“Why do the nations rage and the peoples meditate on a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers take counsel together against Yahweh and against His Anointed, saying, ‘Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us!’ He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord mocks them. Then He speaks to them in His anger and terrifies them in His fury, saying, ‘But as for Me, I have installed My King Upon Zion, My holy mountain.’”
For those who would prove that God has a sense of humor, this passage affords the only testimony of God’s laughter. The subject matter, however, precludes there being any humor in this laughter.
Set before us is the arrogant rebellious attitude of the rulers of human governments who own no God but themselves. They rage and fume against the restrictions put upon them, their governments, and their behavior by the decrees of the Almighty. They are filled with vain ambitions, pompous illusions of grandeur, and exaggerated estimations of their persons and powers. These earthling rulers take counsel among themselves, with the vain hope of breaking the laws and limitations placed upon them by a sovereign God. They disagree, fight and war among themselves until God appears on their horizon; and then they unite and gather themselves together against Him and His Anointed. It is interesting to remember that Pilate and Herod were confirmed enemies until Jesus Christ entered their lives. From that day forward they became friends, united by their common hatred for Christ. This is a common refrain among men who are accustomed to grinding other men under their tyrannic heels: “We do not want this man [Christ] to reign over us” (Luke 19:14) They are unaccustomed to submitting themselves to men, and they think that they will not submit themselves to God either.
The Lord will have them in derision. He laughs at the foolish attempts of men to overthrow His good purpose. That God is not amused is clear in the next verse. He is angry. “He speaks to them in His anger” (Ps. 2:5) When God speaks to wicked men, they hear no voice from heaven. Rather, they experience His displeasure. He terrifies and troubles them. No nation has flaunted the moral laws of God, defied the divine order of justice, integrity, and human relations, and survived to boast of it. All who have are now extinct, with the exception of the newest crop who will also soon follow them to the same inglorious grave.
God has established His own King. Jesus Christ has been crowned King of kings and Lord of lords in the court of heaven. And though earthly rulers will not willingly own His Lordship, He yet rules over them. To Him, every knee will ultimately bow and every tongue will confess His Lordship (Phil. 2:9-11). It would be wise if we did it now while He is yet willing to be our Savior also.
