“Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.”
My Notes
What Does Psalms 2:8 Mean?
God speaks to his anointed king in Psalm 2: ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. The Father offers the Son the nations as a gift — available for the asking.
"Ask of me" — the inheritance is given through asking. The Father invites the Son to request the nations. The asking is not begging. It is the royal son requesting his inheritance from the royal father.
"The heathen for thine inheritance" — the nations belong to Christ as his inheritance. Not conquered territory. Inherited territory — given by right, by the Father's decree, as a son inherits an estate.
"The uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession" — the scope is total. Not regional. The uttermost parts — the most distant, most remote corners of the earth. Every geographical extreme belongs to the Son.
The verse is the theological basis for global mission: the nations belong to Christ. The uttermost parts are his. The gospel goes everywhere because everywhere belongs to him already.
Reflection Questions
- 1.What does the Father offering the nations 'for the asking' reveal about the relationship between Father and Son?
- 2.How does the nations being Christ's 'inheritance' rather than conquered territory change the nature of mission?
- 3.What does 'the uttermost parts' mean for the scope of the gospel's intended reach?
- 4.How does knowing you are part of Christ's inheritance change your sense of belonging?
Devotional
Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance. The Father speaks to the Son: ask. The nations are yours — for the asking. The inheritance is ready. The Father is willing. The asking initiates the giving.
The heathen for thine inheritance. The nations — every people group, every culture, every tongue — belong to Christ as his inheritance. Not as conquered subjects. As inherited treasure. The Father gives the nations to the Son the way a father gives an estate to an heir.
The uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. The uttermost. The farthest. The most remote places on the planet. Nothing is outside the scope of Christ's inheritance. The edges of the earth belong to the one who sits at the Father's right hand.
This verse is why missionaries go everywhere. This verse is why the gospel crosses every cultural boundary. This verse is why no people group is beyond the reach of the church's mission. The nations belong to Christ. Every one of them. And the Father is giving them as his inheritance.
The asking and the giving continue. Every time the gospel reaches a new people, a new language, a new corner of the uttermost parts — the inheritance is being delivered. The Father is giving what the Son requested. And the possession is expanding until it reaches the edges of the earth.
You are part of this inheritance. The gospel that reached you was part of the Father giving the nations to the Son. You are Christ's inherited treasure — requested, given, and possessed.
Commentary
Trusted original commentary from respected historical Bible scholars and theologians.
Ask of me,.... Jehovah is either here again introduced speaking, or these words are a continuation of the Son's account…
Ask of me - That is, of God. This is a part of the “decree” or purpose, as mentioned in Psa 2:7. That decree embraced…
We have heard what the kings of the earth have to say against Christ's kingdom, and have heard it gainsaid by him that…
Ask of me Inheritance is the natural right of sonship. Yet even the son must plead the promise and claim its fulfilment.…
Cross References
Related passages throughout Scripture