HAPPY PEOPLE

Jack Davis

“HAPPY IS HE THAT HATH THE GOD OF JACOB FOR HIS HELP, WHOSE HOPE IS IN THE LORD HIS GOD.” Ps. 146:5

Is any body happy? What does it take to make a person truly, lastingly happy? One might say, “Oh if I just had this certain thing, or if I could gain that, or if I could accomplish something else.

“HAPPY IS HE”

Wherein Are We Happy? I believe that only God is able to make us come to or realize the greatest possible happiness. Is a happy person one who is satisfied, being blessed with the fulness of favor from God? I believe this is the essence of the Word in the Old Testament.

Jesus when speaking to His disciples, expressed such marvelous love and wisdom. He asked them if they understood what He had just done in washing their feet. Then He said; “if ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.” Jn. 13:17. Knowing God’s will, obeying His Word is indeed a great promoter of real happiness. In Proverbs 3:13,18 we read of the happiness enjoyed in finding and retaining wisdom.

The queen of Sheba was highly impressed when she had seen evidence of King Solomon’s wisdom, glory, and wealth. She exclaimed in amazement, “The half was not told me.” Then she exclaimed, “happy are thy men, happy are these thy servants, which stand continually before thee, and hear thy wisdom.” I Kings 10:7-8. What then could we say of our dear Lord? It is stated in Job 5:17, “Happy is the man whom God correcteth…” Are you receptive to such? We are often prone to despise the instrument He uses.

The context of our text begins with, or is introduced by saying, “Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD O my soul. While I live will I praise the Lord: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.” Ps. 146:1-2. Let praise be the high activity of the spiritually happy. Have you noticed that praise-worship of the Lord and holy happiness work together? They feed off each other. It reaches up to God for His delight. It reaches down to the discouraged to lift expectation for his deliverance. The outreach  of praise enables others to see the joy of the Lord in us, and causes them to desire Him also.

“My soul rejoices.” “Bless the LORD O my soul.” Such expressions show that this praise comes from within the heart. Praise proclaims a positive attitude, an optimistic outlook. This is how we may express a victorious up look accompanied with the increase of faith, hope, and love.

A happy people are those that have good expectation. The Holy Spirit is doing such a marvelous work in the lives of  God’s people today. By making the Word of God a reality to us, we are made a serious, very sincere people. We are made sober and yet sublimely serene. We are most happy when we are satisfied and yet ever seeking His highest and best. Thus we are made a gloriously happy people even in the face of serious suffering. See I Pet. 3:12-19 and 4:12-14.

“HE THAT HATH”

What (who) Do You Have? Those having something belonging to them personally, especially that which they consider most worthy, enjoyable, or beneficial, are usually considered happy. We believe that those things entered into by faith in God’s unerring promises produces such. What have you laid hold of that’s real, lasting, and cheers your heart? What has been given to you that you are appropriating and appreciating as your own? Is there anything that can afford you everlasting happiness? The best we can have is that which has us. We have redemption through His blood, and are glad we belong to Him. “Happy art thou…who is like unto thee, O people saved by the LORD, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency! And thine enemies shall be found liars unto thee; and thou shalt tread upon their high places.” Deut. 33:29.

Why shouldn’t we be happy enjoying God’s salvation, with Him being the shield of our help, and the sword by which we may excel unto his glory and honour. Who could find greater deliverance, or better protection? We certainly have adversity. We often meet with great difficulty as we press on in the will of God. We never lack the enemies opposition that would try to rob us of the joy of our salvation. The accuser of the brethren is always on the job. But, Glory to  God, with our foot dipped in oil, walking in the Spirit; and our shoes of iron and brass; (strength and judgment) and as our days so shall our strength be. We are thus enabled to trample the enemy under feet taking by faith our God-given high places. Rom. 16:20.

“THE GOD OF JACOB FOR HIS HELP”

By whom are we helped? This Psalm somewhat describes the God that we have for our help in verses six through ten. “Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: Which keepeth truth for ever: Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners: The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the Lord raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous: The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down. The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.”

What a God we have, that has put Himself at the disposal of our faith! Knowing and trusting ourselves unto Him, frees us unto a course of life without covetousness, and produces in us an attitude of contentment founded on what He has spoken in His precious  Word. “For he has said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The LORD is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.” Heb. 13:5-6. Our God has so richly provided for us that there truly need be no complaining in our streets. Ps. 144:14-15.

By way of contrast, verse three and four of our  Psalm 146; indicates the necessity to avoid the course to certain unhappiness. “Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help. His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.” Isa. 2:22; gives sound advise, “Cease ye from man, whose breath is in his nostrils: for wherein is he to be accounted of?” consider well the contrast given in Jer. 17:5-7.

Oh yes, many grievous disappointments come our way when we put our hope in human help. These have, does, and will fail us. Misplaced expectations can really get us down, make us despondent and have us talking to ourselves. We do well to encourage ourselves in the Lord.  We might say to our selves “Adjust your focus.” “Why art thou cast down, O my soul? And why art thou disquieted in me? Hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance.” Ps. 42:5. There is much foolish teaching on self help today, and promoting self confidence. If God helps them that are able to help themselves; What can He do for the helpless? How about, exceeding, abundantly, above, all we ask or think?

“WHOSE HOPE IS IN THE lord”

In whom do you hope? All those who are fully trusting in Him, are to be cheerfully expectant of coming good. He  gladly gives the greatest and the best even to pleasantly, presently anticipate. He cannot fail His promise. He also has given us wonderful examples and instruction in His Word on how to abound in hope. Of course we know that all God our Father has given us to expect is wrapped in the Lord Jesus Christ. The God of hope causes us to abound in hope through the power of the Holy Ghost, as we simply yieldingly believe. Rom. 15:13.