Godly Derision and Wrath

Psalm 2:2-5 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, “Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.” He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision. Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure.

What does an individual gain by opposing God and His plan? Can human opposition succeed against the Almighty One who created the universe? Obviously, no rebellion has a chance to succeed. God’s sovereign control will certainly overpower man’s feeble attempts to wrest command from Him. He will simply laugh in derision. Derision is a word that we do not use much these days and means the act of laughing at in contempt – in more common language; to be made a laughing-stock. 

Psalm 37:13 “The Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming.”

However difficult it is for us to imagine God laughing in this manner, we can surely understand His derision at the futility of created beings confronting their Creator and His right to rule over their lives. The name used for God is Lord, meaning Master. As Creator He has the authority to set the rules for His creation and the power to exact the penalty for breaking the rules. Yet, how many do you know who take their Maker vainly, not acknowledge their Creator as Sovereign God or outright deny the infinite Lord of Heaven and earth? The term “wicked” is defined in the 1828 Webster’s Dictionary as: evil in principle or practice; deviating from the Divine law; addicted to vice; sinful; immoral. This is a word of comprehensive signification, extending to everything that is contrary to the moral law, and both to persons and actions. The wicked, in Scripture, persons who live in sin; transgressors of the divine law; all who are unreconciled to God, unsanctified or impenitent. It is God’s bonds and cords that they desire to break and cast away. But, note that His response exceeds mere derision. It extends to “wrath.” At the appointed time, the sovereign Judge will address all those who have rebelled against and opposed Him. One day, we shall die and have to give an account for our life to God, face to face, and it will be time to pay the debt of our sins.

2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

Man has no right to question God’s authority or goodness in exercising it. He even sacrificed His only begotten Son to pay the just penalty for sin. What more could He do? The real question is: What more can we do? With our sin penalty fully paid, our sin is forgiven, and we gratefully acknowledge His kingship over our lives. The kingdom of Heaven has a King. Once submitted to Him, we face everlasting fellowship with Him. With sin banished, believers need never fear His derision or wrath. Christ paid it all. Salvation is to be saved from God’s wrath by the One True Lord and Savior Jesus.

In Christ, Brian