Why Is God Laughing?

I would like to focus for these few moments upon one of the important psalms for our times. It was written nearly three thousand years ago by David. We know it as Psalm 2. In the first three verses we read: "Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against His Anointed One. 'Let us break their chains,' they say, 'and throw off their fetters.'"



During the time of David's reign, the strongest nation in the world was Israel itself. Yet, as the writers of the books of Kings and Chronicles relate, the surrounding nations constantly rose up against David, God's anointed one. It was as if they were taking a stand against God Himself. David's response was in subduing these nations through acts of war. The results were devastating for those conquered nations. Also, those surrounding nations continued in their idolatrous ways, in spite of the testimony of the one true God that was manifest in Israel. And that idolatry consisted, not just in images of gold, silver, and precious stones, but in accelerated acts of sexual perversions of any kind imaginable, even in public places. The moral structure of those nations was decimated. So, let's see if we can summarize the time of David - the political and military target was Israel; and morality was missing.



Now, let's look at our world today - entering into the second decade of the 21st century. What is the political and military target of the nations of the world? It continues to be Israel. The nation of Israel has almost become isolated from the world, certainly from her neighbors in the Middle East. We know that this will only increase in the coming years. Secondly, morality has been shredded today - little remains. There is the flaunting of homosexuality; the acceptance of the breaking of relational vows - I heard one reporter say of Tiger Woods, "If he had not been married, we might have been in awe at how he could perform so well on the golf course during the day and in the bed in the evenings." There is also the bankruptcy of truth in our hurry to be relevant.



What is God's response? David continues in verses 4 and 5: "The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the LORD scoffs at them. Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, 'I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill.'" How many time in the Bible does it describe God laughing? Three times:

Psalm 37:12-13 - "The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming."

Psalm 59:8 - "Bu you, O LORD, laugh at them; you scoff at all those nations."

Proverbs 1:26 - "I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you."



I find it intriguing that God laughs at the foolishness of the wicked. They think they are intimidating God. They think they can thwart the plans of God. I think that is what God is doing right now: He is laughing, for He knows the lateness of the hour and He knows how the victory will be accomplished.



The ultimate reality is that Jesus Christ is going to come to set up His throne. Again, the words of David: "I have installed my King on Zion, my holy hill...Ask of me, and I will make the nations your inheritance, the ends of the earth your possession. You will rule them with an iron scepter; you will dash them to pieces like pottery" (Psalm 2:6, 8-9). When Jesus Christ comes, this will be the climax of history. This will be the fulfillment of God's plans which He has established since the foundations of the world were laid. And, that day IS coming because always honors His Word and His Promise.

And, finally, what will happen to those nations that are presently plotting against God and against the arrival of His Kingdom? Really their destiny is in their own hands. If they persist in rebelling against God, they will be destroyed; or, if they surrender to God's plans, they will be spared. David closes his psalm with these words: "Therefore, you kings, be wise; be warned, you rulers of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment. Blessed are all who take refuge in him."

Certainly the nations of the world today are plotting a strategy that does not include God at all. No, their plans are the plans of men based upon a failed strategy. Only the plans of God will be successful. This is not a time for us to despair, but to encourage our leaders to consider God's ways before their own. There still is time...but it is evaporating quickly. We don't have a moment to lose.