Who is in control in our world? Is it the leaders of the superpowers? Is it the United Nations? No, not according to Psalm 2. The second introduction to Psalms, it puts everything into perspective by reminding us who really controls the world and history.

The psalm begins by portraying the nations working together in conspiracy against God and His anointed one (or ″messiah″). The nations want to throw off the shackles of God's authority. It would be terrifying for a tiny nation like Israel to face such a coalition of pagan powers, but God reminds His people that all the plots of the nations are hopeless. The strongest armies are puny next to the power of the Almighty King of heaven. God laughs at their pride and foolishness. He will come in judgment and install His king over all the earth.

Who is this ″king″ (v. 6) and ″anointed″ (v. 2)? Who is God's ″son″ (v. 7) and the heir of all the nations (v. 8)? At the time Psalm 2 was written, this person was David. In 2 Samuel 7:13, God had promised David that his line would rule forever. Sadly, moral and spiritual sin meant that David and his successors could never fulfil God's plans for them. It became clear that all these promises would be fulfilled in a future king. Psalm 2 essentially points forward to the true King and Messiah, the Lord Jesus.

The psalm ends with a warning to all rulers-and, indeed, all people-to fear the Lord and submit to God's son. To ″kiss his son″ (v. 12) is an act of humble submission (see 1 Samuel 10:1; 1 Kings 19:18). To oppose God's Son will have terrifying consequences (″destruction″, Psalm 2:12), but to trust Him will bring great and eternal blessings (″refuge″, v. 12).

When God's Son came, the nations raged against Him. The masses and their political and religious authorities opposed Him and put Him to death. Even today, all over the world the nations continue to oppose God and His people. The message and comfort of Psalm 2 is that one day, before Jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord (cf. Philippians 2:10-11).