Psalms 2:4

2:4

To start with we see the words “laugh” and “derision” here. While the original text would be two different words (sâchaq – to laugh and lâ’ag – to deride) they both carry with them the same context, which is doing so for the sake of mocking. lâ’ag is used more in the context of making fun of their speech. But even sâchaq carries with it the idea of making fun of, mocking, deriding, and laughing to scorn. The idea would be similar to when a child might say to another child, “I’m mad at you” and the other child mocks him by repeating it in a goofy voice and laughing at him. But in essence they drive home the point that the Lord laughs at their foolish plans and efforts against Him and mocks them as they proclaim their evil desires against Him. The fact that it is doubly so drives home the point of to what extent the Lord finds their conspiracy worthless and to be laughed at.

“He who sits in the heavens”
• After David has told us of the tumult and commotions, the counsels of pride, the preparation and the resources, the strength and efforts of his enemies, in opposition to all those he places the power of God alone, which he concludes would be brought to bear against them, from them attempting to frustrate His decree. By the lofty title He that dwelleth in heaven, he extols the power of God, as if he had said, that power remains intact and unimpaired, whatever men may attempt against it. Let them exalt themselves as they may, they shall never be able to reach heaven; yea, while they think to confound heaven and earth together, they resemble so many grasshoppers, and the Lord, meanwhile, undisturbed beholds from on high their infatuated evolutions. JC
• Those that make this mighty struggle are the people of the earth, and the kings of the earth, who, being of the earth, are earthly; be He whom they contest with is one that sits in the heavens. Such is His power that He can overcome them all and all their attempts. He sits there, as one easy at rest, out of the reach of their impotent menaces and attempts. There He sits as judge in all the affairs of the children of men, perfectly secure of the full accomplishment of all His own purposes and designs, in spite of all the opposition. (Ps 29:10) The perfect repose of the Eternal Mind may be our comfort under all the disquietments of our mind. MH
• [He] sits there enthroned; though He is not included and comprehended in them, but is everywhere; and His being there is mentioned in opposition to the kings of the earth, and the people in it; and to show the vast distance there is between them, and how they are as nothing to Him, and how vain and fruitless their attempts must be against Him and His Messiah: and His sitting there still and quiet, serene and undisturbed, is opposed to the running to and fro, and the tumultuous and riotous assembling of the Heathen. John Gill
• [This] is intended to convey…as best adapted to our comprehension, how impossible it is for the wicked opposers of God’s holy will, whether to escape His knowledge, to counteract His designs, or to avert His judgments. Sweet consideration to the humble believer, both to support him under his fears, as if he were overlooked and forgotten, when the enemy seems to triumph; and to give him the firmest confidence, that as Jesus knows all his path, so He beholds all His conflicts with the enemies of his salvation, and will assuredly in His own time, which is always the best time, deliver him out of all his troubles. RH

“shall laugh… hold them in derision”
• David ascribes laughter to God on two accounts: He does not… need... great armies to repress the rebellion of wicked men, as if this were… [a] difficult matter, but on the contrary, could do this as often as He pleases with the most perfect of ease. In the second place… when God permits the reign of His Son to be troubled, He does not cease from interfering because he is employed elsewhere, or unable to afford assistance, or because he is neglectful of the honor of His Son; but He purposefully delays the inflictions of His wrath to the proper time, namely, until He has exposed their infatuated rage to general derision. JC
• Mark the quiet dignity of the Omnipotent One, and the contempt which He pours upon the princes and their raging people. He has not taken the trouble to rise up and do battle with them – He despises them, he knows how absurd, how irrational, how futile are their attempts against Him – He therefore laughs at them. CHS
• Pharaoh imagined that by drowning the Israelite males, he had found a way to root their name from the earth; but when at the same time, his own daughter, in his own court, gave princely education to Moses, their deliverer, did God not laugh? Short is the joy of the wicked. Thomas Adams.
• … those attempts of the kingdom of Satan which in our eyes are formidable in His are despicable. MH
• [His laughter] expresses His security from all their attempts, and the contempt He has them in, and the certain punishment of them, and the aggravation of it; who will not only then laugh at them Himself, but expose them to the laughter and scorn of others. [This repetition] is made partly to show the certainty of their disappointment and ruin, and partly to explain who is meant by Him that sits in the heavens. John Gill

Personal Summary:

The world plots and conspires against God. We at times sit and wonder where is God? Why isn’t He doing anything about this? When will He avenge us from our oppressors? Yet, who are we to lack patience in waiting on the will of God to be accomplished? He is not bound to time and He is not bound to act simply because we think He should. God is not accountable to man in any way. Did not the Jews have this same mode of thinking? Did it not lead to their denial of Christ because He was not what they had envisioned or desired? It is intensely sinful to hold this view and creates a chasm between us and God. This view puts us in the same position as the rulers and people that would plot against Him. The difference in how we are opposing Him may be evident, but at its base are we not attempting to make God accountable to man? Insisting that He act according to our whims, desires, and timelines? Yet, who has the greater offense been done to? Man or God? It may be that we are afflicted in their attack on God, but make no mistake about it… if the arrows from their bows strike you in the arm it is a misplaced shot; for it was certainly intended to hit the heart of God. So the greater offense has been done to God, not us. He may indeed avenge those that would afflict His chosen people. But the ultimate vengeance will come because they came against Him.
Yet, that said there is a comfort to be had. The comfort is that God will avenge, He will correct, and He will not sit idly by and allow this to go on forever. There will be a time when the Lord rises up and strikes them down. I was reading Ps 18 today and thought it particularly applicable to the conversation. This is the Word of God, Ps 18:31-33, 35-36, 39-42, “For who is God save the LORD? or who is a rock save our God? It is God that girdeth me with strength, and maketh my way perfect. He maketh my feet like hinds’ feet, and setteth me upon my high places. Thou hast also given me the shield of thy salvation: and thy right hand hath holden me up, and thy gentleness hath made me great. Thou hast enlarged my steps under me, that my feet did not slip. For thou hast girded me with strength unto the battle: thou hast subdued under me those that rose up against me. Thou hast also given me the necks of mine enemies; that I might destroy them that hate me. They cried, but there was none to save them: even unto the LORD, but he answered them not. Then did I beat them small as the dust before the wind: I did cast them out as the dirt in the streets.” In the end they are utterly destroyed and beaten into the dust of the earth while we stand victorious and cling evermore to the Lord! The victory is sure, the reward is great, and we must persevere and wait patiently on the Lord. Jas 1:2-4, “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” Patience is necessary to our walk and produces character, even Abraham had to wait patiently on the promise of the Lord. Heb 6:13-15, “For when God made promise to Abraham, because he could swear by no greater, he swore by himself, Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplying I will multiply thee. And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise.” Yet in all these things the Lord, in His own time, delivered the promise and delivered His people. He never ceases to be omniscient; He knows what will happen to you before it has ever even been designed in the minds of men. He never ceases to be omnipotent; He has the ability to do what is good and right in His eyes and according to the counsel of His will and in His time.
Remember, He laughs at the plans of these evil men. They may seem like they are victorious in the short term but we are assured that it is not so forever. His sovereignty stands true in every walk of life and His plans will never be thwarted by any of us, let alone the wicked.
As an ending note: I use the KJV often in this because I can copy and paste it from my Online Bible Software which makes it easy and allows me to forgo a lot of typing. If that version is not what you prefer that is fine and I am not advocating it as a necessary version by including it. But I will use it for the sake of ease in typing these papers.