A Brief Explication of the First Fifty Psalms, Psalm 2
PSAL. II.
That this Psalme doth mainly, if not only, concern Christ, appeareth by this, That it hath not so much as Davids name in the inscription, albeit he did write it: and by Act. 4.25, 26. where it is appropriate to Christ. This Psalm hath two parts; in the former is set down the stability of Christs Kingdome, against all the enemies therof, ver. 1, 2, 3. First, Because God the Father taketh part with his Son, against all his enemies, and wil establish Christs Kingdome, maugre them all, ver. 4, 5, 6. Secondly, Because in the Covenant of Redemption, the Father hath promised to the Son enlargement of his Kingdom, and victory over all his enemies, ver. 7, 8, 9. In the latter part of the Psalm the Prophet delivereth the use of this Doctrine in an exhortation to great and smal, to repent of their sins, and to believe in Christ, ver. 10, 11, 12.
Ver. 1. WHy do the Heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2 The Kings of the earth set themselves, and the Rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against his Annointed, saying,
3 Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us▪
THe Prophet sheweth, That in vaine shall Christs enemies oppose his Kingdome: Whence learn, 1. Thae the ungodly world being strangers from the life of God, are incensed in a mad moode against the Church and Kingdom of Christ in the world, The heathen rage, saith he, to wit, against the Visible Government of Christ in his Visible Church, as appeareth ver. 2, 3. 2. Their Opposition is altogether unjust, without cause, and reasonlesse; for being asked, they cannot render a reason Why? 3. Though Christs's Enemies promise to themselves success in their opposition to Christ, and that they shall surely overturne his Kingdome, yet shall their imaginations prove folly; they shall not prevail, for they imagine a vain thing, which is impossible to bee effectuate. 4. The chief Instruments that Satan stirreth up against Christ, to be Heads and Leaders to Heathen and godlesse people in opposing and persecuting Christs Kingdome and Church, are the Magistrates, Rulers, and States-men, that he may colour his malice with the shadow of Authority and Law; For the Kings of the earth and Rulers set themselves, to wit, in opposition to him. 5. In this attempt the great ones among men agree more easily together, then in any thing else; they fix their resolutions, communicate their counsels, and conjoyne their power; The Kings of the earth set themselves, and the Rulers take counsel together. 6. Howsoever the Persecuters of the Church conceive themselves not to oppose God, but men only, when they trouble his people and servants for Righteousnesse, yet because the Quarrel is the Lords, therefore their opposition is declared here to be against the Lord, and his Annointed, or his Christ, who is distinguished here from the Lord, in regard of his Incarnation, Mediation, and Offices, being otherwise, in respect of his God-head, one in Essence with the Father and the Holy Spirit. 7. Though the Law and Ordinances of God be most Holy, most Equitable, most Harmlesse, yea, also most profitable; yet the wicked esteem of them, as they call them here, Bands and Cords, because they curb and crosse their carnal Wisdome and Licentiousnesse of life. 8. It is not enough to the wicked to disobey and reject the Law and ordinances of Christ, for their owne part, but they wil also have them abolished, that God in Christ should not have a Church at all, at least in their bounds, or where they have power; Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
Ver. 4. Hee that sitteth in the Heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision.
5. Then shal he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure.
6. Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Sion.
The first reason of the stability of Christs Kingdome is, because God scorneth mens opposing thereof, and will vex his enemies, and settle Christs Kingdome in his visible Church, in the sight of his enemies: Hence learn, 1. Though the Church visible, and the Ordinances of Christ be among the feet of Potentates, and Christs subjects want wisdome and power on earth, to defend themselves, yet their maintainer is omnipotent God, judge over all, even he that sitteth in Heaven. 2. All the devices and conspiracies of men against Christs Kingdome, (how terrible soever to Gods people) are but ridiculous and foolish attempts in Gods sight; The King that sitteth in heaven, shall laugh at them all, and expose them to mockery before men: Hee shall have them in derision. 3. After the Lord hath made manifest the intent of his enemies, and brought their foolish and mad purposes to light, he wil not fail to manifest his mind, and just indignation against them; for, then shal he speak to them in his wrath. 4. The Lord hath his appointed time wherein he wil arise, and vex the enemies of his Church, partly by disappointing them of their hopes, and partly by inflicting sore plagues upon them; Then shall hee vex them in his sore displeasure. 5. When the Lord ariseth to judge the enemies of his Church, then doth he give a further manifestation of his purpose to establish his Church, and the visible Kingdome of Christ in the World, maugre all opposition: Yet have I s…t my King upon my holy hill of Zion▪ 6. Though all Kings and Kingdomes belong unto the Lord, yet he owneth the Church (represented by the hill of Zion▪ and he owneth his Son Christ the King thereof, in a special manner, as his peculiar property, wherein he glorieth more then in all his works; therfore saith he, I have set my King upon my holy Hill; this is the Speech of God the Father, speaking by his Spirit in the Prophet concerning Christ his Son.
V. 7. I will declare the Decree: the Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son, this day have I begotten thee.
8. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the Heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
The second reason of the stability of Christs Kingdome is, the decreed agreement betweene God the Father and the …, in the Covenant of Redemption; some Articles whereof Christ by his Prophet doth here reveal; for this is the speech of Christ the Son of God, to be incarnate, speaking by his spirit, concerning the stability of the Church, and his Kingdome over it: Whence we learne. 1. The faith of the Saints, in time of the persecution of the Church, may, and should rest perswaded of the stability of the Church, and of Christs Kingdome in it, because it is grounded upon the mysterious and unchangeable decree of God, which here is brought to light, I will declare the decree, saith Christ, not as yet incarnate. 2. It is Christs office as Prophet, to reveale the secret counsel of the Trinity, being the substantial Word of the Father; and who before the world was created, was with God, and was God, Iohn 1.1, 2. I will declare the decree, saith the Son of God. 3. The Son of God as he is a person, concurring in the decree of establishing of the Church, and Kingdome of God in it, against all opposition; So is he party contracter in the Covenant of Redemption: And as he is the promiser, and undertaker to pay the price of the Redemption of his people; so also is he the receiver of promises, made in favour of his Church and Kingdome: It is he to whom the Father directeth his promise concerning his Church, first and immediately; for the Son in declaring the decree, saith, The Lord said to me. 4. It is one of the Articles of the Covenant of Redemption, That the promised seed of the woman, the Redeemer of his people, the promised seed of Abrah…m, the Messiah and Saviour of the Elect, the promised son of David, and true King of Israel after his incarnation, shall not be disowned of the Father; But in and after his deepest humiliation and sufferings, as he shall be, and remaine really the very Son of God, so shall he really at the set day, be acknowledged by the Father, to be the only begotten Son of God; which day, is the day of Resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, as the Apostle, Rom. 1.4. doth teach us, saying, He was declared to be the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead; For the Resurrection of Jesus Christ was a reall speech, saying to Christ in the audience of all the world, in effect as much as, I declare thee this day to be my Son, my only begotten Son, one in substance with me eternally. 5. The declaration of the decree of manifesting of Christ to be the Son of God, is a sufficient demonstration of the impregnable stability of the Church, maugre all the opposition of all the power in the world; for to this very end is the decree of revealing Christ to be the Son of God▪ here declared. Thou art my Son whom I have bogotten, is proof abundant; for this is the Rock whereupon Christ undertaketh to build his Church, against which the gates of hel shal not prevaile, Mat. 16.16.18. and who is he that overcometh the world, saith Iohn, save he that believeth that Christ is the Son of God? 1 Iohn 5.5. 6. Another article of the Covenant of Redemption here declared is, That after Christs Resurrection, and declaration of his formerly over-clouded God-head, he should continue in the office of his mediation, and intercession; and by vertue of his payed ransome of Redemption, call for the enlargement of his purchased Kingdome among the Gentiles; for this is the Fathers compact with the Son, saying, Ask of me, and I will give thee the Heathen. 7. The opposition which the world shal make to the Kingdome of Christ, shall not hinder the enlargement and spreading thereof; but by the intercession of Jesus Christ, the Heathen shall be his inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth his possession; not his by a short tack, or lease for some few years, but a lasting inheritance, and constant possession. 8. The necessity of prayer is pointed out to all the Lords people by this, that the possession of the purchase which our Lord hath made by his precious blood, is to be drawn forth by a sort of Prayer and Intercession suitable to Christs person; Ask of me, saith the Father, and I will give thee the Heathen, &c.
9. Thou shalt breake them with a rod of Iron, thou shalt dash them in pieces like a Potters Vessel.
A third Article of the covenant of Redemption, is, a promise made to Christ, of ful victory over all his, and his Churches enemies, ver. 9. Wherein observe, 1. That Christ shall not want enemies, who wil not only for their own parts, refuse salvation offered by him, and subjection to be given to him; but also will oppose him, and make head against him, til he destroy them; for these Kings and Rulers spoken of ver. 2, 3, wil not cease, till he break them, and dash them in pic…es; and these are here understo…, as repeated from ver. 1, 2, 3.
2. Though Christs Church be weak and unable to help it selfe against persecution, yet Christ wil owne the quarrel, and fight against all the enemies thereof himselfe, whereunto he is sufficiently furnished, for he shall break them in pieces with an Iron rod. 3. Though the enemies be numerous and strong, being compared with the godly, whom they do persecute, yet compared with Christ, or looked upon by him, they are but weake, brittle, and naughty things. Thou shalt dash them in pieces as a potters vessel.
Ver. 10. Be wise now therefore, O yee Kings: be instructed, ye Iudges of the earth.
11. Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoyce with trembling.
12 Kisse the Son lest he be angry, and yee perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little: blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
This is the later part of the Psalme, wherein the uses of the former Doctrine are set down. Whence learn, 1. The more clear advertisement is given concerning the sinne and danger of opposing of Christs Kingdome, cause, work or people; the more wary should all men be, and namely Potentates, as they love their places or soules, to eschue this evil; for hee hath said, Be wise now therefore, O yee Kings and Iudges of the Earth. 2. Though it may seem wisdome to make and execute lawes in prejudice of Christ, and his cause, rather then vent their malice without a pretence; yet it is more wisdome to cease from opposition, and take lawes from Christ; for so the Lord doth reckon, saying, Be wise now therefore, and instructed. 3. If any be guilty of this sinne, and not as yet smitten for it, the goodnesse of God offereth to him mercy in time, and steppeth in timously to take off the snares of flatterers, who use to harden men, and especially great men, in this sinne: Be wise now, saith the Lord, O yee Kings. 4. It is no disparagement to the greatest Monarchs (but a mean for them to eschue the wrath of God) to be subject to Christ Jesus, to stand in awe of him, to submit themselves to him, and promove his service to their power; for the command to all, and to them in special, is, Serve the Lord in fear. 5. As there is matter of fear to Christs Subjects, lest they provoke him; for there is matter of rejoycing for them to be under his Government, and these two affections may wel consist in his service: Rejoyce in trembling: yea there is no right rejoycing in any thing without-some mixture of fear to offend him. 6. Because Christ Jesus the Son of God, is a lovely King, bringing Righte…eousnesse and Eternal life to all his true subjects, hee should be submitted unto, and imbraced (when he offereth grace) very heartily: To this end, Kisse the Son, or do him homage, is added; for to kisse is a signe of religious adoration, Hos. 13.2. and a signe of homage and hearty subjection, 1 Sam. 10.1. 7. Where grace offered by Christ Jesus is refused, the refusing of mercy shall procure more anger then all former sins; kisse the Son lest he be angry. 8. When Christ taketh a refusal of a man, to whom grace is offered, wrathwil follow, to the cutting off of the refuser from all means of happinesse, both temporal, which hee hunteth after; and eternal, which is offered in Christ unto him, and to the bringing upon him u…ter perdition; for it is said, Kisse the Son lest he be angry, and yee perish from the way of all possible salvation. 9. Unspeakable must the wrath of God …e, when it is kindled fully, since perdition may come upon the kindling of it but a little. 10. Remission of sin, delivery from Wrath, communion with God, and life everlasting, are the fruits of imbracing of Christ, of closing in Covenant with Christ, and resting on Christ; For, blessed are all they that put their trust in him.