Did David realize that the kings of the earth in Psalm 2 were Rome?
No. When David wrote Psalm 2, he did not realize that the kings of the earth referred to Rome. The context explains that we now know those kings were the Caesars and rulers of Rome, while David wrote without that later identification.
Les explains that Psalm 2 had to be fulfilled through both Jew and Gentile in Christ’s death. The heathen are Gentiles, and the people are Jews, so the whole human race is involved. He notes that the kings of the earth who set themselves were Rome—the Caesars and rulers of Rome—though David did not realize this as he wrote. The rulers also include Israel’s religious rulers, and they take counsel together. It was not just a Jewish or Roman phenomenon; prophecy dictated that they would work hand in glove to reject the king.
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
More Questions
In Psalm 2:2, who are the 'kings of the earth' and the 'rulers'?
In Psalm 2:2, the 'kings of the earth' are the Gentiles and the 'rulers' are the rulers of Israel, and the word 'together' shows that both groups took counsel together.
Why does Psalm 2:2 say the rulers took counsel together?
The word 'together' in Psalm 2:2 shows that Jewish and Roman rulers were to work hand in glove by prophetic dictate to reject the king; it was neither solely a Jewish nor solely a Roman event.
Who are the rulers that take counsel together against the Lord in Psalm 2:2?
The phrase the rulers take counsel together in Psalm 2:2 refers to the Gentile rulers, that is Rome, joining together against the Lord and against His Anointed, the Messiah.
In Psalm 2, who are the heathen and the people?
In Psalm 2, the 'heathen' are the non-Jew/Gentiles and 'the people' are Israel, whose rulers take counsel with those Gentile kings against the Lord.