Fathers

Psalms 2

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Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision. Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and vex them in his sore displeasure. Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree: the LORD hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; this day have I begotten thee. Ask of me, and I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession. Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: be instructed, ye judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and ye perish from the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

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What the Fathers say

Psalms 2:11

Western Saints

Augustine of Hippo

"Serve the Lord with fear;" lest what is said, "You kings and judges of the earth," turn into pride: "And rejoice with trembling" [Psalm 2:11]. Very excellently is "rejoice" added, lest "serve the Lord with fear" should seem to tend to misery. But again, lest this same rejoicing should run on to unrestrained inconsiderateness, there is added "with trembling," that it might avail for a warning, and for the careful guarding of holiness. …

Exposition on Psalm 2 ↗

Thomas Aquinas

Then when he says, "serve": after understanding, he fittingly sets forth service, because the service of God, which is latria, is the profession of faith. And therefore one must first believe, and afterward confess and serve: Rom. 10: "With the heart one believes unto justice, and with the mouth," etc. He says, moreover, "the Lord": for he who serves a man, it suffices that he be outwardly subject to him by obeying; but he who serves God must be inwardly subject to him according to the soul, having a good affection: Ps. …

Exposition on the Psalms of David ↗

Bonaventure

The fear of God avails for introducing the rectitude of divine justice. "The fear of the Lord drives out sin. For he who is without fear cannot be justified." Injustice does not enter the soul except through sin: but the first justification of the soul is that it be subject to the divine majesty. "If you do not hold yourself steadfastly in the fear of the Lord, your house will quickly be overturned." Consider David, who says: "Serve the Lord in fear, and rejoice in him with trembling."

Collationes de Septem Donis, Collation 2 ↗