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“Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain?
The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.”
He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision.
Then he will speak to them in his wrath, and terrify them in his fury, saying, “As for me, I have set my King on Zion, my holy hill.”
I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, “You are my Son; today I have begotten you. Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage, and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.”
Now therefore, O kings, be wise; be warned, O rulers of the earth.
Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
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.” (Psalm 2, ESV)
My heart breaks these days. The events in Ukraine are more than just news stories and twitter feeds. These are my friends in both Russia and Ukraine.
The nations rage: The Ukrainian Crisis, Venezuela, Thailand, and Syria, just to name a few of the dozens of armed conflicts taking place around the world.
These are dangerous times. It would be so easy to give way to fear. To rise above the pain of what we see we have to secure our faith in something higher than the plans of men. Here are five greater realities that allows us to see God laugh while the nations rage:
- The human heart is in rebellion. Even “my side” of the conflict is corrupted by human rebellion, so no self-righteousness is allowed. Jeremiah said it best, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9, ESV)
- God is in control. At times it is very dark, but that is OK, because God works the night shift.
- Humanity has its plans but God still wins. I don’t understand free will and God’s will, but he does and throughout Scripture he affirms both without contradiction. Nations may rage, but God has set his king in Zion.
- Pray for God’s will to be done. We rise above our perspectives and limited understanding to embrace the will of God that expresses the heart of God. When we cannot see his hand, we can always trust his heart.
- Work for justice, pray for peace, and trust in God. I have to remind myself on a regular basis “the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:20, ESV)
In Habakkuk’s day he cried out to the Lord, “Why don’t you do something about this situation?” (Hab. 1:2-4). God’s replied, “I am doing something about it, I am raising up the Babylonians” (Hab 1:5-11). To which Habakkuk cried out, “How can you do that!?” (Hab 1:12-2:1). The rest of the book shows how God orchestrates His own purposes and judgments. Habakkuk sees the God who laughs.
He ends with a striking declaration, “O Lord, I have heard the report of you, and your work, O Lord, do I fear. In the midst of the years revive it; in the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy” (Hab 3:2).
Habakkuk concludes with a beautiful song of praise, “Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. GOD, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places.” (Habakkuk 3:17–19, ESV)
It may not always look like it, but history is “His story” of bringing creation back to himself. He is in control and he rules and reigns in spite of human rebellion.
The nations rage and God laughs: Rise above the clamorous fear and hear his voice.
Debbie and I serve as the FMI Global Associate Director for MENACA and Europe. We focus on cultivating disciples, leaders, and church planting movements.
