These who are so engaged in encumbering themselves with sin’s weight are emboldened by their worldly success, so sure that they shrug off warnings of God’s wrath with the sarcastic invitation to bring it on. Such scoffers ask prophets for a sign and, like Satan with Christ, query: “If thou art Christ… ” and then pose conditions for proof (Matt. 4:3, 6).
The context is critical in interpreting this verse. The righteous sincerely long for the day of the Lord and hope for its coming. The context, however, reveals the derision behind what might otherwise be read as a pious hope. They do not believe that the day of the Lord will come and therefore mockingly call for it, having faith that it will not come.