Where Is God in a World of Evil? (Psalm 2)

A Few Thoughts to Consider

On the morning of October 7^th, 2023, the world awoke to the news that Israel had suffered a brutal invasion by Hamas terrorists. Babies throats were cut, children were burned alive, women were raped, and the elderly were tormented—making this the largest mass murder of Jewish people since the holocaust.

As is largely the case today, in ancient Israel, the surrounding nations wanted to see Israel wiped off the face of the globe. In Psalm 2, the author highlights this struggle. Acts 4:25-26 indicates David is the writer. This Psalm says:

¹ Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
² The kings of the earth take their stand,
and the rulers conspire together
against the Lord and his Anointed One:
³ “Let’s tear off their chains
and throw their ropes off of us.”

⁴ The one enthroned in heaven laughs;
the Lord ridicules them.
⁵ Then he speaks to them in his anger
and terrifies them in his wrath:
⁶ “I have installed my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.”

⁷ I will declare the Lord’s decree.
He said to me, “You are my Son;
today I have become your Father.
⁸ Ask of me,
and I will make the nations your inheritance
and the ends of the earth your possession.
⁹ You will break them with an iron scepter;
you will shatter them like pottery.”

¹⁰ So now, kings, be wise;
receive instruction, you judges of the earth.
¹¹ Serve the Lord with reverential awe
and rejoice with trembling.
¹² Pay homage to the Son or he will be angry
and you will perish in your rebellion,
for his anger may ignite at any moment.
All who take refuge in him are happy.

What makes the scene of this passage so dramatic is that the conspirators are not focused on destroying a nation. They are conspiring against God.

But notice God’s response. He laughs. Not in a way that suggests he doesn’t