Laughter and Might

"Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing? 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...Yet the Lord has said to me...'Ask of me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession'...Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling...Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him" Psalm 2, select parts (but feel free to read the whole thing).

Seems like our God is much smaller and much less capable than this passage infers. Not only does it infer He's pretty might but it says God laughs at the mightiest people on the planet when they try to plot harm on His children. But our god is too often in a box- he's shoved in the corner or left at home or kept in your hip pocket for an emergency. He's a safety net only guy that we call out to in desperation when we've gotten into another situation. We don't spend quality time with him and when we talk to him it's the laundry list of needs, mainly including "bless her, bless me" and "be with her, be with me." I read a book about a month ago where the author, Daniel Henderson, said he thought most people's prayer lives would be quite silent if we took out those two phrases.

Picture this passage. The kings and rulers of the earth are plotting. These powerful, ruthless, tyrannical men of the world who everyone probably was deathly afraid of angering were setting themselves to destroy God's anointed. They had decided and the death of many was near.

But before God held them in derision, He laughed at them. In my head He shakes His head in sadness that they hadn't grasped His authority and dominion, that they were so illogical as to think they could do what they want and overpower God. But I wonder how different, even as Christians, we truly are from these men.

Our god-in-a-box isn't powerful. He isn't mighty or strong. He's an idol and He isn't real. The real God is this God, the mighty God who sees that we are dust and not even a dot on the map of eternity. He doesn't need us and He doesn't get confused or flustered when we make plans. But despite our nothingness God makes us very much something. He calls us His people and says when other people plot against us it's like plotting against God and Jesus directly. And He doesn't tolerate that.

And beyond all this fighting for us and His mighty hand covering us, He still says "Ask of me."  Ask of me and I'll give you everything. You think you'll never get a job? You think you'll never get out of the miserable relationship you're in? You think you're stuck and life isn't worth it anymore? He gets it and He's saying "Ask of me." If He is who He says He is, if the Bible is correct then what are we doing mucking around in all the earthly stuff? Don't we believe God can do anything? Don't we want a God who is all-powerful? If He can go head-to-head with the greatest forces of the world and laugh because it's not even a challenge, I'm pretty sure He can also help you. It just takes faith to believe He will- and the amazing thing is He supplies that too.