The Last Laugh

"The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them." (Psalm 2: 4 NIV)

The Lord in this Psalm, and in many other places in holy scripture, is viewed as one who always gets the "last laugh." It is an old proverb that says - "He who laughs last, laughs best." (longest, loudest, or last)

To get the "last laugh," or to "laugh best," describes "a feeling of satisfaction that occurs when others realize that you have won or succeeded after thinking that they had defeated you or that you had failed."

There are many who laugh at and mock God. They "make fun of" him. They do not believe in him themselves, and so they scoff and jest at the idea of God and make fun of his works and word. But, who will get the "last laugh"? Who will be laughing in the end?

There are several instances in scripture that show Lord God as the one who get's the "last" or "best" laugh. The KJV translates the latter part of Psalm 2:4 as "the LORD shall have them in derision," or "get them in the end."

"I will bless her and will surely give you a son by her. I will bless her so that she will be the mother of nations; kings of peoples will come from her." Abraham fell facedown; he laughed and said to himself, "Will a son be born to a man a hundred years old? Will Sarah bear a child at the age of ninety?" And Abraham said to God, "If only Ishmael might live under your blessing!" (Genesis 17: 16-18 NIV)

"Then the LORD said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son." Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my master is old, will I now have this pleasure?" Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' Is anything too hard for the LORD ? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son." Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, "I did not laugh." But he said, "Yes, you did laugh." (Genesis 18: 10-15 NIV)

"Abraham was a hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him. Sarah said, "God has brought me laughter, and everyone who hears about this will laugh with me." And she added, "Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse children? Yet I have borne him a son in his old age." (Genesis 21: 5-7 NIV)

This is a simple story that shows Lord God "getting the last (best) laugh." God had promised a son to Abraham and Sarah. But, they did not believe the promise, but doubted the power of God. Both silently "laughed" at the promised word of God. Not only did this "laugh" demonstrate unbelief in the omnipotence of God, but it also demonstrated lack of belief in the omniscience of God.

When Abraham is said to laugh and speak "to himself," he apparently did it with the idea that Lord God would not be knowledgeable of his thoughts. So too does Sarah behave, lacking faith in the omnipotence and omniscience of God.

One other interesting thing to notice is how not only does God get the "last laugh," but Sarah also "laughs" after her son is given and born. It is a different kind of "laughter," however. The first exercise of "laughter" was sinful, being a way of "mocking" or "scoffing" or "making fun of" Lord God. The second laugh was nothing but "pure joy," the result of being blessed by grace, of God fulfilling his word.

"When Jesus entered the ruler's house and saw the flute players and the noisy crowd, he said, "Go away. The girl is not dead but asleep." But they laughed at him. After the crowd had been put outside, he went in and took the girl by the hand, and she got up. News of this spread through all that region." (Matthew 9: 23-26 NIV)

Here is another fascinating instance of where God (or Jesus) gets the "last" or "best laugh." The unbelief of the people is what led them to "laugh," and "make fun of," or to "ridicule" and "scorn" the Lord Jesus. But, when the "girl" was raised from her "sleep of death," it was Jesus who was the one laughing.

"And then twisted together a crown of thorns and set it on his head. They put a staff in his right hand and knelt in front of him and mocked him. "Hail, king of the Jews!" they said...In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him." (Matthew 27: 29, 41 NIV)

There was so much "laughing at Jesus" that went on, not only throughout his life, but also in his various legal trials that took place just prior to his death sentence, and also in the treatment he received up to the very hour when he expired on the cross. But, when Christ was raised, who was laughing then? When Christ comes back again, who will be laughing then?

"Since you ignored all my advice and would not accept my rebuke, I in turn will laugh at your disaster; I will mock when calamity overtakes you-when calamity overtakes you like a storm, when disaster sweeps over you like a whirlwind, when distress and trouble overwhelm you." (Proverbs 1: 25-27 NIV)

This is Wisdom (or Lord God) talking. He says to those who laugh at him - "You will not be laughing for long, for I will get the last or best laugh."

Sinners, if they do not laugh outright at God and religion, will at least "make light of" him and it, not giving any serious attention to either. It is all a big "joke" (or "hoax") to these wicked unbelievers. But, when the sinner reaps, and comes to realize that Wisdom (God) was correct, in the Day of Judgment, he will not be laughing any longer, but Wisdom will have the best and last laugh.

"The wicked plot against the righteous and gnash their teeth at them; but the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he knows their day is coming." (Psalm 37: 12, 13 NIV)

This is similar to what the Psalmist said in the 2nd Psalm. God promises sinners who laugh at him and mock his word and religion, that he, and not them, will be laughing in the "end" or at the "last."

"Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin: He will snatch you up and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. Selah. The righteous will see and fear; they will laugh at him, saying, "Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!" (Psalm 52: 5-7 NIV)

So, for those who mock and make fun of Lord God, of Wisdom, of the word of God, and of the gospel, of salvation by a crucified Messiah, the message is very simple - "you will not be laughing in the end"! The one whom you mocked and laughed against will be the one who gets the "last laugh." You refused to make God your place of safety, and rejected his word, and offers of mercy, yea, even laughing at him and mocking his offers; justice now is executed, however, and God is the only one who is laughing.

"When the LORD brought back the captives to Zion, we were like men who dreamed. Our mouths were filled with laughter, our tongues with songs of joy. Then it was said among the nations, "The LORD has done great things for them." The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy." (Psalm 126: 1-3 NIV)

This is good laughter promised to those who mourn in Zion, who mourn in repentance to God and cry out to him for forgiveness and for saving mercy. They will be made to laugh, rejoice, and be happy forever. They too will get the "last" or "best laugh."

"Blessed are you who weep now, for you will laugh...Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep." (Luke 6: 21, 25 NIV)

Thus, some who laugh now will not be laughing at the last. Others, who are not laughing now, will nevertheless be the ones laughing in the end.

"Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up." (James 4: 8-10 NIV)

"Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows." (Galatians 6: 7 NIV)