Psalm 2 (Why Do The Nations Rage?)
Jesus is glorious in many ways. He is the creator and the perfect man. The preacher of grace and the judge of the wicked. The suffering servant and the splendid king. Many people have gone astray by trying to pry one of these facets of his majesty away from the others.
In Psalm 2, the anointed king is called God's son in an echo of the Davidic Covenant (2 Sam 7:14). The New Testament applies this Psalm to Jesus, the Greater David and God's Eternal Son, the anointed Messiah, in multiple places (Acts 4:24-26, Acts 13:33, Hebrews 1:5, Hebrews 5:5).
This psalm provides a wonderful way to medidate on the kingship of Jesus. He's the preacher on the hillside, but he's also the conquerer in Revelation. Come quickly, Lord!
I decided to versify the psalm, and afterward, I asked my friend Michael Gundlach to give it a tune. My father-in-law, retired professor of choral music Dr. John "Jack" Broman, recruited composition professor Dr. David Peoples to improve the arrangement.
I recorded a simple guitar-and-voice demo of the first verse so you can hear how it goes.
Below is the sheet music, the guitar chords, a "human-like" SATB recording of the song exported from the notation program (MuseScore), and a practice track for each vocal part.
© 2025 Nathan Long
Why do the nations rage and scheme against the Lord's Anointed? They plot in vain against the King whom Yahweh has appointed “We'll burst their bonds”, they say “We'll cast their cords away”
The Lord who sits in Heaven laughs; He holds them in derision Then he will speak and show his wrath and tell them His decision: “My King forever will sit firm on Zion's hill”
God said “I have begotten you My Son, yours for the asking are all the peoples of the earth a kingdom everlasting You'll shatter with a rod all enemies of God”
Now listen, rulers: flee his wrath and serve the Lord with rev’rence Rejoice with trembling, kiss the Son Your judge or your deliv’rance for blessed is the one whose refuge is the Son