阅读经文 

在一个勾心斗角的世代，做一个有盼望和时常祷告的人殊不简单，有信仰的人很容易便会受到恐吓；在一个以强大企业的利益、国际性的经济、和不公的体系为主的世代，我们微不足道的祷告和一点点服从的行为，又能发挥什么作用呢？

诗篇描述世上的外邦和万民，与他们强大的君王和臣宰一起谋算去敌挡耶和华，他们说，跟从神和祂的法度其实就是受到欺压，神公正的法度和真理抑制和妨碍他们，他们说，脱去那些枷锁容易得多。

在一个大部分人和有权势的人都抗拒神的法度的世代，跟随基督的人可以做什么呢？其中一个答案或许是去听听神的笑声；在诗篇第2篇中，耶和华的笑声粉碎了恶人必能永远为所欲为的假象。当世上的总统和总理们抱着他们的计划是最伟大和他们最终必得胜的态度说话时，耶和华便发笑了。

在诗篇第2篇中，耶和华宣告，祂将要委派祂自己的儿子作王，来治理万邦。当耶稣上升到天上的宝座时，这个过程已经开始了。（参徒 2:31-36）我们若全然信靠基督，我们便可以祈求祂的国继续降临，而我们也可以确信，神的法度必定能够压倒世上那些不公平的权势的。

It is not easy to be hopeful and prayerful people in a world of politics. For people of faith, it is easy to be intimidated. In a world of powerful corporate interests, global economies, and systemic injustices, what difference do our puny prayers and little acts of obedience make?

Psalm 2 speaks of the nations and peoples of the world, with their powerful kings and rulers, conspiring against the Lord. They say that following God and his ways is oppressive. God's ways of justice and truth hold them back and get in their way; it's much easier to throw off those chains, they say.

What can Christ's followers do in a world where the majority and the powerful reject God's ways? One answer might be to listen for God's laughter. The Lord's laughter in Psalm 2 shatters the illusion that the wicked will have their way forever. The Lord laughs when presidents and prime ministers speak as if their plans are ultimate and their victories are final.

The Lord announces in Psalm 2 that he will appoint his own Son as King over the nations. And in Jesus' ascension to the throne of heaven, this process has already begun (Acts 2:31-36). Trusting wholly in Christ, we can pray that his kingdom keeps coming, and we can be assured that God's ways will prevail over the unjust powers of the world.