Reading:
Psalm 2
As we
step in to 2013, there are some things we are going to need to
remember—some things we must not forget. One thing we are going
to need to remember in 2013 is that God laughs. As our culture
becomes increasingly hostile toward God and Christianity, our
worldview is going to be tested. Our belief system is going to be
tested. Are we going to become increasingly afraid? Does the church
retract into a hole becoming the voice of doom?
Why
do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? 2The
kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together
against the LORD and against his Anointed One. 3"Let
us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their
fetters." (Psalm 2:1-3)
Psalm
begins by describing the world in its hostility toward God. This
hostility is not an innovation of the 21st
century. It began in the garden of Eden. We see it expressed in the
conflict between Cain and Abel. It reaches its zenith in the
rejection and crucifixion of the Messianic King, God's Son, on the
cross. It is nothing new.
How
are we to respond? What are we to think when it seems that wickedness
increases and godly efforts to stop it fail. What are we to do when
the media undergirds and supports those who oppose truth and
righteousness? When, “Not a word from
their mouth can be trusted; their heart is filled with destruction.
Their throat is an open grave; with their tongue they speak deceit.”
(Psalm 5:9) We must remember the next verse in Psalm 2. We
must remember that God laughs.
The
One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. (Psalm
2:4)
Why
does God laugh? Is it because He has a great sense of humor? No
(though I am sure He does). It is because the greatest efforts of
the powerful in this world to rid the world of God do not worry Him
in the least. In fact, they are humorous to consider. We get a
glimpse into what seems so funny to God in Acts 4:25-28,1
where this psalm is quoted.
You
spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our
father David:
“Why
do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? 26The
kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together
against the Lord and against his Anointed One.”
27Indeed
Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the
people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant
Jesus, whom you anointed. 28They
did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.
The
greatest violence the world could do in its hostility toward God, in
its effort to rid the world of God, was to kill God's Son.
And so the king of the Jews (Herod) and the Roman government (Pontius
Pilate) together with the will of the people crucified our glorious
Lord. Yet, even in doing so, they were playing into the plan and
purpose of God. That generation in all its wickedness could
ultimately only do what God's power and will decided should happen.
God was not in the least worried that His plans would be thwarted.
In fact, all the clamoring efforts that seem so much like victory to
Herod, Pilate and the people (or to the powerful of our own day),
seemed humorous to God because He knew they were only accomplishing
His will. In their effort to rid the
world of God's restraints, they were restrained to doing His will.
This
year, 2013, will bring plenty of opportunities to fear, as last year
did. The economy of our nation looms over the fiscal cliff—whatever
that is. As best I can tell it means our taxes are going
up—everyone’s. Do I like that? Of course not. However, none of
this is a surprise to God, and none of this will hinder God's plan to
work everything out in conformity with the purpose of His will
(Ephesians 1:11). The world will continue to be hostile to God and
His people. This too is no surprise. In
all of this we should not fear, because God laughs. His good and
perfect plans are never thwarted.
Rooted
in this confidence, we can then respond by praying for boldness to
proclaim the truth into this hostile world. Then we are to boldly
share the gospel, the glorious announcement Christ reigns. That God
has installed His Son as King. This is
what the apostles did in response to the hostility they faced (Acts
4:29-31). This is what we are to do.
Love
the Gospel, Live the Gospel, Advance the Gospel,
Jerry
1My
friend Vance reminded me of this connection yesterday morning as we
gathered to worship together at Gulf
Coast Community Church.
