If you are a Readers Digest fan you know of their monthly section called "Laugher is the Best Medicine". Most people when they look at the Bible think that God would find such a column to be inappropriate for really spiritual people. A lot of people think that spiritual and serious go together. But when you actually look at the Bible you find that there are times when God holds that laughter is the best medicine. The book of Daniel has one of those chapters. In Chapter 3 where we find the story of the fiery furnace and three brave Jewish men who refuse to bow down to an idol, we find humor in what most of us would consider to be a very serious situation. Just a few examples:
In the first verse we are told of an image that is built by the king. It's measurements are 60 cubits high and 6 cubits wide. In this chapter that is filled with humor the author delivers his opening blow of satire by telling us that the image is imperfect and evil by using the number 6 which represents those things.
In verses 2 and 3 we are given a long list of all the ruling folks of the realm. The writer in making this list is mocking the king and all his pretensions. When read out loud the list even sounds silly and humorous.
In verse 13 we're told the king is “furious with rage” We see a king having a temper tantrum, he looks like a 2 year old rather than a wise ruler.
Just a few examples of a rather biting humor that we find in the Bible. Sometimes God as well believes that laugher is the best medicine.
No comments:
Post a Comment