Happy Hearts

Proverbs 15:15 (KJV) All the days of the afflicted are evil: but he that is of a merry heart hath a continual feast.

I never thought of myself as having a merry heart.  As a skeptic, I don’t walk down the street singing “Pennies from Heaven” or “I’ve got the joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart.”  OK, actually I may sing that second one.  That should be a clear indication that I might actually have a merry heart.

Now if I don’t have a merry heart I need to develop one.  And actually I think I’m making progress.  Of course, having a happy heart starts with a clear view of reality.  That could be a bit depressing if the clear view of reality was not rooted in a clear view of the God of creation.  Providence rules.  I am a child of Providence,  I must say I don’t say “Praise the Lord” when I stub my toe or knock my head, but I am willing to praise the Lord when the pain goes away.

So?  Work on it.  For some it may come naturally.  For those of us who tend to be skeptics it’s a goal to achieve.  It is also a goal within reach.  

Dream Busters

(Pro 22:29 KJV)  Seest thou a man diligent in his business? he shall stand before kings; he shall not stand before mean men.

I don’t think I was feeling sorry for myself.  I am not depressed at all.  Life is full of blessings.  With all that said this verse put me in my place this morning.

I have never stood before kings.  I am not sure I have ever been in personal contact with anyone who plays a significant role in our society.  I am not sure that I even stand before the mean men in my area.  I know that I am above average in most ways.  That is not something to be arrogant about.  My son points out George Carlin’s observation that half of the population is below average.  Even they don’t think I have much to say.

So?  Rejoice.  I keep reminding myself that God does not call all of us to be CEO’s or celebrities.  We are called to be faithful.  When we realize that our goal is to be like Jesus and not John Wayne it changes the perspective.  He will help us in one and just shake His head at the other.  

Waiting for the Hunter

Proverbs 29:25 (KJV) The fear of man bringeth a snare: but whoso putteth his trust in the LORD shall be safe.

I have never set a snare but in my mind the snare does not necessarily kill the rabbit it catches.  I think of a snare as something that stops your freedom of movement and leaves you to become part of the harvest.

Fear does that to us.  It keeps us from moving freely through life.  It limits our options, not because we can’t see them but we are immobilized.

So?  God wants us to be free from those crippling limitations.  He wants us to learn to avoid the dangers of life, not life itself.  Trust and rejoice.  

Enjoy the Goodness

(Pro 24:13 KJV)  My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:

Have you been getting your fill of Christmas goodies?  If you haven’t then you have a few more hours to hit the bakery or even make your own chocolate chip cookies.  While you are at it, have some honey.  We don’t usually associate it with Christmas but the idea is here that good things and sweet things have their place in life.

Do you have any “Bah! Humbug!” people in your life?  It happens.  Do you have anyone who likes to pontificate on December 25 not being the day of the incarnation?  Agree with them, find out when they want to celebrate and establish a second Christmas to celebrate.

So?  Enjoy the good things of life.  Blessings as you gather with family, think about family or just reminisce on those good times.  Merry Christmas.  

On the Other Hand

Psalms 64:10 (KJV) The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory.

(Proverbs 12 also read)

If you have time to read through this chapter, you’ll find that much of it is lamenting the evil in our society that seems to be out to get the righteous.  It’s a good reflection of what it’s like today, as well as in Solomon’s time.  The forces of evil, selfishness, the power-hungry, and anarchy are out to get us.  We are surrounded.

But then, at the end, we are reminded of the hope that we have.  We can be “glad”.  That depends on us trusting.  But we have this promise.

So?  Evil exists.  Evil is all around us.  Evil would love to drag us down and destroy us.  God can be trusted.  And because of that, we can “glory”.  

Give Me That Old Time Religion

Psalms 62:8 (KJV) Trust in him at all times; ye people, pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us. Selah.

(Proverbs 11 also read)

Is it any wonder that people love to read the book of Psalms?  Often we get the wrong idea about the Old Testament when we spend our time brooding on the law that people seem so upset about.  We get confused by the pounding prophecies that come to us in so many books and are so confusing as to how to understand and how to apply.  People in our secular world get us distracted by cries of genocide with the Canaanites.

And then we read a verse like this that reminds us what our relationship with God is all about.  When I read this verse, I don’t think of the law.  I think of the fact that Jesus came.  He died on the cross, so that I could get forgiveness of my sins.  He walks with me on a daily basis, and I have learned to trust Him because of who He is.  Because I trust Him and know Him, I can pour out my heart to God.

So?  Relax and rejoice in the refuge that is offered to us in the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob; in the father God of the Trinity and the Son who died for us.  

Bible Correlations

John 10:10 (KJV) The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

(Proverbs 5 also read)

I don’t know why it’s still surprises me when I come across consistent thoughts down throughout scripture, but I ran into another this week.  I’ve been preaching for five weeks and filling in for a church that was between pastors and this week I was preaching on the above scripture, on abundant life.  Today as I get up, and I’m reviewing what I’m going preach on, I find this in my reading in the NASB.

Proverbs 31:25 (NASB95) Strength and dignity are her clothing, And she smiles at the future.

One of the attributes of the abundant life is that it allows you to smile at the future.  That smile is not based on your own abilities or your own strength.  That smile is based on a confidence in the providence of God.

So?  Live in joy.  Live in abundance.  Live trusting in the sovereignty of God.  

Joyful Triumph

Psalms 47:1 (KJV) [[To the chief Musician, A Psalm for the sons of Korah.]] O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph.

(Proverbs 25 also read)

I began reading this in the NASB.

Psalms 47:1 (NASB95) For the choir director. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. O clap your hands, all peoples; Shout to God with the voice of joy.

And as I moved into the next verse, I noticed that it went from joy to fear.  The KJV goes from triumph to terrible.  The contrast struck me.  I looked at the footnote in the NASB and it had the idea of shouting with great enthusiasm.  So it wasn’t just rejoice in the sense of having beaten down someone else, but it is trust Him in the sense of joyful victory.

There’s a very real sense in which God wants us to live in victory but I think that the nuance presented by the word “joy” might give us a better insight into our attitude toward that victory and the nature of that victory.  Every day will not seem like we are winners.  Often it will feel like we were given the short end of the stick.  That’s when we need to realize that God is on the throne and that He’s watching what happens and He’s working things out for His glory and His purpose.

So?  Live in the joy of knowing the things that happened to you can have glorious outcomes.  It may not happen today or tomorrow.  

Be of Good Cheer

Proverbs 18:14 (KJV) The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

I think this verse stood out to me this morning as I was coughing and spitting and blowing, and all the other things that go along with one of these long-term congestions.  In spite of that, my spirits are high, because I know the Creator.  I know He put within me a system to fight disease and to attack invaders in my body.  That doesn’t make me cough less, but it certainly assures me that things are in good hands.

My ailments are minor in the scheme of things.  What is probably more encouraging than my knowledge that God is in charge is the spirit I’ve seen in others who are suffering from things that I would consider to be really serious.  All around me I see people who are going through possibly the last major illness they have, and they still exhibit a trust in the Lord.  Their joy at times may be a bit down, but the Joy is still there.

So?  Whether it is your own inner assurance, or the outer assurance radiating from other believers, it is good to know that we are sustained by the spirit of “God is with us”.  

Adding It Up

Psalms 71:15 (KJV) My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.

(Proverbs 29 also read)

You could have misunderstood this idea of numbers if you weren’t reading the whole Psalm. You might assume that these are the numbers of the days of your life.  In reality what he’s saying is that there is so many things to praise God about that he can’t add them up.  It’s beyond his mathematical ability.  It’s beyond his perception.

Notice he’s trying to speak about God’s “righteousness” and about God’s “salvation”.  He’s not moaning and groaning.  He’s not complaining about how God is not taking care of him.  He is really rejoicing.  What an attitude to have.

So?  Get a clearer idea of who God is.  Spend some time thinking about all of the possible catastrophes that could’ve happened in your life you were shielded you from.  If you can’t think anything, then just look at the lives of others and see what they are struggling with.  God is good beyond what we cannot only asking think, but what we can add up. 

The I Am Difference

Psalms 115:5 (KJV) They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:

(Proverbs 28 also read)

I think that when this was written there was a smile on the face of the author.  He is describing the local gods.  If you follow down through the next few verses, you’ll see a lot of body parts mentioned, which are useless.  They do nothing.

We need to contrast that with the name of the Lord.  I choose the word contrast deliberately because we are contrasting, not comparing.  There is no comparison.  In the first verse, it uses the word, LORD.  This is Yahweh.  This is the name which means, “I am.  That is such an essential and basic difference between our God, and the gods of the pagans.  Their gods have eyes, but cannot see.  Our God is a spirit.  He does not have eyes in my opinion, but He sees all.  He sees not only in the physical realm like we do, but also in the spiritual realm where we tend to be foggy.  In fact, He’s the one who designed our eyes with all the limitations that are built into them.

So rejoice.  God not only made the universe, but He maintains it.  He not only made you and I, but He maintains us.  Go ahead and spend a little time shouting about that if you want to. 

Me Too

Psalms 100:1 (KJV) [[A Psalm of praise.]] Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands.

(Proverbs 13 also read)

One of the principles of understanding scripture is to first ask yourself who is speaking, and then to whom that person is speaking.  This verse does not tell us who wrote it.  It doesn’t tell us it was David so we can’t assume that, but it is some person inspired by the Holy Spirit conveying what God wanted them to say.

To whom is he speaking?  Since this was written in ancient Israel, he was at the time, addressing Israel itself.  However, we have a qualifying word here, which means that it is to be applied beyond just Israel .  Notice the word in the KJV “lands”, and in the NASB “earth”.  Some people would like to say that applies just to Israel but that is really stretching your imagination.  I’m sure at times when the ego is involved, Israel would like to think they are the whole earth but that doesn’t quite work.

This is the same word that is used in Genesis 1:1 where it says that God created the heavens and the earth.  That doesn’t mean He just created Israel.  It means the entire globe.

So?  God reached out to mankind through the genealogy that you find in Matthew and Luke.  That focuses on the coming of the Messiah, the death on the cross, the resurrection from the grave, the ascension.  But think about it as a big X where everything comes down to the crossing point, and then widens out to infinity.  This is written to you.  Make a joyful noise. 

Hidden in Hebrew

Psalm 149:4 (KJV) For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.

(Proverbs 9 also read)

What got me looking at this verse?  A little nudge was the NIV translation that substituted “victory” for the more common translation of “salvation” (3444).  There’s a difference between victory and salvation.  One is temporal and the other is eternal.  So I looked up the Hebrew behind the word for “salvation”.  I thought it and it’s transliteration looked familiar and, sure enough it is the Hebrew word for Joshua, or Jesus.  When the angel appeared to Mary and said he will save his people from their sins this was a word play on the name, Jesus.

So here hidden in the Psalms, we see the name of Jesus.  The KJV says that He will “beautify” (6286) the “meek” (6035).  Think of that in terms of the statement of Jesus where He said “blessed are the meek.”

So?  Jesus was named Jesus for a reason.  He was to be a savior.  We see this concept buried even in the book of Psalms.  Something to rejoice about. 

What Was That?

Psalm 65:8 (KJV) They also that dwell in the uttermost parts are afraid at thy tokens: thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.

(Proverbs 5 also read)

It was still dark as I read this, sitting on the front porch.  I’m enjoying the fellowship with the Lord in the morning.  There’s not even a glimmer that the sun is coming up.  And yet here, God reminds me of what I experience emotionally and spiritually in those times when it begins to get light, and the colors begin to emerge from the darkness.  I was reading the Legacy Standard Bible when this jumped out at me.  Here’s what it says,

Psalm 65:8 (LSB) They who inhabit the ends of the earth are in fear on account of Your signs; You make the dawn and the sunset shout for joy.

So?  That means that not only do the morning and the evening shout for joy, but I, a believer, and one who knows the Maker of the sunrise, can also shout for joy. 

A Chapter of Powerful Words

(Psa 25:6 KJV)  Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old.

(Proverbs 12 also read)

If you were looking for a chapter in the Bible to read to lift up your spirits and encourage your heart this would be a good place to start. The verse above is just one of many.  Notice some of the key words of mercy and loveingkindness.  As you read through the Psalm you find forgiveness, hope, trust, truth, and compassion.  I probably missed at least one.

David is exulting in his God.  He is rejoicing in knowing the creator.  And he is offering that praise to us in the form of scripture.

So?  Be a reader.  As you read be a thinker.  As you think be a believer. Make it all come together as you worship the living God. 

The Source of Righteousness

Psalm 24:5 (KJV) He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.

(Proverbs 24 also read)

What a glorious statement this is about the grace of God, reaching out through His power, and establishing us as righteous beings.  However, we need to look at the lead up to this.  First, consider this,

Psalm 24:3 (KJV) Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD? or who shall stand in his holy place?

Take it literally.  Taken figuratively.  Either way it’s speaks in a glorious way about coming into the presence of God and being blessed by Him.

And then the next verse,

Psalm 24:4 (KJV) He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully.

This reminds us that God does not bestow His gifts blindly.  While we are not to assume that we are earning His blessing, there are repeated witnesses that say that God continues to bless those who are being obedient and walking in His statutes.

So? Taking that old phrase that is so common and adapting it, “Got blessings?”  God is anxious to make your life a pool of righteousness.  He wants to see you walking the right way.  He is willing to bestow His grace, defined as God’s love in action, upon all those willing to accept it.  Rejoice. 

Sing It

Psalms 137:4 (KJV) How shall we sing the LORD'S song in a strange land?

I don’t think Psalms ever answers this question.  It’s a question that we might ask in a slightly different way.  We might ask “how can I sing when I feel so bad, or “how can I sing when things are going so poorly?

From another angle I would say that this is the standard situation of Christians today.  We do not have a land.  We tend to forget that as Americans.  We tend to think in some strange way that we have become the promised land.  I think it’s because God has blessed us so much, but keep in mind that this is still a strange land for believers.

So?  Some things never change.  Some answers never change.  It reminds me of a chorus that talks about having a song in my heart.  We can sing because Jesus loves us and has set up housekeeping inside of us.  What a joy. 

Tree crimes

(Rom 5:8 KJV)  But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

“Was it for crimes that I had done He groaned upon the tree?”  It was.  And the song goes on to proclaim “Amazing love, how can it be...”  What a joy it is that we live in a day and an age where we can know that God loves us so much that He not only created us, but He died for us.

You may be a bit down today.  You may be looking at some struggles you’re having.  You may have been rejected in a personal relationship.  Look up.  Jesus died for you.  You are now called to live for him.  And he doesn’t want you living like you’re committed to tree crying.

Show? He died so that you can rejoice in your salvation. 

The Pause That Depresses

(Psa 88:11 KJV)  Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction?

What a depressing chapter in Psalms.  If you look one chapter back or one chapter forward, you find the expected joy in the Lord.  This chapter is nothing but gloom and doom.  It’s as if this writer has never heard of eternal life.  It’s as if he’s never heard any hope beyond the grave.  It’s very possible that that’s the case.

Some people debate whether eternal life was a reality to people in the Old Testament.  You can find evidence on both sides.  This would be evidence that people did not believe in an afterlife, or at least one that had any joy in it.  What a depressing way to live.

So?  We live in a different world.  We live not only having read the positive statements in the Old Testament, but also understanding who Jesus was and how He rose from the dead.  We have the testimony of Paul about our new bodies.  Truly, it is a joy to have the full testament of God. 

Joyful ignorance

(Psa 71:15 KJV)  My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof.

(Proverbs 11 also read)

What a great joy it is to know that we can never even begin to approach the blessings that God has for us.  Here David, or whoever is writing this Psalm, is rejoicing, in the fact that he can speak about the righteousness of God.  He can talk about his salvation.  And yet he admits his ignorance about how glorious and how eternal this is.

That’s where we should be. We should be rejoicing in what we do know, and getting excited about the things that we do not know.  And I might say that we don’t know yet, or I might even say that we will never comprehend the total of what God has for us.

So?  Are you living in joy?  Are you living in ignorance?  I am living in joyful ignorance, content in what I do know now and the Person that I know forever.