Speaking of Happiness
“Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD.
Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart—”
Today’s Text: Psalm 119:1-16 (Living Life Daily Devotional)
As important as our personal happiness is to us, our happiness is that much more important to God. But there is a huge difference between how we want to pursue our personal happiness versus how God wants to bestow happiness upon us.
We pursue personal happiness with the end goal of personal glory. On the other hand, God wants us to seek His glory, and in doing so attain true, real happiness.
By the way, the word “blessed” in the Bible, when it refers to blessing people, literally means “happy.” Why do the Bible translators not just use the word “happy”? Well, some do. But maybe the idea of “happiness” in our hearts and minds today just seems less “holy” and “spiritual” than it did when these scriptures were first written.
So, anyway. Yeah. God is extremely concerned with our happiness. But true happiness can only come on His terms, not ours. In God’s economy, our happiness must be integrally connected to His glory. And that is because His glory will prevail, no matter what. Our true happiness, on the other hand, depends on whether we can accept His terms.
And God’s terms are provided to us in the word of God. And that is why the Book of Psalms begins,
Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers,
but whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.
— Psalm 1:1-2
The fact that the Psalms opens with that statement tells us how important that principle is, and it also tells us what the Psalms are ultimately about.
The fact that every verse of Psalm 119 mentions the word of God in some form tells us how important the word of God is for attaining true happiness.
The fact that Psalm 119 is the longest psalm—in fact, the longest chapter in the Bible—tells us how important the word of God is for attaining true happiness.
But we also need to read His word carefully and thoughtfully. We need to study God’s word so that the full counsel of Scripture will become a natural part of our thinking and feeling in continually increasing measure.
Because right now, insofar as it is “now,” none of us can ever obey God’s word perfectly. And yet, the Psalms and the word of God offer an unquenchable hope: “I will obey Your decrees; do not utterly forsake me” (verse 8). Which is why, our obedience must be integrally connected to our union with Christ through faith. Through faith, our salvation is found in Christ, and in Christ alone.
That’s what the Psalms are about … Oh yeah, with the ultimate outcome of the whole universe giving praise, honor, and glory to God. Hallelujah!
Father, You are God; we are not. You are Creator; we are not. You are Life-giver; we are not. You are the Author of our salvation, the Forgiver of our sins, the Redeemer of our souls. We are the object and target of Your love and affection, Your mercy and grace. You alone are worthy of all glory, honor, and praise. Hallelujah! In Jesus’s name. Amen.
