Psalm 2:1-3
1 Why do the nations conspire
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth rise up
and the rulers band together
against the LORD and against his anointed, saying,
3 “Let us break their chains
and throw off their shackles.”
In the first stanza of this poem we primarily see the antagonism against God and his anointed. The question the psalmist asks in v. 1 is not a real interrogative question, it's more of an exclamation of surprise. The idea is, "Why are they plotting and conspiring when they know it's futile?"
Some Bible translations, translate the word conspire as rage. The term itself carries the idea of simply being restless and disturbed. Rage is probably closer to the actual meaning of the word here but conspire fits nicely with the next line which includes the idea of plotting. In either case it should be noted that the action is a speaking action.
Notice that the kings and the rulers are plural whereas the LORD and his anointed are singular. So if we are going on numbers alone the Lord and his anointed are clearly overwhelmed numerically by the vast number of kings and rulers, not to mention all the nations and the peoples from v. 1.
The nations and their rulers are a symbol for humanity that is against God, similar to how the NT authors often use the term world. Those in rebellion who refuse to follow God's leadership and his ways as revealed through the Torah and the people of Israel. The people of Israel and their king as representative were to be the physical representation of God's kingdom on earth. They were the people God chose, called and set apart for himself.
The people and their rulers speak against them. Note at this point, and through this whole Psalm, that it is only words they utter. There is no indication of them actually taking up arms to battle against God and his people. Kinda like the guy on the playground who always runs his mouth but at the first indication of a confrontation backs down because he knows he is over matched. This is another indication of the mass rebellion in the world and the people being against God.
The word anointed in v. 2 is the Hebrew word messiah, translated christ, in Greek. It carries the connotation of one specially set apart by God for a task. Here it refers to the king of Israel. He was specifically set apart by God to rule and govern the people of Israel and therefore he had a special relationship with God. As we saw yesterday, from the promise to David in 2 Samuel 7, the people of Israel were also longing for that one king, the one messiah, who would usher in the fullness of God's kingdom reign in the earth. With every new king anointed, hope would rise that perhaps he could be the one. But time after time each king failed and fell short. Yet hope in the promise of God remained—that he would establish his kingdom forever. This was fulfilled in the Jesus, who came as the ruler of a different kind of kingdom and committed no sin. He was the perfect human who ushered in God's eternal kingdom.