Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
    be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear,
    and rejoice with trembling.
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. (Psalms 2:10-12, ESV)

In the Second Temple period (about 516 BC–70 AD) and early Jewish literature, this Psalm was usually read about Israel’s king (a historical Davidic ruler) or about a future Messiah from David’s line. It was possibly a royal Psalm used at the coronation of a king of Judah.

There’s no doubt that it had a messianic message: “The Lord said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel” (vs. 7-9). Luke in Acts 13:33 and the Hebrew writer in Hebrews 1:5 and 5:5 quoted from vs. 7 about the Divine Sonship of Jesus. John in his Revelation refers to the messianic conquering king in Revelation 2:27, 12:5 and 19:15 using the imagery of vs. 8-9.

While Psalm 2 presents a warning or notification to the kings and rulers of the ancient world, let’s look at it from another point of view. There is a sense in which this Psalm applies to all people–to you and me.

Here’s what I mean. Just a few Psalms later the Psalmist proclaims in Psalm 8:

When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers,
    the moon and the stars, which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
    and the son of man that you care for him?
Yet you have made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
    and crowned him with glory and honor.
You have given him dominion over the works of your hands;
    you have put all things under his feet (Psalm 8:3-6, ESV).

Undoubtedly, the Psalmist had Genesis 1:26-30 in mind when God made human beings in His image and declared that His intent for them was to rule over His creation.

The Psalm is a warning against the desire of kings and rulers for autonomy, self-sufficiency, and self-determination.

Why do the nations rage
    and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves,
    and the rulers take counsel together,
    against the Lord and against his Anointed (Psalm 2:1-2, ESV)

This sounds like a character flaw shared by all us inept rulers of the earth–doing my own will rather than seeking God’s will; serving my self-interest rather than serving God.

It’s called rebellion. And, it’s the reason that our reign over the earth as God’s appointed rulers has failed.

But there is a way to reclaim your jurisdiction as this Psalm so ardently points out: Kiss the Son!

Swear allegiance to the God’s Anointed One, the Messiah–Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the King of kings. Then you will be blessed; then you can recover your birthright as one of God’s appointed rulers of the earth.

Turn to me and be saved, all the ends of the earth! For I am God, and there is no other. By myself I have sworn; from my mouth has gone out in righteousness a word that shall not return: To me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear allegiance. (Isaiah 45:22-23, ESV)