Psalm 2

Old City Jerusalem, A Travel Photography Guide

In the King James, this psalm is titled "The Reign of the Lord's Anointed."  It pictures a conflict between the nations and the people, setting up contrast between the Lord's anointed and the kings of the earth.  The kings conspire among themselves, viewing themselves as capable and in-control, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” 

In contrast, the psalmist asks why the people bother to "imagine a vain thing" (v2), and the Lord laughs in Heaven at their efforts (v4), knowing His plans:

Psa 2:5  Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, 

Psa 2:6  “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.” 

Here, I'm thinking the "he" is God and his King, Jesus. Or is the psalmist alluding to both a literal king (such as David) and a future Messiah?  These double mentions can be confusing.

Regardless, this King's response to the others is definitively violent:

"You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel” (v9).

This is no ceremonial, figurehead of a king, but a lethal one.

At the end, the reader is urged  "Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him" (v11).

Is the wrath of Christ quickly kindled?  I think of Christ and God as long suffering and patient--not quite sure how to reconcile this detail.

But, the message is not dependent upon my understanding in this area. Clearly, if we wish to be blessed, we should take refuge in "the Son."  Otherwise, we willingly aligning ourselves with the other side, those who will be broken and dashed in pieces.  

The contrast between the choices is intentional and drastic.  A psalm of warning--we are urged to choose the right side.