But thou, O Lord, shalt laugh at them: thou shalt bring all the nations to nothing.
וְאַתָּ֣ה יְ֭הוָה תִּשְׂחַק־לָ֑מוֹ תִּ֝לְעַ֗ג לְכָל־גּוֹיִֽם׃
6 Church Fathers comment on this verse
It is expected that every nation should embrace Christianity, yet you inquire, 'Who has listened?' Will you deride them? In your estimation, you will bestow honor upon all nations. There will be nothing beyond your reach, for it will be the simplest task for all nations to place their faith in you.
Lord, You will scoff at them. They ridiculed and slandered even to the extent of crucifying on the cross, believing that God was unaware of their words and actions. Despite their assumptions, You, O Lord, will have them ridiculed. Even though they presume such boldness, You hear and see their folly, and You mock their emptiness. You will bring to ruin all tongues, that is, the intellectual faculties that led the Israelites to rise up against the Lord. Earlier it was stated: "Won ye visit all tongues," and now it conveys, “humbling all tongues,” while maintaining the logical flow of what is presented in the midst.
This indicates that the request for their punishment is not without justification; He first pleaded with God to observe and scrutinize what had transpired, and then detailed their actions, believing there was no Overseer. Ultimately, He already pointed out the consequence, declaring that You will justly punish them for this, and through Your discipline, You will bring them to nothing.
O Lord, You will scoff at them. They presume to act with arrogance, yet You both hear and perceive their folly with laughter. You will bring low every tongue. You find no challenge in defeating them or any nation. The prophet Isaiah, emphasizing the greatness of God's might, declared: “Behold, the nations are as a drop from a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, He taketh up the isles as a very little thing” (Isaiah 40:15). To whom then will You compare the Lord, or what image will you use to represent Him? (Isaiah 40:18).
You, declares the Lord, will mock the Jews who hold such thoughts about You. This is akin to the words that say: He who dwells in heaven will laugh at them, as explained in Psalm 2. You, says He, will also bring destruction upon those nations that reject the proclamation of Your Gospel and even persecute Your servants and disciples who deliver it. In the most profound sense, nations refer to the masses and assemblies of demons, which, according to Chrysostom, Christ humbled. Theodoret states: It is simple for You to conquer not only them, but all nations.
Similarly, the divinely inspired Isaiah sought to illustrate the magnitude of Divine strength, declaring: Behold, the nations are like a drop from a bucket and are counted as a small weight in the scales; indeed, they are less than nothing (Is. 40:15). Furthermore, You, who are crucified by them, will render judgement upon them at His return. For now, after enduring great patience and unjust suffering, aiming to lead them to repentance, You intercede, saying, Father, forgive them. Yet, for their unyielding hearts, they shall face Your judgement in Your righteous court.
In the midst of his challenging trials, David finds solace in placing his trust in God, lifting his spirit towards a brighter hope. Therefore, it is appropriate to use the word ‘laughs’ to emphasize God's omnipotence, demonstrating that it requires no effort for Him to dismantle the schemes of the wicked, no matter how extensive they may seem. This suggests that the Lord is not in need of elaborate preparations; when He decides to enact judgment, He can effortlessly reduce His adversaries to nothing, much like a playful act.
The phrase ‘Humiliate all tongues’ illustrates that the Lord will mock His foes, who are few in number, and even if entire nations were to rally against Him, He would still regard them with disdain, rendering them as insignificant as He declares: ‘All the Gentiles are as a drop from a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance’ (Is. 40:15).
The withdrawal of David from Saul's presence symbolizes the entombment of the spotless body of Christ the Savior in death, ensuring that this truth is inscribed not merely on stone but also in the hearts of the faithful, attesting to the everlasting glory and honor of God. This psalm embodies the supplication of Christ the Lord to God the Father during His redemptive Passion. Christ, who was without sin, guided sinners towards the path of salvation. Embrace the Gospel, for it will be proclaimed to the unrighteous at the Last Judgment: Depart from Me, cursed.
Passages read together with this verse.
THEOSIS