Time to Laugh
Introduction:
I’m Pete. God loves you!
The topic today: When is it good to laugh, be joyful, sing, and dance? What does God say in His Word, the Bible?
Choose the Right Time:
For everything there is a season, and a time for every purpose under heaven:
a time to be born,
and a time to die;
a time to plant,
and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
a time to kill,
and a time to heal;
a time to break down,
and a time to build up;
a time to weep,
and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn,
and a time to dance; Ecclesiastes 3:1-4
Different Types of Joy and Laughter:
Good-Natured Joy and Laughter:
When Yahweh brought back those who returned to Zion,
we were like those who dream.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with singing.
Then they said among the nations,
“Yahweh has done great things for them.”
Yahweh has done great things for us,
and we are glad.
Restore our fortunes again, Yahweh,
like the streams in the Negev.
Those who sow in tears will reap in joy.
He who goes out weeping, carrying seed for sowing,
will certainly come again with joy, carrying his sheaves. Psalms 126
Blessed are you who weep now,
for you will laugh. Luke 6:21
Abraham was one hundred years old when his son, Isaac, was born to him. Sarah said, “God has made me laugh. Everyone who hears will laugh with me.” She said, “Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? For I have borne him a son in his old age.” Genesis 21:5-7
“Behold, God will not cast away a blameless man,
neither will he uphold the evildoers.
He will still fill your mouth with laughter,
your lips with shouting. Job 8:20-21
Who can find a worthy woman?
For her price is far above rubies.
The heart of her husband trusts in her.
He shall have no lack of gain.
She does him good, and not harm,
all the days of her life.
She seeks wool and flax,
and works eagerly with her hands.
She is like the merchant ships.
She brings her bread from afar.
She rises also while it is yet night,
gives food to her household,
and portions for her servant girls.
She considers a field, and buys it.
With the fruit of her hands, she plants a vineyard.
She arms her waist with strength,
and makes her arms strong.
She perceives that her merchandise is profitable.
Her lamp doesn’t go out by night.
She lays her hands to the distaff,
and her hands hold the spindle.
She opens her arms to the poor;
yes, she extends her hands to the needy.
She is not afraid of the snow for her household;
for all her household are clothed with scarlet.
She makes for herself carpets of tapestry.
Her clothing is fine linen and purple.
Her husband is respected in the gates,
when he sits among the elders of the land.
She makes linen garments and sells them,
and delivers sashes to the merchant.
Strength and dignity are her clothing.
She laughs at the time to come.
She opens her mouth with wisdom.
Kind instruction is on her tongue.
She looks well to the ways of her household,
and doesn’t eat the bread of idleness.
Her children rise up and call her blessed.
Her husband also praises her:
“Many women do noble things,
but you excel them all.”
Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain;
but a woman who fears Yahweh, she shall be praised.
Give her of the fruit of her hands!
Let her works praise her in the gates! Proverbs 31:10-31
You have turned my mourning into dancing for me.
You have removed my sackcloth, and clothed me with gladness,
to the end that my heart may sing praise to you, and not be silent.
Yahweh my God, I will give thanks to you forever! Psalms 30:11-12
A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
but an aching heart breaks the spirit. Proverbs 15:13
Sing to Yahweh a new song,
for he has done marvelous things!
His right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him.
Yahweh has made known his salvation.
He has openly shown his righteousness in the sight of the nations.
He has remembered his loving kindness and his faithfulness toward the house of Israel.
All the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
Make a joyful noise to Yahweh, all the earth!
Burst out and sing for joy, yes, sing praises! Psalms 98:1-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an incorruptible and undefiled inheritance that doesn’t fade away, reserved in Heaven for you, who by the power of God are guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved in various trials, that the proof of your faith, which is more precious than gold that perishes even though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ— whom, not having known, you love. In him, though now you don’t see him, yet believing, you rejoice greatly with joy that is unspeakable and full of glory, receiving the result of your faith, the salvation of your souls. 1 Peter 1:3-9
They, having heard the king, went their way; and behold, the star, which they saw in the east, went before them, until it came and stood over where the young child was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. They came into the house and saw the young child with Mary, his mother, and they fell down and worshiped him. Opening their treasures, they offered to him gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Matthew 2:9-11
“Hear Yahweh’s word, you nations,
and declare it in the distant islands. Say,
‘He who scattered Israel will gather him,
and keep him, as a shepherd does his flock.’
For Yahweh has ransomed Jacob,
and redeemed him from the hand of him who was stronger than he.
They will come and sing in the height of Zion,
and will flow to the goodness of Yahweh,
to the grain, to the new wine, to the oil,
and to the young of the flock and of the herd.
Their soul will be as a watered garden.
They will not sorrow any more at all.
Then the virgin will rejoice in the dance;
the young men and the old together;
for I will turn their mourning into joy,
and will comfort them, and make them rejoice from their sorrow. Jeremiah 31:10-13
A cheerful heart makes good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22
A glad heart makes a cheerful face,
but an aching heart breaks the spirit. Proverbs 15:13
Evil Laughter, Mocking, Ridicule, and Scoffing:
Whoever mocks the poor reproaches his Maker.
He who is glad at calamity shall not be unpunished. Proverbs 17:5
He came to the synagogue ruler’s house, and he saw an uproar, weeping, and great wailing. When he had entered in, he said to them, “Why do you make an uproar and weep? The child is not dead, but is asleep.”
They ridiculed him. But he, having put them all out, took the father of the child, her mother, and those who were with him, and went in where the child was lying. Taking the child by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha cumi!” which means, being interpreted, “Girl, I tell you, get up!” Immediately the girl rose up and walked, for she was twelve years old. They were amazed with great amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and commanded that something should be given to her to eat. Mark 5:38-43
Blessed is the man who doesn’t walk in the counsel of the wicked,
nor stand on the path of sinners,
nor sit in the seat of scoffers;
but his delight is in Yahweh’s law.
On his law he meditates day and night. Psalms 1:1-2
Don’t rejoice when your enemy falls.
Don’t let your heart be glad when he is overthrown, Proverbs 24:17
Crude Joking:
But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. Ephesians 5:3-4 (ESV)
God Laughs and Rejoices:
Sing, daughter of Zion! Shout, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem. Yahweh has taken away your judgments. He has thrown out your enemy. The King of Israel, Yahweh, is among you. You will not be afraid of evil any more. In that day, it will be said to Jerusalem, “Don’t be afraid, Zion. Don’t let your hands be weak.” Yahweh, your God, is among you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:14-17
God’s Holy Laugh For Justice:
For yet a little while, and the wicked will be no more.
Yes, though you look for his place, he isn’t there.
But the humble shall inherit the land,
and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace.
The wicked plots against the just,
and gnashes at him with his teeth.
The Lord will laugh at him,
for he sees that his day is coming. Psalms 37:10-13
Why do the nations rage,
and the peoples plot a vain thing?
The kings of the earth take a stand,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against Yahweh, and against his Anointed, saying,
“Let’s break their bonds apart,
and cast their cords from us.”
He who sits in the heavens will laugh.
The Lord will have them in derision. Psalms 2:1-4
About Ecclesiastes:
Ecclesiastes is about how life without God is in vain. It is about how, without God, the best you can do is eat, drink, and be merry, before you die. God has something better for you than temporary merriment. Invite God and Christ into your life for true joy. Consider the end of Ecclesiastes, how it is true life with God, and doing things His way, that matters:
This is the end of the matter. All has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments; for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every work into judgment, with every hidden thing, whether it is good, or whether it is evil. Ecclesiastes 12:13-14