"The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them" (Psalm 2:4).
The last of God’s names we will look at is “El Shaddai.” The focus of this name is on the power of God. This name communicates His ability to exercise His sovereignty over the entire created order. God also said to Moses, “I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as God Almighty (“El Shaddai”), but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them” (Exodus 6:2–3).
From this, we see that the name God Almighty is associated with God’s promises. God makes promises, and God is mighty to perform them. God is strong enough to accomplish everything He has said He will do. He has the power to fulfill every promise He has made to His people.
Isn’t this where our faith tends to fail? We look at all the masses of evil power arrayed against the Christian church, and we become intimidated. It is like the situation described in Psalm 2: “The kings of the earth take their stand and the rulers gather together against the LORD and against his Anointed One. ‘Let us break their chains,’ they say, ‘and throw off their fetters’ ” (Psalm 2:2–3).
How does God respond to this threat? He laughs. He scoffs at them. The power of wickedness is “nothing” compared to the power of the Creator of all things. But God does not keep laughing forever. “Then he rebukes them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath” (Psalm 2:5). He warns them soberly to “Kiss the Son, lest he be angry and you be destroyed in your way, for his wrath can flare up in a moment” (v. 12).
When we come to the assembly of God’s people on the Lord’s Day we should come in the fear of God, trembling at His power, but rejoicing that this omnipotence means that God has the power to fulfill every promise He has made to us.
Consider the four hymns in Luke 1 and 2. How is God celebrated in these songs? God is personal; He is the sovereign Lord Adonai; He is the One who reveals Himself, and He is the all-powerful promise-keeper. Do you see this God in Luke 1 and 2? Review these passages and note specific references to these characteristics of God.
