Focus: Divine Happiness (Pt.2)

Text: Ps.144:15

"Happy is that people, whose God is the LORD."

Happiness in Hebrew is more than being happy or blessed; it is being in the state of blessedness, regardless of what the outward circumstances may be. True happiness is not what money can buy. Happiness is God at the center and circumference of your life. Happiness means the presence, prominence and preeminence of Christ in your life.

The psalmist says, "For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee" (Ps.128:2). Who is the happy man here? Verse 1 tells us who he is: "Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways." It is the person who fears, worships and honors the Lord. It is the person who walks in the ways of God. According to the psalmist, "Happy he shall be, and it shall be well with him." The words 'blessed' and 'happy' are the same in the Hebrew - 'esher. 

You are a happy person for having God in your life. You are a blessed person for trusting in Christ. You are in the state of blessedness for being a worshipper of God, and for being one who walks in the ways of the Lord.

The psalmist says, "Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God" (Ps.146:5). Having God as your helper is the basis for happiness. Also, having your hope solidly rooted in God inspires happiness in your spirit.

In Proverbs, we read, "Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding" (Prov.3:13). Wisdom and understanding are the springboards of happiness. There is no happiness in foolishness. Those who seek and find wisdom and understanding also discover true happiness. 

We also read that "he that keepeth the law, happy is he" (Prov.29:18). Do what God says and you will be happy. Obedience and happiness are tied together. The Lord Jesus Christ says, "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them" (Jh.13:17). It is not enough to know; you must do what you know to be happy. Happiness results from applied knowledge or knowledge acted upon.

You reap the harvest of happiness from the good seeds you have sown. Simply put, happiness is a fruit produced from the seeds of faith, hope, love and obedience.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter