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!