I had a Facebook chat recently with a friend about humor and laughter. I cited Psalm 2 when the issue of God arose. In Psalm 2 God is laughing and angry at the same time. It says God laughs in derision or scoffs at the rulers of the world who think they are in charge. The psalmist goes onto to say that the rulers had better kiss God's feet or else!
Now I am sure some commentators would like to see this as a psalm where the writer paints God in altogether too human a form. Surely, God must not scoff at us humans! But why not? We do some pretty stupid stuff. Why wouldn't God scoff at our efforts to control our lives when we do so pridefully and without a hint of humility and acknowledgment that just maybe we might need some help from outside ourselves?
My congregation completed a congregational life survey this spring. One of the questions was about emotions experienced in worship. Do you feel joy, boredom, inspiration, etc? Presbyterians (and our congregation) were fairly low on the awe scale. That's wrapped up with the fear of the Lord cited so often in the Old Testament. Part of the burden for that has to fall to us worship leaders. Maybe we don't do enough to remind people God is in charge and we really, really, really need to kiss his feet in a completely respectful, we love you with all we have sort of way.
I wonder what God's laugh sounds like.
ReplyDeleteAngry and laughing... can't help but think of Austin Powers' Dr. Evil and his crew and their...bwahhahaha, Bwahhahaha, BWAHhahaha! Maybe if the all the Presbys would realize God was already laughing they wouldn't be so afraid to sing out and let go a little bit.
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