Page 23 - Prophetic Word Newsletter Archive 2011

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Here is the whole counsel of Solomon pertaining to the relative value of laughter compared to mourning:

“I SAID OF LAUGHTER,
‘IT IS MADNESS’ ; AND OF MIRTH, ‘WHAT DOES IT ACCOMPLISH?”

Ecc. 2:2

“SORROW IS BETTER THAN LAUGHING.
FOR BY A SAD COUNTENANCE THE HEART IS MADE BETTER.”

Ecc. 7:3

“IT IS BETTER TO GO TO THE HOUSE OF MOURNING…

THE HEART OF THE WISE BUT THE HEART OF FOOLS
IS IN THE HOUSE OF IS IN THE HOUSE OF

MOURNING, MIRTH.” Ecc. 7:2,4
2 Tim. 3:12-13

We have been building this
pyramid of contrasting

behavior. It consists of the
Beatitudes of Matthew
Chapter Five compared

to its worldly counterparts.
Note the contrast of
“mourners”
to those
of “mirth.”

We expect such contrasting behavior from those in the world, for they are the by-product of the
influence of the Wicked One (1 Jn.5:19), Satan the “god of this world” (2 Cor. 4:4). However, God expects
something quite different of His people in serious times. Consider this PAST account of the behavior
of God’s people as a day of dire judgment and disaster looms over them:

“AND IN THAT DAY THE LORD GOD OF HOSTS CALLED FOR
WEEPING AND FOR MOURNING,

FOR BALDNESS AND FOR GIRDING WITH SACKCLOTH.
BUT INSTEAD (HE FOUND), JOY AND GLADNESS,

SLAYING OXEN AND KILLING SHEEP, EATING MEAT AND DRINKING WINE:
"LET US EAT AND DRINK, FOR TOMORROW WE DIE!“

Isa 22:12-13

In light of the PAST disapproving behavior of God’s people stated above, we might more properly
understand this seemingly innocent array of behavior in this FUTURE scenario in which, once again,
much of mankind will be placing undo emphasis upon the wrong priorities just prior to another
onslaught of God’s judgment:

“AND AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF NOAH, SO IT WILL BE ALSO IN THE DAYS OF THE SON OF
MAN: THEY ATE, THEY DRANK, THEY MARRIED WIVES, THEY WERE GIVEN IN MARRIAGE,
UNTIL THE DAY THAT NOAH ENTERED THE ARK, AND THE FLOOD CAME AND DESTROYED
THEM ALL. LIKEWISE AS IT WAS ALSO IN THE DAYS OF LOT:
THEY ATE, THEY DRANK, THEY BOUGHT, THEY SOLD, THEY PLANTED, THEY BUILT;

BUT ON THE DAY THAT LOT WENT OUT OF SODOM IT RAINED FIRE AND BRIMSTONE FROM
HEAVEN AND DESTROYED THEM ALL.

EVEN SO WILL IT BE IN THE DAY WHEN THE SON OF MAN IS REVEALED.” Luke 17:26-30