It’s that last part that’s getting to me: All those who take refuge in Him are happy. That doesn’t sound like someone who is aligned with God; it sounds like someone who is hiding behind God. This is the true “other side.” Sometimes we might think that God is fortunate to have us – our talents, our gifts, our smarts, our stuff – on His side. In fact, He’s pretty lucky that we’re not on the other side in this battle.

He is the God who Provides. He’s also the God who Saves. He is yet still the God who Delivers. But He’s also the God who Laughs.

This laughter of God is either immensely comforting, or incredibly frustrating, and which one depends on your standing in relation to Him. Psalm 2 gives us the picture of the laughing God, and also the picture of these two responses. The psalm begins like this:

Why do the nations rebel and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers conspire together against the LORD and His Anointed One: “Let us tear off their chains and free ourselves from their restraints.

The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord ridicules them (Psalm 2:1-4).

The issue at hand in this psalm is one of authority. The kings of the earth, those of great power and prestige, look at the sovereign rule of God and determine that they are better charters of their destinies than God Himself. From their perspective, His rule and law is oppressive; it’s something to be shaken off if true freedom is to be pursued and gained. So they rebel. They conspire. They fight…

And the Lord laughs.

Read More