Wikipedia defines laughter as “a physical reaction in humans, consisting usually of rhythmical, often audible contractions of the diaphragm and other parts of the respiratory system. It is a response to certain external or internal stimuli.”
Now you know—maybe.
We all know how to laugh, but where did it come from?
Evolvers would pin laughter to a relief response in a close call with, say, a saber-tooth tiger. My simple explanation: God—not evolution. Laughter is deeply 
embedded in human nature, put there by our Creator God. Even babies laugh, long before they can speak.
Laughter expresses joy, humor, approval, or release. A good joke. A surprising twist. An unexpected ending. People who seldom laugh are sad, indeed. I love to laugh and have even injected laughter into my funeral service. Stay tuned on that!
My previous blog talked about Jesus laughing, which resonated well with hundreds of readers.* I believe laughter is part of the nature of God. The Bible says so in Psalm 2:4—”The One enthroned in heaven LAUGHS.”
Sixty-some years ago, a miscarriage left me sad. A friend came over and read funny nursing stories. My spirits were restored, and I have never forgotten the kindness of Nurse Margaret.
Laughter, though, can be used badly. Here are my Ten Commandments for Laughter:
Thou shall not mock anyone.
Thou shall not take malicious pleasure in your enemy’s misfortunes.
Thou shall not make fun of anyone’s disabilities.
Thou shall not tell or laugh at dirty jokes.
Thou shall not laugh at bad behavior.
Thou shall not deride political perspectives that are contrary to your own.
Thou shall not ridicule anyone’s appearance.
Thou shall not laugh at clumsy efforts.
Thou shall not make jokes in times of grief or tragedy.
Thou shall not be flippant during serious conversation.
Honor the Lord thy God, EVEN WITH YOUR LAUGHTER.
* Last blog, I gave some misinformation about The Chosen—and got a special note from Dallas the Director about it! The app is free and the DVD only $30, not $35. My apologies. Go to the website and watch some extra-info clips. Join the thousands who LOVE this production. I can’t say enough good things about it!
Are you a laugher? Tell me what makes you laugh. Can you add more “Thou shall nots?” Comment below, or email
I have a HUGE laugh. As you know . Sometimes it scares people . I love it when I just get “tickled” and can’t stop and tears stream down. A great big belly laugh is so cleansing and bonds everyone around you.
Ellie, You said Thou shalt not deride political perspectives. I disagree. Maybe thou shalt not deride the people who hold certain political perspectives, but some political perspectives, both right and left, are balderdash and deserve derision. The derision serves, if nothing else, to help the less well endowed mentally to notice the perspective being offered is laughable. I just checked what you wrote again and the Psalms you quote also says after God laughed at them, He scoffed at them. If that’s not derision . . .
You also said Thou shalt not make jokes in times of grief or tragedy. But you yourself appreciated the nurse who came and made you laugh when you were grieving the miscarriage. D__ and L__ went to a funeral where the family that lost someone was just devastated, flattened. D__ had to leave for quite a while the room where they were all gathered in to grieve. They had been grieving hard and were exhausted. When D__ came back, L__ was telling them stories and making them laugh and they were so relieved and thankful. That’s L__’s gift and it’s a great one.
Just sayin’
The question, Does God laugh? is a strange question to me. Do we laugh? Yes? Then since we’re made in God’s image, it follows that God does laugh. And I’m glad He does! Who wants a staid, stiff, grumpy God?
One of many things I love about God is that he speaks to me plainly in language that I can understand. In my case, that often involves HUMOR.
Here is an example…
I took on a huge job one year, assembling many small parts for the crafts projects at a large Bible study. I knew God was stretching me, because keeping track of many details is not “my thing”.
So I was whining to God one morning about how much work this required. He let me go on and on for a while, and then I heard him say this. “There, there Sue.
I know this is a big job. But a big job is really just a lot of little steps put together. You are just procrastinating by refusing to put me first. Try putting me first and see what happens.”
I whined a little more, then realized I should probably get up and get started. But first, I asked God if I could at least have coffee.
With great compassion, he answered, “Yes, you can have your coffee first.”
So I drank my coffee, and then I heard him say, “I went to the cross for you. Do you think you can make it to your medicine cabinet, grab 10 Q-tips, and put them in a bag for me? “
I started laughing so hard, and I swear I heard Jesus laughing too! And from then on, the job got easier!! Our faithful and FUNNY God!!
I love laughing at myself, especially as I am getting older. I also love laughing at the way children think and use words. My granddaughter looked at my ice tea and said, “ Nana, is this decapitated?”
Does God laugh? Here’s another idea based on two passages in the Psalms. According to Psalm 37:13, “The Lord laughs at him (that is, the wicked in verse 12), for He sees his day is coming.” And, in Psalm 59:8, “But You, O Lord, laugh at them; You scoff at all the nations.”
Hi Ellie, I laugh at my dog and thank God for creating the amazing small “person” he is. That is just plain old happy laughter.
I laugh at the television “news” and political commercials a lot. It sure beats getting serious about them.