Psalm 2
At St. Andrew’s the Bible translation that we mostly use is the English Standard Version (ESV). For me, however, my favorite Bible translation is the New American Standard Bible (NASB). Naturally others may favor the old English language in the King James Version (KJV) or a more academic Revised Standard Version (RSV) or an easier-to-read New International Version (NIV). Finally, there are a couple of other “translations” that are not nearly exact translations as they are “interpretations”, like “The Message” (MSG) or the New Living Translation (NLT). Occasionally I will go to one of these when I am having a really difficult time understanding what the writer is saying. But I go there with caution, in that those “translations” have the author(s)’ interpretations that may not be true to the original text.
Whatever version you read, your prayer on the front end of your reading can help you with your understanding and bless you with the content of what you will read. My encouragement to you is that you read at least two versions of our assigned reading every day. You’ll see differences in words and phrases – and often reading that second translation can help you understand the first better.
One big difference between St. Andrew’s ESV and my favored NASB is deific capitalization of pronouns. A case in point comes up right away today in verses 7b and 12a: The LORD said to me, You are my Son; today I have begotten you… and Kiss the Son, lest he be angry… (ESV translations) In these verses the pronouns “me”, “my”, “you” and “he” are not capitalized in the ESV, but are capitalized in the NASB and other translations. That capitalization clearly suggests a Messianic interpretation to this Psalm. Very possibly (very likely?) this Psalm in its original context referred to David being anointed as king of Israel. But early Christian writers saw this Psalm as looking forward to Jesus. See Peter and John speaking in Acts 4:25-28 and the author of Hebrews in Heb. 1:5 and Heb. 5:5. Capitalizing those pronouns leads the reader’s interpretation that this Psalm does, in fact, look forward to Jesus. Not being a Biblical scholar, I am happy to be led in that way.
Surprisingly the word “Son” in these two verses is capitalized in the ESV (and in the NASB), again a clear indication that the Psalm looks forward to Jesus. Now why would the ESV capitalize “Son” and not those related pronouns? Intriguing…!
It seems like Psalm 1 is the “carrot” argument for why we should align our will with God’s will, and Psalm 2 is the “stick” argument for the same thing. Carrot and stick working in tandem. (I am more receptive to the carrot argument I think.)
Strange that you would post that, Lou. As I was reading an introduction to the Psalter, one of the comments said something like “Psalms 1 and 2 together form an introduction to the Psalter…”. So I think you nailed it!!
I was reading Psalm 2 in several different translations like Fred suggested, and I was struck by vs. 8, “Ask of me, and I will give you…”. Notice that God doesn’t just say he will do something (give the nations of the earth for Your inheritance) but he says “Ask of me.”
I think this is important for our own lives, and indeed I have experienced it. When what we want is in accord with God’s will, he WILL grant a request. In fact, he tells us to ask him.
The more things change, the more things stay the same… One thing I love about the Psalms (well, the Bible in general) is the timelessness of the message. Consider Psalm 2:1-4. When has that not been true? It was true in the Psalmist’s day, and it remains true today. Look around and see the haughtiness and arrogance of mankind and the nations of the earth. Then look up and recognize the sovereignty of the LORD God Almighty and how utterly ridiculous all our raging is in His eyes: “He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.” (v. 4)
Down through the ages we have seen kingdoms, empires, and nations rise and fall. And we forget that it is the Lord who raises up and tears down. We fail to recognize the rod of iron in the hands of the Son, but it is there and always will be. (Recall what we just read in Revelation 2:27; 12:5; 19:15.) Prudence would suggest that we should listen to the Psalmist and take heed (Psalm 2:10-12), but how many will, in fact, find the blessing of taking refuge in Him?