The scene in Psalm 2 is like that of a modern-day United Nations meeting where all the major world leaders gather to sanction an unjust and merciless dictator or leader.

The Lord's anointed, we should understand, is a reference to Israel's king. The two are closely united in Scripture. The king of Israel was anointed by the Lord's prophet and received the Lord's Spirit. He was God's representative on earth. To attack the one is to attack the other; to honour one is to honour the other. That is why in 1 Samuel 24 David is conscience-stricken just for cutting off the corner of Saul's robe. It was not because Saul was such a good king; it was because he was the anointed one of the Lord. This is exactly what David explains to his men. 1 Samuel 24:6, The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord's anointed, or lift my hand against him; for he is the anointed of the Lord. This should have been the same honour and respect that God's people had for the Lord's anointed, Jesus Christ. But it was not. Instead of honouring the Lord's anointed, the world leaders of the day—Herod and Pontius Pilate—conspired together with the Gentiles. They had him flogged, beaten, mocked, and crucified. We read about this in Acts 4. After quoting Psalm 2, the apostle Peter prayer to the Lord in Acts 4:27, saying, Truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel. The worst part about that plot was that it wasn't just Herod, Pilate and the Gentiles who conspired together. The worst part is that the peoples of Israel, the people of God, joined the conspiracy! They of all people should have known better! Yet they were the ones who shouted, Crucify him, crucify him. How shameful! How foolish!