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Psalms 2:12

The Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 2:12

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

The kiss of homage.

"Kiss the Son," etc. That is, the Son of God, spoken of in . Our Saviour loved to call himself "Son of man," but he did not shrink from using also this name for which the Jews accused him of blasphemy (; ; ; ). The kiss of friendly greeting, still the ordinary custom in many countries, is referred to in innumerable passages of Scripture. Else the traitor Judas had not dared so to crown his treachery. Jesus noted the neglect of the kiss of hospitality (); did not disdain the kisses showered on his feet by the weeping penitent. But the text speaks, not of any of these, but of the kiss of homage or worship.

I. THE SUMMONS. "Kiss the Son"' Kings and judges of the earth (cf. ) are summoned to do homage to "the Son" as "Head over all" (). "Serve the Lord ' () implies this homage. Why rulers? As representing the nations (, ). Civil power is God's ordinance (, etc.). Otherwise neither despots nor democracies could have any right to make and execute laws. Christ's kingdom is not a kingdom of this world; but he is the Ruler of nations as well as individuals (). Till this is practically acknowledged—the whole of human life, public and private, rendered obedient to Christ's law—the nations cannot be "blessed in him" (; ).

II. THE WARNING. "Lest he be angry." The compassion, gentleness, tenderness of Jesus, are sometimes dwelt on to the exclusion of his majesty and righteousness (but see , , ; , etc.; ). There is no more tremendous phrase in Scripture than" the wrath of the Lamb" ().

III. THE DOOM OF THE DISOBEDIENT. "Perish from the way." What way? The way of salvation—of God; of truth; of holiness; of peace; of life (; ; , ; ; ; ; ). The most fearful punishment of sin is incapacity for holiness—spiritual death (). "Lest" is the awful shadow over the future, if you are rejecting Christ. "Now" is the sunshine on the path of faith and repentance (; ).

HOMILIES BY C. CLEMANCE

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commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 2:1-12The Divine King. This psalm is supposed by some to have been written about the time of the coronation of Solomon. The heathen might then be the subject nations outside of Palestine, which threatened rebellion at this ti…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 2:1-12The King in Zion: a Messianic psalm. A close examination of this psalm will show it to be at once prophetic and Messianic. Its date and author are not certainly known. The style rather points to David as the probable wr…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 2:1-12The heathen in three aspects. I. AS SLAVES OF SIN. The condition of peoples varies. Civilization was more advanced in Greece and Rome than in other parts of the world. But though there may be superiority in some respect…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 2:1-12EXPOSITION HERE we have again a psalm without a title, and, so far, we are left to conjecture its age and author. The Jews, however, have always regarded it as Davidical; and there is evidence in Scripture itself (Acts…Joseph S. Exell and contributorscommentaryMatthew Henry on Psalms 2:10-12Whatever we rejoice in, in this world, it must always be with trembling, because of the uncertainty of all things in it. To welcome Jesus Christ, and to submit to him, is our wisdom and interest. Let him be very dear an…Matthew HenrycommentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Psalms 2:12Kiss the Son. It is certainly remarkable that we have here a different word for "Son" from that employed in Psalms 2:7, and ordinarily in the Hebrew Bible. Still, there is other evidence that the word here used, bar, ex…Joseph S. Exell and contributors