When God Laughs

Laughter is a good thing. "A merry heart doeth good like a medicine" (Proverbs 17:22), and God gave us this ability to help us enjoy our earthly existence. But it's interesting that the Bible never records Jesus laughing. And when we read of God laughing, it is not because someone told a good joke. Indeed, the joke, sadly, will be upon man.

"Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing?" David asks in Psalm 2:1. "The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us" (verses 2-3). This is a pretty fair commentary on the world today, including, tragically, the "rulers" of our own country. They do not want to obey God, they will not submit to His counsel, they rebel against the true ruler of heaven and earth. And tragically, too often the people follow. "O my people, they which lead thee cause thee to err" (Isaiah 3:12).

God's response? "He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the Lord shall have them in derision" (Psalm 2:4). It is, as the verse notes, a derisive, scornful laugh, not a laugh of merriment. We think we can get away with sin. We try every excuse. God doesn't exist (Psalm 14:1). God doesn't see or forgets what we do (Psalm 10:11). Punishment is delayed so it will never come (Ecclesiastes 8:11).

And all the while, God sits in the heavens and laughs at us. For some day, our soul will be required of us (Luke 12:20)--and it will be no laughing matter if have broken asunder the bands of God's word.

Is God laughing at you?