If one of my co-workers heard me complimenting the weather this past week, they would have understood from the context that I was being sarcastic. We have experienced over 40 tropical waves since the beginning of July – all of them bringing rain. The tourist brochures may call this the “green season,” but we think of it more as “proof-the-world-was-once-destroyed-by-the-flood” season.
As you can see, I sometimes use sarcasm to reflect on reality. Hopefully I use it as a tool for good. However, I admit that on occasion I have injured people with a hurtful comment.
Sarcasm is an example of what linguists call “unplain speaking” - ways of speaking in which what is said differs from what is meant. This category of language also includes forced politeness, ritual language, and affectation. Sarcasm, which has been defined as “biting irony,” comes from the Greek sarkasmos, “to tear the flesh.” And, as we all know, sarcasm is often recognized as a cutting remark meant to inflict pain.
Still, Shakespeare used sarcasm to make a point. Geoffrey Chaucer used sarcasm to criticize an immoral clergy in The Canterbury Tales. Both G. K. Chesterton and Winston Churchill showed tremendous skill wielding this literary tool. One of my favorite quotes from the latter is, “Men occasionally stumble on the truth, but most of them pick themselves up and hurry off as if nothing had happened.”
It may be surprising for some to find examples of sarcasm in the Bible. It is perhaps even more surprising that inspired authors used it to communicate God’s message to man.
In response to Israel once again wandering away from their divine purpose and following the local religions, God said to them, “Go and cry out to the gods whom you have chosen; let them save you in the time of your distress" (Judges 10:14, ESV). Talk about biting irony! Those idols couldn’t do anything to save Israel in their time of need.
Paul reproved some “prophets” with a mildly sarcastic remark: “Or was it from you that the word of God came? Or are you the only ones it has reached?” (1 Cor. 14:36, ESV). No prophet would want to say he or she was the only one who received a revelation, so Paul’s remark was meant to remind these people of their need to listen to others… maybe even to Paul, himself.
One of my favorite examples of sarcasm in the Bible is when Elijah used biting irony against Baal’s prophets on Mt. Carmel. No doubt this sarcasm embarrassed and frustrated them. However, I think Elijah’s words were really meant for the people of Israel - to show them how pointless it was to worship Baal. “And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, ‘Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened’” (1 Kings 18:27, ESV).
If I remember correctly, the original Living Bible rendered this, “Maybe he is thinking, or he is sitting in the outhouse.” That always tickled the country boy in me.
Isaiah engaged in a rather lengthy satire about idolatry. In Isaiah, chapter 46, we are introduced to Babylon’s two most important deities – Bel (also called Marduk) and Nebo. Apparently, they were taken down from their temples when Cyrus the Persian attacked. Some commentators believe the Babylonians were forced to flee carrying their heavy idols. Instead of helping, this heavy load would have kept the Babylonians from escaping their fates. In Isaiah 46:2 the situation is described this way, “(Bel and Nebo) stoop; they bow down together; they cannot save the burden, but themselves go into captivity” (ESV).
God compares Himself to these false gods with these words, “Listen to me, O house of Jacob, all the remnant of the house of Israel, who have been borne by me from before your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save”(Is. 46:3-4, ESV).
Instead of us having to carry our God on our shoulders, He carries us – even to when we have gray hair, or, no hair. One of the greatest tragedies of mankind is when we reverse roles with God and try to carry Him. He doesn’t need our help or want it. He has borne our sin (Is. 53) and He also bears our sorrows.
Now, that seems like some good truth to stumble over!
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