Ecclesiasts 3:4 …a time to laugh…
Definition: Laugh "verb” make the spontaneous sounds and movements of the face and body that are the instinctive expressions of lively amusement and sometimes also of contempt or derision.
I find it very interesting the throughout the scriptures, laugh/laughter does not always relate to how we see it. We often see it as a by product of joy and being happy. In Genesis, Sarah and Abraham laughed at the notion they were going to have children at their old age. In many instances laughing was used as mocking.
Genesis 17:17 Then Abraham fell upon his face, and laughed, and said in his heart, Shall a child be born unto him that is an hundred years old? and shall Sarah, that is ninety years old, bear?
Genesis 18:12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, After I am waxed old shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?
2 Chronicles 30:10 So the posts passed from city to city through the country of Ephraim and Manasseh even unto Zebulun: but they laughed them to scorn, and mocked them.
Proverbs 1:26 I also will laugh at your calamity; I will mock when your fear cometh;
Matthew 9:24 He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
Remember the old saying "I laugh in the face of danger”. We see that also in the scriptures.
Job 5:22 At destruction and famine thou shalt laugh: neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth.
Job 41:29 Darts are counted as stubble: he laugheth at the shaking of a spear.
When the Bible tells us there is a time for something, it really means it.
James 4:9 Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.
That verse in James sums up what we are studying. There is a time to switch the switch of our emotions, feelings, and how we react to certain things. As we continue this study in Ecclesiastes, we will a good platform on when it is time to do certain things. We know by Jesus’ example that even he was subject for a time for everything.
Matthew 26:18 And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say unto him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.
John 7:6 Then Jesus said unto them, My time is not yet come: but your time is alway ready.
Most of us will be experiencing different times God has appointed us for our seasons. You may be in a season of planting, while others could be in a season of killing.
Back to a time to Laugh. As stated above we see so many verses that do not pertain laughter as we see it. But, there is one and there is a key factor for us to relate it to what we imagine laughter to mean.
Psalm 126:2 Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them.
God is our source of laughter. He has done great things for us. We can relate this to our joy in the Lord. We delight in the Lord.
Psalm 5:11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
Psalm 35:9 And my soul shall be joyful in the Lord: it shall rejoice in his salvation
Psalm 89:15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, in the light of thy countenance.
You can conclude that laughter would be a joyful sound. We do have a time to laugh with joy. God has done great and wonderful things in our lives. When we are in the fullness of God we can laugh at the dangers put before us. Does not mean we do not recognize the situations, but we should not have fear with God on our side. Roman’s 8:31 says, "… if God be for us, who can be against us”. That is a statement to laugh with. There is so much joy in that statement. Clearly the Bible lays out times for us to laugh and to not laugh.
COMMENTS
[ posted by Cindy, 05/27/2024 11:46 AM ]
What's the old saying? "Laughter is the best medicine"Depending on translations, "laughter" is mentioned about 40 times in the Bible. There are different ways we express a laugh. It can be used to scorn, as unbelief, in sinful situations, condemnation, and joyful happiness. We see all of these different types throughout the Bible Some involving Jesus and when He did miracles. We also see in the Bible " but the one who rules in heaven laughs, he shall have them in derision" and " But the Lord just laughs for He sees their day of judgement coming." Psalms 2:4 , 36:13. ( Not the laughter we want from God!) When people were healed by Jesus, what did they do? They sure were happy! Left being thankful and praising. What about in Bible were they got baptized? Happiness and joyfulness again. Maybe not exactly laughing, but it is sure another form of happiness, like the expression of a good laughter. Expression of astonishment and unbelief...was a bit of laughter in them at that moment during the praising? God wants us to be happy and joyful. Life won't always be filled with that, because there are all these different seasons in life we will go thru. But in the end, as believers in Jesus we need to stay focused on the triump at the end for us and that happiness and joyful laughter we know waits for us. God doesn't want us to walk around as frumpy, miserable and sad looking. There is always something we can find laughter in every single day. Even on the gloomiest days. After all, the joy of the Lord is our strength. It pulls us back up from every situation that will bring us down for a short time. Think about how good it makes us feel to have a good laugh. When you laugh so hard it brings tears. What about a God moment when something happens and you have to laugh and say " I know that was you, God." Prov 15:13 A happy heart makes the face cheerful but heartache crushes the spirit. Funerals bring plenty of tears, but more and more pastors are teaching what a happy moment it is, especially when that person who has passed away " has received Jesus as their Lord and Savior." We are happy we know what awaits them after leaving our world. We remember and laugh at the memories of that person that are special to us. Or they were just the kind of person who's personality made people laugh. Life is hard, and going to be difficult many times while we are temporarily here. Being thankful in all occasions I think helps us to be happy and change the negatives in life to positives. For all are a reason and purpose of God. Be happy, laugh, and know that no matter what God wants us to be happy cheerful and full of laughter. A happy and content person laughs often. I listed a few more passages where laughter is mentioned among different situations. Luke 6:21 Gen 21:6 Mark 5:40 Luke 8:53