First off, you might be wondering why I am using the name Jealous when referring to the god of the old testament, as mentioned in the bible. I do that because the old testament actually refers to him that way.
The clearest passage is Exodus 34:14
“For you shall worship no other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God.”
His personality is so jealous that this verse calls him by the very name, Jealous. No one really seems to argue that he’s a jealous god, since there are far too many verses saying this much.
I have a strong propensity to believe there is a difference between the old testament god, and the god that Yeshua (Jesus) spoke of. This belief was also reflected by many early Christian sects. In fact, I wonder if Yeshua was trying to save us from Jealous – a topic to address in the future in greater detail.
While growing up up in the church, attending three times a week, and in learning selective old and new testament bible stories, I never really noticed whether or not the god or Yeshua (Jesus) had a sense of humor. I did notice that in film or television portrayals of Jesus, writers took creative license and sometimes portrayed Yeshua as a fun loving guy who joked around. I have no problem with that. It might have been true.
However, when I decided to examine the sense of humor of Jealous, a particular pattern takes shape.
What Makes Jealous Laugh?
There is a saying derived from an old Yiddish proverb that goes “If you want to make god laugh, tell him your plans”.
In the minds of many believers, this saying denotes the vision of a playful laugh – like a father would laugh at his five-year-old who, in a state of anger, threatens to run away from home, or when he announces he will become the president when he grows up. We think of a father who is so very wise that laughs in kindness because he knows so much better and has great plans for us right?
How does vision of a playful and kind laugh stack up?
One of the most powerful examples of what makes the god laugh comes from Psalm 2:1-4
“Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? He who sits in the heavens laughs; the Lord holds them in derision. “
The context is kings and rulers attempting to make plans without consulting the god. The laughter is usually understood as expressing their absurdity.
Derision means contemptuous ridicule and mockery. So, in this case, the god laughs in a ridiculing manner towards humans.
Next we have Psalm 37:13
“But the Lord laughs at the wicked, for he sees that their day is coming.”
Again, not a playful laugh – a ridiculing one. The laughter stemming from this knowing the god will be executing punishment. I’ve never witnessed an early father laughing about executing a severe future punishment.
How To Pray For Your Enemies – Old Testament Style
Psalm 59:8-10
Here is a prayer brought to us by a favorite human of the god – a man of course. In fact, this dude is recorded as being a man after the god’s own heart! Keep in mind this human killed or maimed the foreskin of 200 men to bring them to a king so he could have her daughter as a wife. Keep in mind he feigned insanity by foaming at the mouth and scratching at the doors of the gate to evade suspicion and capture while in enemy territory. Keep in mind this man had several wives and concubines yet he was such a dog that he still had to have the wife of another man. Keep in mind this man also then killed the man whose wife he committed adultery with, after she became pregnant.
Here is how this favored and beloved man of the god prayed for his enemies.
“But You, O Lord, shall laugh at them; You shall have all the nations in derision. I will wait for You, O You his Strength;
For God is my defense. My God of mercy shall come to meet me;
God shall let me see my desire on my enemies.
God will go before me and will let me gloat over those who slander me.”
You’ve heard the saying that comes from the new testament that speaks of praying for your enemies. Do you think it means that you should pray that the god will laugh and mock your enemies? That you will have the chance to gloat over your winning against them?
And there’s that word ‘derision’ again – meaning contemptuous ridicule and mockery.
Keep in mind this man, King David was also part of the ruling class who wrote a fair chunk of the old testament.
Proverbs 1:26
“I also will laugh at your calamity;
I will mock when your terror comes,
Just another verse about what this god finds humor in. This verse was written by another member of the ruling class, the son of King David – King Solomon. Same rhetoric – the god laughing at calamity when certain groups are faced with terror.
By the way King Solomon is somehow known for his ‘wisdom’ and for having 700 wives and 300 concubines.
There is not a single verse showing this god the text itself portraying the god’s laughter as gentle, affectionate, or comforting. Only as mocking and derisive.
“See it for what it is, not for what you want it to be”
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