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,
Psalm 2:4-6.
Section 2 deals with the response of the Almighty to man’s rebellion
Nothing could be more appropriate for us to consider in a day like this than this portion of God’s Word. The evil spirit of rebellion that is to sway the nations as depicted here and grow into an all-out rebellion against the Lord is seen at work today. Man rejects God’s standards of right and wrong, of righteousness and wickedness.
The country is crying after a peace that is being sought at the expense of justice and a normality pursued at the cost of truth. It is a peace which will have the murderer vindicated and the victims forgotten. It is a peace that will honour terrorism and denigrate patriotism and integrity.
Such a spirit is embryonic of the rebellion that is to come as the rise of that anti-christianity takes place which is described in the first three verses of this psalm. The Lord hears and will respond to the rebellious words and deeds of men. Nothing is more sure! For our comfort notice what the Lord’s response to the sound of man rebelling is.
Psalm 19:1, tell us of the ‘glory of God’ and ‘His handiwork’ but in order to understand God’s thoughts and plans and purpose, we must turn to the Bible!
GOD SITTING
Nowhere but in the Bible will we learn of the mind, purpose and words of God. Creation can but tell us little, Psalm 19:1. Here we have view of God.
1. The rebellion of men does not disturb the tranquillity of heaven. The word ‘sitteth’ means to abide, to remain. Why need anyone fear those who threaten but cannot reach you? The storm that terrified the disciples provided Christ with a path upon which to walk! The raging of men cannot come up unto God’s throne. God’s throne is far above the highest tide of man’s hatred. “It is he that sitteth upon the circle of the earth, and the inhabitants thereof are as grasshoppers; that stretcheth out the heavens as a curtain, and spreadeth them out as a tent to dwell in,” Isaiah 40:22.
The throne of man is not so high! — “And all the firstborn in the land of Egypt shall die, from the firstborn of Pharaoh that sitteth upon his throne, even unto the firstborn of the maidservant that is behind the mill; and all the firstborn of beasts,” Exodus 11:5.
2. The Lord despises such rebellion. The first and last use of the word laugh (Heb — sachaq , ‘saw-khak’) show its meaning, Judges 16:25, (sport), Zech 8:5 (playing).
It is a despising every Christ-rejector shall experience, Pro 1:22-32.
3. Those in communion with God’s throne share in its calmness. Even in the midst of the worst times, those of God’s people remain calm, Ps 46:1-7. John 16:33.
Note He immediately prays for His people, John 17:1. Christ’s High Priestly prayer assures us of peace. “For to be carnally minded [is] death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace,” Rom 8:6.