Christian eyes, offers a prophetic look at the messianic role of Jesus and His ultimate dominion that will extend to "the ends of the earth" (v. 8).

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Except for the Scripture text, all material of The Daily Psalm Copyright © 2006 by Mark D. Roberts

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The Scripture text used in The Daily Psalm is from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved