Heavenly Laughter!

 Psalm 2
1Why do the nations rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?
2The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
3Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.
4He that sits in the heavens shall laugh: the Lord shall have them in derision.
5Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, and distress them in his great displeasure.
6Yet have I set my king upon my holy hill of Zion.
7I will declare the decree: the LORD has said unto me, You are my Son; this day have I begotten you.
8Ask of me, and I shall give you the nations for your inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession.
9You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel.
10Be wise now therefore, O you kings: be instructed, you judges of the earth.
11Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
12Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, and you perish in the way, when his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.

Here is another example of a suprising new way of looking at a familiar verse, and a surprising way in which it came about. I am a truck driver for a freight company, and because it has been slow lately in the driving assignment that I have, they have me working the freight dock in the meantime. Well, that is one of my least favorite jobs to do, and now it is cold and always for me, a laborious boring task. I liken it to breaking big rocks into little rocks!

Once again Cindi comes into play here. I texted her to say that I was working the dock, and she replied that God must have some plan in mind. I joked that I was camping at camp murmur (see previous post). We joked about God taking delight in our misery, and I quoted "He that sits in the heavens shall laugh!"

Then the thought immediately strikes me with a question: "Who is the "he" that is sitting in the heavens? Where are you sitting? Aren't you seated in heavenly places?" Well, look at that verse in  Eph. 2:6 "And has raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:"

Okay, so lets look at some of these things. First thing that comes to mind is that "Heavenly Places" is NOT a location. It is not a literal place, it is a LIFE. Have you ever met someone very happy, and they say "I am in heaven!" They are not far from the truth! If we get our mind out of the natural earthy mindset, and focus on the mind of the Spirit, then we can have our head in heavens too; figuratively of course.

Secondly what comes to mind is that we are seated. Sitting in the figurative sense, as well as literal I guess is a place of rest, and a place of authority. A king sits on the throne. A judge sits behind the bench. These are places of authority, and there is no activity, but rather being at rest in the work that is being accomplished.

So, there we have it. We are sitting at rest in a place of authority in the heavens! And laughing, while we are at it! Ha. What then does that mean? Well, my guess is that it is more out of a sense of security and safety in the Sovereignty of God! In other words, not a care in the world. And why should we have a care in the world, when we are not of this world!? And when those in the world system would try to threaten our position in the heavens, (look at vs. 2,3) then we can laugh at the absurdity of it all (vs 4)! I think their derision maybe comes from confusion about their failed efforts.

I am sure that a more thorough examination of this Psalm would provide much more insight than the brevity of this post is meant to convey, and yet at the same time, if this provides a spark for some revelation of your own, then it is more than purposeful as kindling so to speak. Permit me if you will, some more comments.

Over and over we are reminded to "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus" Phil. 2:5 and to,"Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth." Col. 3:2 and also to, "be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind,..." Rom.12:2. I am reminding myself by also telling you this, that we have been blessed in abundant measure; more than we could ask or think, in ways that go beyond any material measures! How could material things ever compare to the Grace and Peace and Love and Mercy that we have received from the Lord? How much worldly riches would you spend in exchange for one moment of Revelation of Truth that you have received from the Creator of the universe? Frederick Martin Lehman 1868-1953 tried to explain such a task in the following lyrics:

The love of God is greater farThan tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star,And reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care,God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled,And pardoned from his sin.

When years of time shall pass away,And earthly thrones and kingdoms fall,
When men, who here refuse to pray,On rocks and hills and mountains call,
God’s love so sure, shall still endure,All measureless and strong;
Redeeming grace to Adam’s race—The saints’ and angels’ song.

Could we with ink the ocean fill,And were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill,And every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above,Would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole,Though stretched from sky to sky.

For us all to live each day with our hearts filled with an attitude of such wonderous awe, I cannot imagine ever having a day not overflowing with Heavenly Laughter!