We don’t usually associate laughter with God’s Word, but it is there. There are several references to laughter in the Bible.There is good cheer and laughter of all kinds. In Nehemiah 8:10 the Scripture records that Nehemiah encouraged those who were helping rebuild the wall of Jerusalem, “. . . neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the Lord is your strength.” And Ecclesiastes 3:4 says there is “A time to weep, and a time to laugh; a time to mourn, and a time to dance . . . ” There are different kinds of laughter for different reasons. There is the innocent laughter of children and the wholesome laughter of pure joy. There is good laughter and bad laughter. Remember what Ecclesiastes 7:6 says about the laughter of the wicked: “For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.” (What an apt description that is! It makes a lot of noise, but it doesn’t last long.) To the lost in Proverbs 1:24-26 God says: “Because I have called, and ye refused; I have stretched out my hand, and no man regarded; 25 But ye have set at nought all my counsel, and would none of my reproof: 26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh . . . ” To saved sinners James 4:9 says, “. . . let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.” In II Chronicles 30 King Hezekiah called the people to repentance and revival and sent messengers throughout the land to tell the people, but they laughed them to scorn. Nehemiah and the people were trying to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem when we are told that their enemies mocked them and laughed them to scorn. Mark 5:38-40 Jesus Himself was laughed to scorn in the house of the ruler of the synagogue prior to raising Jarius’ daughter from the dead. In Acts 17:22-34 After Paul spoke eloquently on Mars’ Hill the Scripture says, “And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked . . . ” There is the laughter of the world. Americans are laughing themselves to death today trying to forget their trials and tribulations. There is the laughter of the believer. Even though we may weep now, we shall one day laugh when we see the cause of Christ triumph and see truth vindicated. Psalm 52 was written to evil people and says: “1 Why boastest thou thyself in mischief, O mighty man? the goodness of God endureth continually. 3 Thou lovest evil more than good; and lying rather than to speak righteousness. Selah. 5 God shall likewise destroy thee for ever, he shall take thee away, and pluck thee out of thy dwelling place, and root thee out of the land of the living. Selah. 6 The righteous also shall see, and fear, and shall laugh at him . . . " That brings us to the laughter of the Almighty. Psalm 37:12-13 is speaking of the wicked again: “The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. 13 The Lord shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.” GOD WILL HAVE THE LAST LAUGH! Let’s look right quickly at these first four verses of Psalm 2 and see how they remind us that we can be, we should be bold for our Lord today. They remind us first of all of:

  I.  THE REBELLION OF MAN – VV. 1-3.

 II.  THE RESPONSE OF THE MASTER – VS. 4.