Psalm 2:11Meaning & Commentary from the Church Fathers

Yet, how can one truly 'rejoice... with trembling?' You might wonder how these two emotions can coexist, given their stark differences. Joy stems from the fulfillment of desires, the savoring of delightful experiences, and the dismissal of distressing thoughts; fear, on the other hand, arises from an exaggerated sense of impending disaster, often linked to a troubled conscience. Thus, how can one 'rejoice… with fear,' and even more intriguingly, 'with trembling,' which signifies heightened anxiety and concern? This is illustrated by the seraphim, who embody this concept through their actions. They bask in the indescribable splendor of the Creator and behold His unfathomable beauty—not in its essence, as it is beyond comprehension, unseen, and unimaginable—but to the extent that they can perceive through the light that shines forth from it. They continually surround the divine throne, immersed in everlasting joy, constant delight, and uninterrupted pleasure, admiring, celebrating, and silently glorifying. Their standing before this majesty and receiving the illumination that flows from it is their joy, their pleasure, their exaltation, and their honor. Perhaps you, too, have experienced a glimpse of this joy, awakening a yearning for such glory within you.

Nebuchadnezzar exhibited servitude by instituting a severe decree against blasphemy in his realm. Thus, kings fulfill their service to the Lord precisely in those capacities unique to their office: when they act on behalf of God in a manner only a king possesses the authority to do.

It is to your benefit, O kings, that you govern not by mere happenstance, but serve the Lord in fear of all that exists, finding joy in the clearest and truest happiness, remaining vigilant and observant, lest you stray from Him due to arrogance.

Moreover, the Lord Himself teaches the Apostles, "I no longer call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, because I have told you all that I have heard from My Father" (John 15:15). Similarly, He states, "you are My friends, if you do what I command you" (John 15:14). This demonstrates that there are varying levels of perfection and that the Lord encourages us to progress to ever-higher degrees.

‘The Lord nullifies the plans of the nations and frustrates the schemes of mankind; but the counsel of the Lord stands forever; the thoughts of His heart endure through all generations’ (Psalm 32:10-11). Therefore, the Holy Spirit, through King David, calls out: ‘And now, kings, be wise...’

‘Kings’ here refers not just to themselves but also to those they lead. The Holy Spirit urges them to comprehend against whom they stand in opposition. It is sheer folly to resist Him whose dominion is acknowledged by all, whose purpose is immutable. Thus, one must either yield to Him and repent or reject Him and face eternal ruin. God, in His generosity and mercy, is patient and desires ‘not the death of the sinner, but that he should turn from his ways and live’ (Ezekiel 18:32). Hence, He compassionately urges sinners to reform, to repent, to embrace His saving will, and to joyfully accept the salvation He offers through His only Son. ‘And now, kings, be wise, learn, all you judges of the earth.’ He desires for them to grasp this message ‘now,’ while grace still abounds, while God calls for repentance and extends forgiveness to those willing to turn back. ‘Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation’ (2 Cor. 6:2). The ‘now’ refers to our present life; it is the moment to repent, seek, pray, and knock at the door of divine mercy. The time of judgment awaits—a day of suffering and testing—when intentions, actions, words, and deeds will all be scrutinized. Then, cries of repentance, tears, prayers, and pleas will bear no fruit. ‘And now, kings, be wise, learn, all you judges of the earth.’ The call extends to all people: ‘Consider this, all you who forget God, lest He tear you to pieces, and there be none to rescue’ (Psalm 49:22).

‘Serve the Lord with reverence, and rejoice with trembling’ (Psalm 2:11). For ‘the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom’ (Proverbs 1:7). Discern the significance of Christ's arrival in the world. He was sent by His heavenly Father to redeem the world: ‘For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost’ (Matt. 18:11). Reflecting on your own state may lead to distress; recognizing His greatness and your unworthiness, you will willingly submit beneath the yoke of His holiness and goodness. Understand that belonging to His kingdom is a blessing, and serving Him as a kind and gracious Lord is a source of joy; however, being outside of His kingdom leads to despair, disaster, and ruin. Those outside His kingdom, refusing His service, bind themselves to Satan’s yoke, serving him through their sins and desires. Every individual on earth is either in Christ’s kingdom and serves Him or outside it and serves the devil. Whom one obeys reflects whom one serves. Serving Christ, the King of Heaven, brings sweetness and joy, while serving the devil, the ruler of darkness and the god of this age, results in misery and despair, blinding the hearts of his followers and leading them to eternal damnation. ‘Serve the Lord with reverence, and rejoice in Him with trembling,’ urges the Holy Spirit through His servant. Cast off the heavy burden of Satan and take up the yoke of Christ, for ‘His yoke is easy and His burden is light’ (Matt. 11:30).

This paternal exhortation applies not only to those who reject Christ, who oppose His holy teachings, such as idolaters, Muslims, Jews, and others but also to those who identify as Christians. These are individuals who may profess Christ's doctrine and bear His name yet contradict Him through their actions and lifestyles, thereby ‘denying’ Him as ‘they are detestable and disobedient and unqualified for any good work’ (Titus 1:16). It is not just those who outright oppose Christ who are guilty; even those who fail to follow His commandments and live contrary to His teachings are against Him. Such people are adversaries of Christ, even while they confess His name and call Him, ‘Lord, Lord!’ To them, He replies, ‘Why do you call Me, Lord, Lord, and do not do what I say?’ (Luke 6:46). ‘He who is not with Me is against Me,’ He proclaims (Lk. 11:23). Who is with Christ? It is the one whose heart, thoughts, will, and spirit align with Him, as the apostle urges us to conform our minds to Christ’s will: ‘Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus’ (Phil. 2:5). Who is against Christ? The one who acts contrary to His will and purpose. Each lawless Christian, who clings to this world for comfort, stands as an adversary to Christ. For Christ calls us away from sin and worldly desires through His teachings and deeds. Read the Gospel and the epistles of His apostles, and this truth will be plainly evident. Therefore, the apostles encourage us, ‘God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and has entrusted us with the message of reconciliation. We are therefore ambassadors for Christ, as though God were making His appeal through us; we implore you on Christ's behalf, 'Be reconciled to God.' For He made Him who knew no sin to be a sin offering for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him’ (2 Cor. 5:19-21). It is a grave matter to resist the One who can destroy both body and soul in hellfire. It is audacious to disregard Him who sacrificed Himself for our salvation, offering Himself as a sweet-smelling sacrifice for our sins.

Let the world proceed as it chooses. Yet, we must not defy Christ in any manner. Let us remember that He is our God, our Lord, our Creator, our Redeemer and Savior, our King, the Most Gracious, gentle, patient, and merciful. Let us serve Him in faith and truth, so that He may recognize us as His devoted servants. Be saved.

Furthermore, the Lord pledges to instill His reverence in the hearts of those who genuinely seek to follow Him: I will give them My fear in their hearts, so they will not turn away from Me (Jeremiah 32:40). The foundation of true knowledge of God begins with the fear of the Lord.

The subsequent phrase, "and rejoice in Him with trembling," conveys a similar idea, albeit with a shift in wording and structure. In the first segment of the verse, the verb expresses the fear of a servant, while the accompanying term denotes a child's love; conversely, in the latter part, there is a verb that reflects the joy of a loving child and a term that signifies the trembling of a fearful servant.

This concept should not be misinterpreted to mean that everyone can believe in God in a way that suits their personal ideas or that the commandments of faith can be perceived individually, detached from collective understanding and unity. Genuine Christian freedom involves the submission of both mind and heart to divine truth and law. The supposed freedom of some is no more than "arrogance," which poses significant risks to one's spiritual journey, corroborated by the insights of holy ascetics like Rev. Agathon and Abba Dorotheus.

The prophet Habakkuk articulates this sentiment: ‘But I will rejoice in the Lord, I will rejoice in my Saviour God, for the Lord my God is my strength, and will teach my feet (pious thoughts of my soul) to do wisdom for the Lord’ (Habakkuk 3:18-19).