Singing of the Psalms in Public and Private Worship

This is from the Westminster Divines Directory for the Public Worship of God published in 1644:

It is the duty of Christians to praise God publickly, by singing of psalms together in the congregation, and also privately in the family. In singing of psalms, the voice is to be tunably and gravely ordered; but the chief care must be to sing with understanding, and with grace in the heart, making melody unto the Lord. That the whole congregation may join herein, every one that can read is to have a psalm book; and all others, not disabled by age or otherwise, are to be exhorted to learn to read. But for the present, where many in the congregation cannot read, it is convenient that the minister, or some other fit person appointed by him and the other ruling officers, do read the psalm, line by line, before the singing thereof.

Richard Baxter in his "Christian Directory" says in regards to Lord's Day family worship:

After dinner call your families together, and sing a Psalm of Praise, and by examination or repetition or both, cause them to remember what was taught to them. (After the afternoon church service he gives further instruction.) When you come home, call your families together and first crave God's assistance and acceptance: and then sing a Psalm of Praise: and then repeat the sermon which you heard; or if there was none, read out some lively profitable book; and then pray and praise God: and with all the holy seriousness and joy which is suitable to the work and the day. Horton Davies, "The Worship of the English Puritans", pg. 279-280.

I think too many churches today have gotten away from this practice in favor of more contemporary hymns. But it was always the opinion of the Reformers and the Puritans that we should be singing Psalms every Lord's day in the church. I believe not doing so is practiced to the detriment of the church and is most definitely carried over into the home.

As we progress through this study and gain a deeper understanding of what the Psalms say to us; I think we will relish them all the more and, hopefully, incorporate them back into our churches and our homes.
You can see that the expectation has always been that the Psalms lead the way for the man of God as he enters into worship, whether private or public. I pray that this practice will take root yet again and the flame that is lit as a result will enliven the people of God to glorify Him all the more.

Psalm 3

This is from the Prestonwood Choir and Orchestra. It is a more modern version than I would like where they repeat the chorus far too often. But it is, nonetheless, done tastefully and it has a nice sound.

Psalm 2:12

Note: There is some conflict over the translation of this verse. It seems the main split would come from modern translations and the Septuagint. In most modern translations it says, “Kiss the Son, lest He be angry” and in the Septuagint it says “Embrace (or lay hold) of discipline, lest the Lord be angry.” It seems the main cause for this comes from the word we are using as “kiss” which is nashaq (Strong’s 5401) and can be both used as kiss or to handle or be equipped with. In my New Geneva Study Bible it does note that the phrase “kiss the Son” was not a Hebrew term but rather an “unexpected Aramaic term”; this, then, may be why we see the two differences. The exception in the modern translations can be found in both the NASB and the RSV which seem to be aiming more at the message of the passage than the actual translation of it. Both focus on the idea of paying homage with one saying it directly and one saying kiss His feet. Of course the RSV doesn’t use 2:12 anyway being that they have included it in 2:11. Both the Septuagint and modern translations basically convey the same idea; but, perhaps, at least in my opinion, the modern texts promote the spirit of this verse more capably than does the Septuagint. Especially if we consider the next word which is bar and is translated as son or heir. In some of the older commentaries they relied on the Septuagint and formed their studies accordingly.

“Kiss the Son”
• The term kiss refers to the solemn token or sign of honor which subjects were wont to yield to their sovereigns. The sum is, that God is defrauded of His honor if He is not served in Christ. Christ was truly chosen of the Father, who has given Him all power, that He alone should stand preeminent above both men and angels. Some interpreters expound it, kiss or embrace what is pure (or instruction; discipline), which is a strange and rather forced interpretation. For my part, I willingly retain the name of Son, which answers well to a former sentence, where it was said, “Thou art my Son, this day I have begotten thee.” JC
• To make peace with the Father, kiss the Son. Let us kiss Him – that be our endeavor. Indeed, the Son must first kiss us by His mercy, before we can kiss Him by our piety. Lord grant in these mutual kisses and interchangeable embraces now, that we may come to the plenary wedding supper hereafter; when the choir of heaven, even the voices of angels, shall sing… nuptial songs, at the bridal of the spouse and the Lamb. Thomas Adams.
• Our duty to Christ is here expressed figuratively: Kiss the Son, not with a betraying kiss, as Judas kissed Him, and as all hypocrites, who pretend to honor Him, but really affront Him; but with a believing kiss. (1) With a kiss of agreement and reconciliation. (2) With a kiss of adoration and religious worship. (3) With a kiss of affection and sincere love. (4) With a kiss of allegiance and loyalty. MH

“lest He be angry”
• [There is a] certain ruin we run upon if we refuse and reject Christ. (1) It will be a great provocation to Him. Do it, lest He be angry. The Father is angry already; the Son is the Mediator that undertakes to make peace; if we slight Him, the Father’s wrath abides upon us (Jn. 3:36), and not only so but there is an addition of the Son’s wrath too, to whom nothing is more displeasing than to have the offers of His grace slighted and the designs of it frustrated. Unbelief is a Sin against the remedy. MH
• Though He is a Lamb, He has wrath in Him, and when the great day of His wrath comes in any form on earth, there is no standing before Him; and how much less when He shall appear as the Lion of the tribe of Judah, and shall be revealed from heaven in flaming fire; then kings and freemen will call to the rocks to fall upon them, and hide them from Him. JG
• “Lest at any time the Lord be angry,” is expressed with a doubt, not as regards the vision of the prophet to whom it is certain, but as regards those who are warned; for they, to whom it is not openly revealed, are wont to think with doubt of the anger of God. This then they ought to say to themselves, let us “lay hold of discipline, lest at any time the Lord be angry, and we perish from the righteous way.” Augustine

“and you perish in the way”
• [This] is a warning to those who despise Christ, that their pride shall not go unpunished; as if He had said, As Christ is not despised without indignity being done to the Father, who hath adorned Him with His own glory, so the Father Himself will not allow such an invasion of His sacred rights to pass unpunished. JC
• [The] way of righteousness, salvation and eternal life by Jesus Christ, which being missed by persons, they are eternally lost and undone. […] because of their sinful course of life; for the way of the ungodly shall perish itself, and therefore they that pursue it shall perish also. Lest they perish in the midst of their course of sin, in their own evil way, they have chosen and delighted in, or, to use the words of Christ, "die in their sins", (John 8:21; John 8:24) , and everlastingly perish; for this perishing is to be understood not of corporeal death, in which sense righteous men perish, but of everlasting destruction: or the word which is rendered "from the way" may be translated "suddenly", "immediately", or "straightway", and our English word "directly" is almost the same; and so may design the swift and sudden destruction of such persons who provoke the Son to wrath and anger. JG
• Now, how “the Lord be angry” is to be taken, has been said above. And “ye perish from the righteous way.” This is a great punishment, and dreaded by those who have had any perception of the sweetness of righteousness; for he who perisheth from the way of righteousness, in much misery will wander through the ways of unrighteousness. Augustine
• It will be utter destruction to yourselves: Lest you perish in the way; or in the way so some, in the way of your sins, and from the way of your vain hopes; lest your way perish (Ps. 1:6), lest you prove to have missed the way to happiness. Christ is the way; take heed lest you be cut off from Him as your way to God. MH

Note: There is yet another point of contention here in regards to the translation of this verse. Most translations say something in regards to a moment using terms like quickly kindled, soon be kindled, suddenly burn, or even moment itself. These all denote time. The others, namely the KJV and NKJV, use little which denotes a measure. Even among the commentaries they are split. Calvin is adamantly in favor of time and Augustine would agree with him. Henry and Gill are in favor of measure, although Gill leaves room for both as he does with most of this verse’s disputed meanings. Once again the original word in the Hebrew is the cause for the debate. The word used is me’at which can be used in both contexts as little; few or soon (Strong’s 4592). I will share what the different commentaries say and you may decide for yourself which is appropriate and keeping in context with the rest of the Psalm.

"His wrath is kindled in a moment”
• To teach them to beware of vainly deceiving themselves with the hope of a lengthened delay, and from their present ease indulging themselves in vain pleasures, they are plainly told that His wrath is kindled in a moment. For we see, when God for a time connives at the wicked, and nears with them, how they abuse His forbearance, by growing more presumptuous, because they do not think of His judgments otherwise, than according to sight and feeling. Some interpreters, I know, explain the Hebrew word, Camoat, which we have rendered, in a moment, in a different way, namely, that as soon as God’s wrath is kindled in even a small degree, it will be all over with the reprobate. But it is more suitable to apply it to time, and to view it as a warning to the proud not to harden themselves in their stupidity and indifference, nor flatter themselves from the patience of God, with the hope of escaping unpunished. The prophet, therefore, with great propriety, threatens that when they shall say, Peace and safety, reckoning themselves at a great distance from their end, they shall be cut off by a sudden destruction. JC
• Now the meaning of “shortly” I suppose to be this, that it will be something sudden, whilst sinners will deem it far off and long to come. Augustine

“His wrath is kindled but a little”
• When his wrath is kindled, though but a little, the least spark of that fire is enough to make the proudest sinner miserable if it fasten upon his conscience; for it will burn to the lowest hell: one would think it should therefore follow, “When His wrath is kindled, woe be to those that despise Him.” MH
• Either to a small degree, or but for a little while; for the least degree and duration of it are intolerable, and who then can dwell in everlasting burnings, or abide the devouring flames? or when it is kindled "suddenly", in a moment, as Jarchi interprets it; and so sudden wrath brings sudden destruction. JG

The benediction: “Blessed are all those that put their trust in Him”
• The concluding sentence of the psalm qualifies what was formerly said concerning the severity of Christ; for His iron rod and the fiery wrath of God would strike terror into all men without distinction, unless this comfort had been added. Having, therefore, discoursed concerning the terrible judgment that hangs over the unbelieving, he now encourages God’s faithful and devout servants to entertain good hope, by setting forth the sweetness of grace. As believers might have applied to themselves the severity of which he makes mention, he opens to them a sanctuary of hope, whither they may flee, in order not to be overwhelmed by the terror of God’s wrath. JC
• Not in horses and chariots, in riches and honors, in their own wisdom, strength, and righteousness; but in the Son of God, the Lord Jesus Christ, and who is truly and properly God; or otherwise faith and trust would not be required to be put in Him: and happy are those who betake themselves to Him as to their strong hold and place of defense; who look to Him and believe in Him for pardon, peace, righteousness, every supply of grace and eternal life; these are safe and secure in Him, nor shall they want any good thing needful for them; and they have much peace, joy, and comfort here, and shall have more grace as they want it, and hereafter eternal glory and happiness. JG
• […] when the vengeance shall come which is prepared for the ungodly and for sinners, not only will it not light on those “who put their trust in” the Lord, but it will even avail for the foundation and exaltation of a kingdom for them. For he said not, “When His anger shall be shortly kindled,” safe “are all they who put their trust in Him,” as though they should have this only thereby, to be exempt from punishment; but he said, “blessed;” in which there is the sum and accumulation of all good things. Augustine
• Blessed will be those in the day of wrath, who, by trusting in Christ, have made Him their refuge and patron; when the hearts of others fail them for fear they shall lift up their heads with joy; and then those who now despise Christ and His followers will be forced to say, to their own greater confusion, “Now we see that blessed are all those, and those only, that trust in Him.” In singing this, and praying it over, we should have our hearts filled with a holy awe of God, but at the same time borne up with a cheerful confidence in Christ, in whose mediation we may comfort and encourage ourselves and one another. We are the circumcision, that rejoice in Christ Jesus (Php 3:3). MH

Personal Summary:
This verse is quite wonderful to study. We have the carry over from vs. 11 which tells us how we are to repent (perhaps why the RSV combines the two). The verse opens with such beautiful language, Kiss the Son. It reminds me of the great love we, the church, have in Christ; for Him and from Him. The great affection He displays for us as His bride. Re. 19:7 says it well, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.” As Thomas Adams put it, “the Son… first kisses us by His mercy, [and we] kiss Him by our piety.” Through this we repent, we worship Him, we are reconciled to Him, and He is the focus of our greatest affection. What a beautiful love story Christ has given to us; doubly so because we are chief characters in the plot.

Those that have refused Him will only be successful in doing so for a very short time. We know that Christ Himself has said. “As I live… every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God.” (Ro. 14:11) They may in vain think that God’s wrath will never reach them and that their obstinacy will go unnoticed. They may have ignored the warnings that the ungodly will perish and that He will break them with a rod of iron and dash them to pieces. But in the end they will perish because of the great offense of their sin and in but a moment His longsuffering will end. Oh! The fear they will feel in that day! The bravado will melt away like snow on a summer street. They had been told to fear and tremble; now they will have no choice. Even the most pious men crumbled in the sight of God, and they were righteous men, godly men, justified saints awaiting glory. If Isaiah and John could not stand before God how will the wicked fair? God’s mighty hand brandishing a full measure of His wrath will, in the end, be their reward. I cannot fathom the pain and suffering they will endure for having rejected God. Thanks be to Him for having saved His children from their ranks.

Once again, the Lord does not leave us quaking with fear. The threat is tempered with His love for those that are His elect children. Lest we be saved with a spirit of bondage again to fear, He reassures us with this beautiful blessing. We are blessed; we are saved with a Spirit of adoption, whereby, we cry Abba, Father. We are true sons and we are blessed as such. We have total comfort and blessing in our lives because He has adopted us, engrafted us, secured us with the seal of the Spirit of God that we are His, never to be forsaken again! Our God is so great that He saves us even though we have sinned against Him; plotted against Him, hated Him, murdered and spat on Him, we have loathed the sound of His name in our ears, yet He has loved us from eternity, He has called us from the same and has always known that in spite of all of this we are HIS!

The Son asked for us! I cannot fathom something more beautiful than this. The more I contemplate this from vs. 8 the more heartbreaking it is to me that mankind treated Him as we did and do. What He did for us was not forced upon Him. He knew full well what He would have to do for us and asked for us anyway. He knew full well that we would revile Him, yet He asked for us anyway. Oh! The pain my sin has caused! But not just physical pain, for He also suffered spiritual pain. Christ hung on the cross for me, after being beaten and tortured and spit on; He then cried out to God, in the most poignant moment in all of history, My God, My God why hast thou forsaken me. He loved me so much that He was willing to be separated from God the Father for the only time in eternity, a pain far beyond anything else He endured for us… and He did so willingly, asking that the Father would grant us to Him. This blessing is more than incomprehensible, it is baffling. We don’t deserve it; we know that. But by the grace and mercy of God it is ours just the same. It is to be cherished more than anything we have ever gotten in our lives and over anything we are yet to receive. It is more secure than anything mankind has ever dreamed of. Thanks be to God “that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom. 8:38-39)

“This psalm flows from the first commandment, in which God promises to be our God, who will help us in every trouble and will work all good for us – just as He has, through Christ, delivered us from sin, death, and hell and brought us to eternal life. This blessing is what we pray for in the second petition of the Our Father: that His kingdom come.” (With thanks to Vaughn Hathaway for giving me this quote from “Psalms, With Introductions” by Martin Luther translated, edited and compiled by Bruce A. Cameron. [Concordia Publishing House, St. Louis, 1993.]) What more can I say about this beautiful verse and indeed this entire psalm? God is so beautiful and how blessed we are that He has left His Word to reveal Himself to us as He has done so wonderfully during this study. Praise His holy name! Amen.

Psalm 2:11

Amongst my commentaries there was one small difference of opinion as to what trembling actually entails in the latter part of this verse. All were in agreement save John Gill. I have not included his commentary on this part simply because I think he is wrong and doesn’t do the text justice on that part of this verse. He says in regards to trembling, “not with a fearful looking for of judgment, but with modesty and humility.” As you will see this stands in opposition to what the other commentators say here. Furthermore, the word used here in the Hebrew is ra’ad (דער) which is “shuddering or to tremble with fear”. This is why you will see some of the other commentaries using “fear and trembling” or as Calvin says “with fear”.

“Serve the Lord with fear”
• [The Psalmist] declares the manner in which they are to be wise (from vs. 10), by commanding them to serve the Lord with fear. By trusting to their elevated station, they flatter themselves that they are loosed from the laws which bind the rest of mankind; and the pride of this so greatly blinds them as to make them think it beneath them to submit even to God. The Psalmist, therefore, tells them, that until they have learned to fear Him, they are destitute of all right understanding. JC
• Not the creature, neither more, nor besides, nor with the Creator; God and mammon cannot both be served; nor any fictitious and nominal deities, the idols of the Gentiles, who are not gods by nature; but the true Jehovah, the one and only Lord God, He only is to be worshipped and served, even Father, Son, and Spirit. This is to be done "with fear", not with fear of man, nor with servile fear of God, but with a godly and filial fear, with a reverential affection for Him, and in a way agreeable to His mind and will; with reverence and awe of Him, without levity, carelessness, and negligence. JG
• We must serve God in all ordinances of worship, and all instances of godly conversation, but with a holy fear, a jealousy over ourselves, and a reverence of Him. Even kings themselves, whom others serve and fear, must serve and fear God, there is the same indefinite distance between them and God that there is between the meanest of their subjects and Him. MH
• Let reverence and humility be mingled with your service. He is a great God, and ye are but puny creatures; bend ye, therefore, in lowly worship, and let a filial fear mingle with all your obedience to the great Father of the Ages. CHS
• The fear of God promotes spiritual joy; it is the morning star which ushers in the sunlight of comfort. “Walking in the fear of God, and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.” God mingles joy with fear, that fear may not be slavish. Thomas Watson

“Rejoice with trembling”
• To prevent them from supposing that that the service to which He calls them is grievous, He teaches them by the word rejoice how pleasant and desirable it is, since it furnishes matter of true gladness. But lest they should, according to their usual way, wax wanton, and, intoxicated with vain pleasures, imagine themselves happy while they are enemies to God, He exhorts them farther by the words with fear to a humble and dutiful submission. The… prophet… implies that so long as the proud profligately rejoice in the gratification of the lusts of the flesh, they sport with their own destruction, while, on the contrary, the only true and salutary joy is that which arises from resting in the fear and reverence of God. JC
• Very excellently is “rejoice” added, lest “serve the Lord with fear” should seem to tend to misery. But again, lest this same rejoicing should run on to unrestrained inconsiderateness, there is added “with trembling,” that it might avail for a warning, and for the careful guarding of holiness. It can also be taken thus, “And now ye kings understand;” that is, And now that I am set as King, be ye not sad, kings of the earth, as if your excellency were taken from you, but rather “understand and be instructed.” For it is expedient for you, that ye should be under Him, by whom understanding and instruction are given you. And this is expedient for you, that ye lord it not with rashness, but that ye “serve the Lord” of all “with fear,” and “rejoice” in bliss most sure and most pure, with all caution and carefulness, lest ye fall therefrom into pride. Augustine
• To reverence God and to stand in awe of Him… this is the great duty of natural religion. God is great, and infinitely above us, just and holy, and provoked against us, therefore we ought to fear Him and tremble before him; yet He is our Lord and Master, and we are bound to serve Him, our friend and benefactor, and we have reason to rejoice in Him; and these are very well consistent with each other. We must rejoice in God, and, in subordination to Him, we may rejoice in other things, but still with a holy trembling. We ought to rejoice in the setting up of the kingdom of Christ, but to rejoice with trembling, with a holy awe of Him, a holy fear for ourselves, lest we come short, and a tender concern for the many precious souls to whom His gospel and kingdom are a savor of death unto death. MH
• There must ever be a holy fear mixed with the Christian’s joy. This is a sacred compound, yielding a sweet smell, and we must see to it that we burn no other upon the altar. Fear, without joy, is torment; and joy, without holy fear, would be presumption. CHS

Personal Summary:

We are here coming out of verse 10 which gives us an exhortation to repent. Here we are told how to repent. We must come in fear and serve Him. We must prostrate ourselves before Him and beg of Him to forgive us our sins. In all lowliness and humility knowing that we have been arrogant in opposing Him, arrogant in breaking His laws, knowing we have offended God to His very core and that a holy God cannot look down upon us, seeing that we are so contrary to His nature, and sit idly by forever. We must confess our sins and fear knowing that our very nature, our entire being, has sinned against Him and that wrath will undoubtedly follow. But, when we repent,

“He will not only pardon, but subdue your sins. If you will hear Him, hear then, that your soul may live. Hear the call of Christ Jesus, behold He calleth thee, “Come to me, ye that are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28). All who were in debt and distress came to David; you are such an one, come to this David, for so Christ is called, take His counsel and you will do well. You shall live, and sin shall die.” Ralph Venning, “The Sinfulness of Sin”, pg. 217

Christ is calling you to Him and in full recognition of your sin you must come before Him, repent, and serve Him; which is His due.

But God doesn’t leave us quivering masses of fear either. He could, it would be well within His right to do so. Perhaps more quivering heaps of men overwhelmed and disgusted by their sin would do this world some good. But the fact is He does not. There is a beautiful lead up through all of this. Remember in vs. 8 that Christ asked for us as His inheritance? That is the precursor to all of the rest that follows; the call to repent, the fear and trembling as we approach God and ask for forgiveness, all of it. And this was accomplished by His death on the cross. So, then, the fear is only a part of the picture and the rest is accomplished by Christ both in asking for us and paying the price for our sins. Because of this we can approach this throne not merely fearful but confident. And when we do we are given yet another beautiful piece to the puzzle, and that is the joy we receive when we do this. Yes, joy is tempered with fear; that is true. But joy it is and joy it will remain. We are refreshed by Him and nourished by His Word. We grow in love and obedience to His will. We are no longer enemies of God but true sons! Fear keeps our eyes focused on God in dependence on Him, it gives us a healthy reverence of who He is and the infinite distance that lies between His holiness and our sinfulness, it makes us loathe the idea of sinning against Him, and it rightfully causes us to cherish Him and to dread the thought of ever being separated from Him again. All of this leads back to joy. For when we walk with God we find true happiness. The two elements of our walk compliment each other in godly harmony; glorifying Him, yet still allowing our souls to feast at the table of grace, forever gorging ourselves on His love.

What a wonderful God we serve and how wondrously incomprehensible is the salvation He has given to us. It is perfect in every way, every element is perfectly fit to glorify God and edify His people; until He, according to the hope we have been given, calls us home and the work is finally and fully completed in true perfection.

Psalm 2:10

“Now”
• David… [as] a prophet and teacher… exhorts the unbelieving to repentance, that they may not, when it is too late, be compelled to acknowledge, from dire experience, that the divine threatenings are neither idle nor ineffectual. By the adverb now, he signifies the necessity of their speedy repentance, since they will not always be favored with the like opportunity. JC
• Delay no longer, but let good reason weigh with you. Your warfare cannot succeed, therefore desist and yield cheerfully to Him who will make you bow if you refuse His yoke. CHS
• Wherefore "now", under the Gospel dispensation, while it is today, and now is the accepted time and day of salvation, before the blow is given; act the wise part and leave off opposing, and become subject to so great and powerful a King. JG

“Be wise, O kings; be instructed you judges of the earth”
• He addresses by names kings and rulers, who are not very easily brought to a submissive state of mind; and who are, besides, prevented from learning what is right by the foolish conceit of their own wisdom with which they are puffed up. And if David spare not even kings themselves… much more does his exhortation apply to the common class of men, in order that all, from the highest to the lowest, may humble themselves before God. When he enjoins them to be wise, he directly condemns their false confidence in their own wisdom, as if he had said, the beginning of true wisdom is when a man lays aside his pride, and submits himself to the authority of Christ. JC
• O how wise, how infinitely wise is obedience to Jesus, and how dreadful is the folly of those who continue to be His enemies. CHS
• This address is made not so much to the kings of the earth in David's time, as to those who would be under the Gospel dispensation, and times of the Messiah; and particularly who would rise up, and set themselves against the Lord and his Anointed, and with these are to be understood their subjects: for if they are to serve the Lord, and be subject to Christ, then much more those that are under them; and they are rather spoken to particularly, because their examples have great influence on those over whom they rule, whether for good or evil these are exhorted to be wise, or to act the wise part; for great men are not always wise; wisdom, riches, and honor, do not always go together; men may be in high places, and yet be of low understandings; however, they do not always act wisely, and particularly those kings did not, when they rose up and set themselves against the Lord and His Messiah; since such opposition must be fruitless, nor is there any counsel against the Lord. And we learn, from the connection of these words with the following, that the truest wisdom in kings and people is to fear God, be subject to Christ, and trust in Him. JG
• We have here the practical application of this gospel doctrine concerning the kingdom of the Messiah, by way of exhortation to the kings and judges of the earth. They hear that it is in vain to oppose Christ’s government; let them therefore be so wise for themselves to submit to it. Those that would be wise must be instructed; and those are truly wise that receive instruction from the Word of God. Kings and judges stand upon a level with common persons before God; and it is as necessary for them to be religious as for any others. Those that give law and judgment to others must receive law from Christ, and it will be their wisdom to do so. What is said to them is said to all, and is required of every one of us. MH

Personal Summary:

So we see here the beginning of another contrast, which is God’s power and the divine threat which will mean man’s ruin vs. the call to repentance. In 2:9 we are told that the ungodly will be broken with a rod of iron and dashed into pieces. There we see the utter insignificance of the creature when held against the creator. A.W. Pink says this about it, “The supremacy of the true and living God might well be argued from the infinite distance which separates the mightiest creatures from the almighty Creator. He is the potter, they are but the clay in His hands, to be molded into vessels of honor, or to be dashed in pieces (Ps. 2:9) as He pleases. Were all the denizens of heaven and all the inhabitants of the earth to combine in revolt against Him, it would occasion Him no uneasiness… Scripture itself tells us that when the Gentile heads unite with the apostate Israel to defy Jehovah and His Christ, “He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh” (Ps. 2:4).” A.W. Pink, “The Attributes of God”, pg. 29

Yet, in spite of this great contrast in power, in spite of the fact that God is well within His rights to crush us like pots and break us with a rod of iron for our sin and our plotting against Him; even still, the offer of salvation is still given to mankind. We know that men still rejected this offer then and that they still perished in their sin. We also know that men are still doing it today. Even within proclaimed Christianity itself it happens. That is how sinful we are! J. Gresham Machen says this, “It is unnecessary, we are told, to have a “conception” of God; theology… it is said, is the death of religion; we should not seek to know God, but should merely feel His presence. With regard to this objection, it ought to be observed that if religion consists merely in feeling the presence of God, it is devoid of any moral quality whatever. Pure feeling, if there is such a thing, is non-moral. If human affection is… dependent upon knowledge, why should it be otherwise with that supreme personal relationship which is at the basis of religion? Certainly it does make the greatest possible difference what we think about God; the knowledge of God is the very basis of religion.” J. Gresham Machen, “Christianity and Liberalism”, pg. 54-55. Even within the church that proclaims itself to be a part of Christ; there are those that would seek to derail wisdom, and would thus plot in vain against God. Certainly, under this mode of operation, the church itself is not living up to or even in agreement with Matthew Henry’s comment that, “Those that would be wise must be instructed; and those are truly wise that receive instruction from the Word of God.” How do we live up to the exhortation to be wise if we do not even seek to truly know God? What good is the Word of God if it does not reveal Him to us? It is the primary reason for the bible!

So God offers repentance to mankind. He says we must do it now, do not delay, this is emphatically declared in the beginning of this verse. We have pitted ourselves against Him in every way, yet the offer still stands. Yet wisdom, because of sin, escapes us. Even in the church we set a horrible example for the world. What is the incentive for coming to Christ when the church acts as they do? Then to make matters worse, we justify our behavior by claiming that watered down Christianity is less offensive and more apt to fill the pews! And this, to the detriment of souls! People are jumping headfirst into the lake of fire, perishing in their sin, and this, after having spent a lifetime in these garbage churches. In all fairness, this is not the case in every church in America. Thankfully the promise still stands true that the Lord has reserved for Himself a remnant. But it is the case in far too many churches; and, if I might be so bold, in the vast majority of churches. We are being offered salvation and being told to repent now, to seek the wisdom of the Lord now; rulers, judges, all the people of the earth. Yet, the church is failing man because at its core it is failing God and, most importantly, fails to even truly recognize God which is the epitome of foolishness, not wisdom.

Thomas Watson says in his book “The Doctrine of Repentance” that, “Repentance is a grace of God’s Spirit whereby a sinner is inwardly humbled and visibly reformed.” May the church, indeed all of mankind, repent now as we have been exhorted by David to do. May we turn to the Lord, trust in Him, submit to His divine governance, and glorify Him. This is true reformation: when it is done in the individual, and in society as a whole, with a contrite heart that has been convicted to love God and seeks to live according to His will. Let us not delay, the promise and the offer itself stand true, but so do the divine warnings of His wrath. The same God who says of the saints, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.” (Jo 10:27-28) also said, “God is jealous, and the LORD revengeth; the LORD revengeth, and is furious; the LORD will take vengeance on his adversaries, and he reserveth wrath for his enemies” (Nah 1:2).

Oh to be preserved by Him and to never feel the sting of His wrath! What love He has displayed for mankind that we are allowed to exist even one more day. Let us not waste the gift we have been given. We must let go of our ignorant sense of autonomy, abandon the clutch of sin, relish the offer we have been given and seek “the truest wisdom [which] is to fear God, be subject to Christ, and trust in Him.”

Psalm 2:9

As I began my study of this verse I ran across some opposing points of view as to what is meant here and to whom it is applied. One commentary thinks this verse applies to the believers just spoken of in vs. 8; one thinks it has application to both believers and the lost; and the others were all in agreement that it is to be applied to the lost, the obstinate. I will present it to you in that manner and then we can look at who we believe to be correct.

“Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”

Applied to Believers Only
• That is, “Thou shalt break” in them earthly lusts, and the filthy doings of the old man, and whatsoever hath been derived and inured from the sinful clay. Augustin

Applied to Both Believers and the Lost Alike
• How precious again is this promise, both as it concerns the haters of our God and Savior, whose knees are never brought to bend to the sovereignty of His grace, and which must be broken before Him; and as it concerns those whose stubborn hearts shall be conquered, and made willing in the day of power, and are brought over to the interests of His kingdom. RH

Applied to the Lost Alone
• The language of David implies that all will not voluntarily receive His yoke, but that many will be stiff-necked and rebellious, whom notwithstanding He shall subdue by force, and compel to submit to Him. I allow that even the faithful themselves may be offered in sacrifice to God, that He may quicken them by His grace, for it is meet that we should be humbled in the dust, before Christ stretch forth His hand to save us. But Christ trains His disciples to repentance in such a way as not to appear terrible to them; on the contrary, by showing them His shepherd’s rod, He quickly turns their sorrow into joy; and so far is He from using His iron rod to break them in pieces, that He rather protects them under the healing shadow of His hand, and upholds them by His power. When David speaks, therefore, of breaking and bruising, this applies only to the rebellious and unbelieving who submit to Christ, not because they have been subdued by repentance, but because they are overwhelmed with despair. As [Christ] denounces in His Word whatever judgments He executes upon them, He may be truly said to slay the ungodly man with the breath of His mouth (2 Thess. 2:8). The Psalmist exposes to shame their foolish pride by a beautiful similitude; teaching us, that although their obstinacy is harder than the stones, they are yet more fragile than earthen vessels. JC
• Yes! Jehovah hath given to His Anointed a rod of iron with which He shall break rebellious nations in pieces, and, despite their imperial strength, they shall be but as potters’ vessels, easily dashed into shivers, when the rod of iron is in the hand of the omnipotent Son of God. Those who will not bend must break. Potters’ vessels are not to be restored if dashed in pieces, and the ruin of sinners will be hopeless if Jesus shall smite them. CHS
• Not His inheritance and possession among the Gentiles, the chosen ones given Him by the Father; these He delights in, takes care of, protects, and preserves: but the stubborn and rebellious ones among the Heathen, and in each of the parts of the world, who will not have Him to reign over them; who treat His person with contempt, reject His government, disobey His Gospel, and despise His commands; towards these Christ will use severity, and will exert His power and break them in pieces. JG
• [This] will not be completely fulfilled till all the opposing rule, principality, and power, shall be finally put down. Observe how powerful Christ is and how weak the enemies of His kingdom are before Him; He has a rod of iron wherewith to crush those that will not submit to His golden scepter; they are but like a potter’s vessel before Him, suddenly, easily, and irreparably dashed in pieces by Him. MH

Now that we have seen what the views on this are let us determine which is correct. It would seem to me that if we cross reference this with Rev. 2:26-27 which says, “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.” At least in context it seems fairly obvious that this is not discussing the redeemed but the lost and their eventual destruction which the saints will rule over with Christ.

“By and by the tables are going to be turned. At present the world oppresses the church member who desires to keep a clear conscience. By and by the church member who has remained loyal to his Lord is going to rule over the world and, being associated with Christ in the final judgment, is going to condemn the sinner. He is going to share in Christ’s dominion over the nations – which Christ, in turn, had received from the Father (Ps. 2:8,9); and on the day of the final judgment the wicked will be ‘broken to shivers’.” William Hendriksen, “More Than Conquerors”, pg. 72

So, I think it is obvious that perhaps Augustin and Hawker had it wrong, whether in full or in part. Taken in context and referenced elsewhere in the bible this can only be referring to the wicked where Christ will break them to pieces and utterly destroy them. I love how David represents this idea later on in Ps. 18:42 which says, “Then I beat them as fine as the dust before the wind; I cast them out like dirt in the streets.” The idea is not only that Christ will be victorious and defeat them, we know this; but, that He will utterly annihilate them. He will crush them beyond repair and once and for all end the plans of the wicked and reign with the righteous. In this we must longingly persevere, for the wicked will not reign forever, and we will be with our Lord in glory!