DAILY DEVOTIONAL – July 18, 2019
“LOL!”
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are the King of Kings. Living in this wicked world we admit that at times it appears evil rules this world. But God, we know from Your Word that You alone reign over all the nations and that You contend with this sinful world only in Your grace and mercy and for the sake of all who would come to repentance and believe in Your Son our Lord Jesus Christ. Strengthen our faith as we endure to that beautiful final Day when You come in final judgement on this world, and with salvation for Your faithful children. Amen.
Scripture: Psalm 2
Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
2 The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the Lord and against his Anointed, saying,
3 “Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us.”
4 He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
5 Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
6 “As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill.”
7 I will tell of the decree:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
10 Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
11 Serve the Lord with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
12 Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.
Devotion – “LOL!”
Those who know me fairly well know it isn’t hard to pick up that I like to laugh and joke around. Being able to mess around little bit and create reasons to laugh if I can’t find any not only helps me get through the day but often helps me stay focused and productive.
As it turns out, laughter is good for a lot of things. Here are some funny facts for you.
According to several studies done by Dr. Robert Levinson, psychology professor at the University of California Berkeley, married couples who laugh regularly together and that can find humor in even the most difficult times are not only happier but proved to have longer lasting relationships when compared to couples who found it difficult to laugh together. Looking for a boost to your weight loss goals? According to studies done at Vanderbilt University, just 10 to 15 minutes of laughing a day can burn up to 40 calories.
Study after study has pointed to the health benefits of laughter: Research from Loma Linda University showed that laughing improved the memory of adults in their 60s and 70s; University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers found that hilarious movies improved the function of blood vessels and increased blood flow in a group of 20 thirty-somethings. And other research has shown that laughing can improve immunity, help regulate blood sugar levels, and improve sleep.
Truth be told, I don’t think anybody is seriously using laughter as a vitamin or weight loss supplement…I sure don’t. I love to laugh simply because it’s fun.
In our text for today from Psalm 2, we see a much different kind of laughter. It’s a laughter you and I quite frankly would never want to hear. We hear the laughter of the all-powerful and all-knowing Creator God as He looks upon the earth from His eternal throne of glory and sees the vain attempts of wicked men and kings who wish to overthrow His Kingdom.
Archeology and Ancient Near Eastern History have revealed this psalm to be derived from a ceremony that would be held when a new Israelite, Davidic King would be enthroned over the Kingdom of Israel. In the Israelite Kingdom, kings were understood to be God’s direct agents who carried out the will of God on earth according to His Word that was given, and the Word revealed through the prophets of God. As part of the ceremony the King would read from the oracles of God received from the prophets and that were written down. We see this in verse 7 where it says:
“I will quote from the decree of the Lord:
The Lord said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
8 Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
9 You shall break them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
It’s no coincidence that this portion of God’s prophetic Word was read for an enthronement ceremony. It is a direct prophecy not only of how God promised to and did preserve His Kingdom on earth for the purpose of safeguarding the promise of salvation that He had given to His people Israel, but it is also a prophecy of the King of Kings, the promised Savior who did come; born of a virgin, the Savior Jesus Christ.
The words from Psalm 2 are echoed later in the NT when Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. In Psalm 2 the prophecy of God said in verse 7, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you.” In Matthew 3 where we read of Jesus being baptized, Scripture says the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove and God’s voice thundered from heaven saying, “This IS my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.”
God laughs from heaven when He sees the attempts of wicked men to try and overthrow His Kingdom or rid the world of God altogether. If there was ever madness, if there was ever something that epitomized insanity and arrogance and futility, it is trying to overpower or compete with the Almighty.
Nothing much has changed since Psalm 2 was written unfortunately. Whether it be through military might or more modern attempts to rid the world of God through the false idol of science, man’s sinfulness and arrogance continues. But as He has always done, whether it be at the Tower of Babel, with the Israelite armies or most importantly on the cross where Christ conquered sin, death and the devil…God will prevail. It may seem at times that wicked men have the last laugh, but it is to their own destruction that they resolve to take on the Almighty God. God is long suffering, and He continues to patiently endure the mockery of men for the sake of His chosen people…for all those who now believe in Christ as their Lord and Savior, and for all of those who have yet to come to believe that Christ is the King of Kings and the only way to salvation.
The final Day will come when the King of Kings returns in judgement. He will no longer laugh, but will righteously and totally carry out His full wrath on this wicked world and all of those who have so foolishly despised His amazing love and grace.
But there is always hope with our Loving God in Christ Jesus. There is hope here as well in Psalm 2, as it concludes in verse 12, “Blessed are all who take refuge in Him.” For all of those who take refuge in the grace and mercy of God and who put their faith in His Son Jesus Christ who died for the sins of the world and rose victorious as the King of Kings now enthroned in Heaven, we need not fear that final judgement that is sure to come. Covered in the perfect blood of Christ, we have been declared innocent in the eyes of God.
So, my friends, when things seem the most bleak, when it seems for the time being that evil has its way…feel free to laugh. Laugh not to mock the wicked, for Christ calls us even to pray for them, but laugh in the joyful assurance that no matter what God will prevail and has prevailed already in the death and resurrection of His Son Jesus.
It seems only appropriate to leave you with a little joke here today. So here goes…who was the greatest comedian in the Bible? Samson. He literally brought the house down.
God bless your laughter my friends, and remember, that God has forgiven yesterday, is with you today and has already taken care of tomorrow. Amen.
