The Laughter of God

by Travis L Quertermous

From The Reminder, October 24, 2010

We often think of laughter as a good thing, something we do when we are happy. For years, Reader’s Digest has had a popular feature called “Laughter: The Best Medicine.” And the Bible agrees with that. In Proverbs 17:22, we read, “A merry spirit does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones.”

But when God laughs, it is definitely not a good thing! Laughter can also be a sign of disdain and contempt and so it is with God’s laughter. It is an expression of His wrath against impenitent sinners who have broken His holy laws. Every time the Bible mentions God laughing, someone is in trouble! For example, in Psalm 37:12-13, King David wrote, “The wicked plots against the just, and gnashes at him with his teeth. The Lord laughs at him, for He sees that his day is coming.”

The day of which David spoke was any day in which God in His providence brings judgment upon the wicked. Of course, the ultimate day of reckoning will be the Judgment Day. When that day comes, will God laugh at you for your folly in not obeying His word? Or will He say, “Well done, good and faithful servant...Enter into the joy of your lord” (Matt. 25:21)?