The Grapevine
Number 115                                                                        
October 29, 2005
Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth
not to be ashamed rightly dividing the word of truth. II Timothy 2:15


Happy Are the People
by Jack Northart

Many Christian people have a list of reasons why they must live a life that is dreary, downcast, sullen, and downright boring. They feel that it is their place to set an example as a "serious" Christian who lives by all of the rules. This is in contrast to when a person first gets saved. They are very excited, happy and joyous. They are very blessed to tell everyone about how tremendous their life has been since they got born again. Then the "serious" Christians come along and talk them out of their excited, happy, joyfilled life.  Eventually, they go back to living a life of worry, uncertainty, doubt and anguish. They feel that now it is their holy obligation to "suffer" for the Lord. It would be too sinful for these people to ever be happy again. Woe, is me! They tell people that they have joy, but it is on the inside and you can't see it.

If this is the right way to believe, then why did they bother getting saved in the first place? I think God has a different point of view about this matter.

Psalm 144: 9-15
I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee.
It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword.
Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood:
That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace:
That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets:
That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets.
Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.

The Hebrew word for "happy" in this verse is also translated, "blessed" in many other verses.

It's very clear by these verses in Psalms that the new song that we should be singing as God's children is not one of woe, but of joy, happiness and success! God's people should be the most happy, enthusiastic, joyous people on the planet. We have a lot of good reasons to be that way, if we simply look at some of the things that God has done for us.

Ephesians 1:3-4
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:
According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love.

This is just the beginning of the things that our Heavenly Father has done for us. God starts out this section of scripture saying that He is blesssed because He blessed us with ALL spiritual blessings in the heavenlies. He didn't hold back a single blessing; it's all been poured out to us. That's something that we should be bouncing off the ceiling about. However, it doesn't stop there.

Ephesians 1:7
In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace.

This statement about what He accomplished through Christ is sometimes difficult for some to accept. However, as the previous verses stated, He was blessed to do it.  It means so much to Him and it should mean a lot to us as His children. Responding to these accomplishments by being downtrodden and defeated is not right. If we really accept this for what it says, happiness, excitement and joy should be included in our response. God wants us to understand these things. He wants us to "get it," and be blessed by them.

Ephesians 1:17-19
That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to usward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power.

I think many Christians have read these verses in Ephesians and are stunned by them. They read them and find it too hard to accept, and they don't digest them. They go right back to the "woe is me" mentallity.

Look at these verses and see how tremendous they are! God wants the eyes of our heart to be flooded with the light so that we can know and understand the hope to which He has called us, and how rich is His glorious inheritance in us, His saints, His set-apart ones. This is a lot to be happy and excited about!

Psalm 146:5
Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God.

Knowing that our God is always there to help us is definitely something to be happy about.

Psalm 1:1-3
Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

The first word, "blessed," is again the same Hebrew word that is translated "happy." For those who delight in God's Word, and think about these great blessings that He has done for us, they are like the fruitful tree, planted by the rivers of water, that never withers and always prospers.

Let us shout it from the rooftops and sing it in the streets, we are truly a very blessed people. Our God is blessed to have blessed us, therefore, "...happy are the people."