2005-10-04 - Does God Laugh?

Originally Published 1998-08-05

Job 8:21 "He will yet fill your mouth with laughter."

I thought we would lighten it up a little today. This question was suggested by a devotional member. The actual phrasing of the question was, "A laughing God?"

There are at least two instances in the Psalms where God is said to laugh. In Psalm 2:4, we read, "He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord has them in derision." And in Psalm 59:8, we read, "But Thou, O Yahweh, dost laugh at them; Thou dost hold in derision all nations." In the context of each passage, God is laughing at the foolishness of man trying to rebel against Him. It is as if God is looking down from Heaven at rebel man, saying, "You're kidding right?!" I would liken it to a zealous troop of 35 Cub Scouts who decide to declare war on the United States, and then go about the task of preparing for battle. When we are just as absurd in our rebellion against God, it appears that He, at times, laughs.

However, I do not think that this implies that God laughs at us in our times of struggle. God is both loving toward us and compassionate. It does seem from the two above passages in the Psalms, especially the 59:8 passage, that God is really laughing at those being illuminated in the passage. But the point of both passages is to expose the foolishnes s of turning against God and saying, as Psalm 58:7 says, "Who will hear?"

So yes, I think God laughs - and I think that laughter, gladness, cheer, joy, and even jubilation are wonderful elements of the character of God that He has graciously revealed to us and allowed us to share in. When Yahweh restored the captive ones of Zion, we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, And our tongue with shouts of joy. Then they said among the nations, "Yahweh has done great things for them."

Yahweh has done great things for us; we are glad. Psalm 126: 1-3

Soli Deo Gloria,
T-

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