We have stressed in recent months the necessity and imminence of God’s wrath on those who take Him lightly. Does God ever laugh, and if so what does the Bible say it takes to make God laugh. King David and his son Solomon addressed this issue in the Psalms and Proverbs.
The Hebrew word for laugh is sachaq which translates to deride, play, scorn, mock, or to make sport.
Firstly, God laughs at those who are hostile towards Him and His people. Those who hate God are termed evildoers. King David writes:
“Do not fret because of evildoers…for they shall soon be cut down like the grass…do not fret because of him who prospers in his way…Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; do not fret – it only causes harm…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.” Psalms 37:1-13
When David was being pursued by those who tried to kill him before he was anointed king, he wrote to explain how God would deliver him from his enemies. David’s enemies didn’t believe God would notice them or their transgressions.
“Deliver me from my enemies, O my God; defend me from those who rise up against me. Deliver me from the workers of iniquity, and save me from bloodthirsty men. For look, they lie in wait for my life; the mighty gather against me…You therefore, O LORD God of hosts, the God of Israel, awake to punish all the nations; do not be merciful to any wicked transgressors. At evening they return, they growl like a dog, and go all around the city, indeed, they belch with their mouth; swords are in their lips; for they say, ‘who hears?’ But You, O LORD shall laugh at them; you shall have all the nations in derision.” Psalm 59:1-8
King Solomon addressed the issue of those who do not fear God and refuse His wisdom. Such are called simple, scorners, and fools and attempt to ‘reason’ their way through life.
“Wisdom calls aloud outside; she raises her voice in the open squares. She cries out in the chief concourses…She speaks her words: ‘How long, you simple ones, will you love simplicity?’ For scorners delight in their scorning, and fools hate knowledge. For the turning away of the simple will slay them, and the complacency of fools will destroy them…Turn at my rebuke; surely I will pour out my spirit on you; I will make my words known to you. Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded, because you distained all my counsel, and would have none of my rebuke, I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your terror comes, when your terror comes like a storm…” Proverbs 1:20-27
And then there are those who deny the sovereignty of God in the affairs of men and nations. They take God’s plan for the future lightly. Such men and nations are developing their own plans for dealing with Israel and Israel’s enemies. They not only deny God’s sovereignty, but also His omniscience. They totally discount the proclamation that Christ will some day rule the nations with a rod of iron from Jerusalem. Such will not be dealt with lightly.
“Why do the nations rage and the people plot a vain thing? 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 bonds in pieces and cast away Their cords from us.’” Psalms 2:1-3
“He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; the LORD shall hold them in derision.” Psalms 2:4
“Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure: ‘Yet I have set My King on My holy hill of Zion. I will declare the decree:’ The LORD has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, today I have begotten You. Ask of Me, and I will give You the nations for Your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for Your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter’s vessel.’” Psalms 2:4-9
“Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth. Serve the LORD with fear, and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little…” Psalms 2:10-12
It becomes clear that God’s laughter cannot be separated from His wrath, i.e. those whom He laughs at during this age become the recipients of His wrath at the end of the age. He laughs at those who do not take Him seriously, He laughs at those who persecute His people, He laughs at those who reject His wisdom, He laughs at those who reject His plan for the nations, and He laughs at those who deny the deity of His Son. In other words, God laughs at those who insist on doing it ‘their way.’
“There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death.” Proverbs 16:25
Therefore, any common person, leader, or nation that finds they are being laughed at by God for any of the above reasons will discover that it is not really very funny.