Psalms 2:4-5
He who sits in the heavens laughs,
The Lord scoffs at them.
Then He will speak to them in His anger
And terrify them in His fury, saying,
The them reading through the Bible this year is based upon Colossians 1:9-10. Paul prays that the Colossian believers will "increase in the knowledge of God." Although every book of the Bible gives us in-depth knowledge of God, perhaps none does so in the fashion of the Psalms. It is a praise book about the very character of God. The psalms are the hymnal of praise to who God is, not just what He does (as how we read much of the other Scriptures). A great example of this truth is found in the above two verses. In the opening lines of this psalm the nations are raging against the Lord and against the king He established over them (although no particular king or kings are mentioned). They rage against the earthly king in "vain" - because they don't want to submit to the Heavenly King. It is a vain thing for earthly men to rage and rebel against an all-knowing and all-powerful Heavenly King. Yet, this foolishness does not stop them. And, what is God's response? The writer gives us insight into God's character by telling us He has two emotions: He laughs and He gets angry. We worship a God of emotion. It should be noted that it is man's rebellion that will illicit these two emotions from God. God shows emotion - we are made in His image - we show emotion. However, God's emotion of laughter (scoffing) and anger are done in perfect harmony to His character of holiness. We worship a God that is connected to His creation in emotion. He is not a god made of stone and stick that is a creation of ours. He is a God who is engaged with His creation. Yet, when that creation begins to rebel and assert itself toward Him, He laughs. God is said to laugh when foolish men reject Him and then appeal to Him. Note Solomon's use of the same Hebrew word for laugh when he writes about about they scoffers who suddenly meet calamity:
Proverbs 1:26
I will also laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your dread comes,
The God we worship is full of emotion. When we worship and show emotion that reflects the character of God. God laughs, God gets angry, God is grieved (Ephesians 4:30); God cries (John 11:35); God hates (Psalm 5:5); God rejoices (Jeremiah 32:41); God is jealous (Exodus 20:5); God loves (1 John 4:8). We worship a God full of emotion, never out of balance with His holiness, mercy, justice and grace.
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