OUR HAPPINESS (MCINNIS) June 23, 2024

Happy art thou, O Israel: 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. Deuteronomy 33:29

After HIS baptism by John the Immerser in the River Jordan, the LORD was led by the SPIRIT of GOD into the “wilderness” where HE was tempted (i.e.; tried, tested, proved) in all points like as we are, yet without ever succumbing to the wiles of the devil. “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” (1John 2:16-17) As the Eternal SON of GOD, HE was in no wise inclined to disobey or dishonor HIS FATHER, whose will HE came to perform. “Who in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto him that was able to save him from death and was heard in that he feared; Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him.” (Heb 5:7-9)

In HIS baptism and subsequent temptation, we see HIS example of what true obedience and adherence to the first table (i.e.; commandment) of the Law looks like. “Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment.” (Mat 22:37-38) This is the primary demand of the Law, and it is impossible that a man can be considered a “keeper of the law” if he does not perfectly, continually, and completely perform this in heart, soul, and mind. JESUS CHRIST is the only MAN who has ever fulfilled this commandment in its jot and tittle.

Only a few years later we see the culmination of HIS fulfillment of both the first and second commandments as HE laid down HIS life as a sacrifice for sin in behalf of those HE determined to love with everlasting love. “And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Mat 22:39-40) HIS whole life was spent in perfect obedience to this Law, loving HIS FATHER, fulfilling HIS purpose, and loving HIS people to the end. “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) “For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” (Rom 5:6-8)

Following HIS “temptation”, HE began HIS public ministry in the sight and hearing of men. “Now when Jesus had heard that John was cast into prison, he departed into Galilee; And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. From that time Jesus began to preach, and to say, Repent: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand.” (Mat 4:12-17)

Some “heard” HIS WORD (see Acts 13:48) and began to follow HIM as HE preached in a manner that they had not experienced before. Out of these many disciples HE chose twelve which were to be known as HIS apostles according to HIS purpose and calling. They would be “with HIM” until the time of HIS death, resurrection, and ascension back to the place from whence HE came and would be those who HE would use in the proclamation of the Gospel and the establishment of HIS church in the Earth.

Early on in the public preaching for which HE became “famous”; (“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people. And his fame went throughout all Syria----And there followed him great multitudes of people from Galilee, and from Decapolis, and from Jerusalem, and from Judaea, and from beyond Jordan.” (Mat 4:23-25)) HE preached what has become known as the “Sermon on the Mount.” This sermon is recorded in the Gospel of Matthew in chapters 5-7 and is the very epitome of HIS teaching concerning the Kingdom of GOD.

Verses 3-12 of chapter five are commonly called the “Beatitudes”. These teachings are an expansion of the very TRUTH that HE dictated to David as he penned the thirty-second Psalm. “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no guile.” (Psa 32:1-2)

Each of these ten verses begins with the word, “Blessed”. The Greek word which is here translated as “blessed” appears fifty times in the KJV New Testament. It is translated as “happy” six times and “blessed” forty-four times. So, we can clearly see that these words are interchangeable. The same is true in the KJV Old Testament where one of the Hebrew words which is translated as “blessed” is also translated as “happy”, at least nineteen times. So, to be “blessed” is to be “happy” and vice versa. It is clear from the scriptures that “happiness” and “blessing” both derive from the same SOURCE, and it is impossible that a man should ever be truly “happy” or “blessed” apart from the gift of GOD.

Natural religious men often look at the LORD’s teaching in the “Beatitudes” as a list of things that men should strive to achieve in order to gain the “blessings” of GOD. Yet the reality is that the LORD is setting forth the very essence of HIS blessings or the bestowal of happiness upon the people of HIS choice. This is the “evidence” of HIS presence in them. Those things that are their delight are not looked upon so fondly by the world in general, and in most cases are despised by them.

GOD’s people find their happiness in a contemplation of those “blessings” which were first summed up for us in the thirty-second Psalm. “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered”. Who else can find happiness here except those for whom the LORD has shed HIS precious blood? Their pleasure is found in knowing that HE has imputed their sin unto the SAVIOR and that HE has in turn imputed HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS to them. “Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity.” Their sin is not laid to their charge but to HIM. What joy is afforded here as the Gospel is sent to their hearing to bring “life and immortality to light” (i.e.; their understanding).

They find no happiness (i.e.; joy or fulfillment) in the exercise of religious forms or outward displays of piety but desire the LORD’s work in “the hidden man of the heart.” (see I Peter 3:4) “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.” (Rom 2:28-29) Their desire (i.e.; happiness) is for the LORD to be at work in them as well as for them. “and in whose spirit there is no guile”. Do we not see this desire in David as he poured out his heart before the LORD. “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with thy free spirit.” (Psa 51:10-12)

The sons of GOD find their “happiness” in CHRIST alone. Nothing affords them any real pleasure except a reflection upon what HE has performed on their behalf and does presently work in them by the gift of HIS SPIRIT which HE has sent to be their COMFORTER and GUIDE. HE is their, “SHIELD of help”, for HE has trod the winepress of GOD’s wrath on their behalf and has “obtained eternal redemption” for them.” As they are led by HIS SPIRIT to “remember HIS death”, HE is to them a “very present HELP in time of trouble.” HE is that SHIELD which shall “quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.”

HE is the “SWORD of thy excellency” as the WORD of GOD. No weapon which is formed against them shall prosper for HE is that ONE who has fought for them and prevailed. In this is their great delight. They are indeed a “people saved by the LORD.” HE has caused them to see that any who speak anything other than JESUS CHRIST and HIM crucified are “found liars unto thee” for HE is their GUIDE in all TRUTH and they rejoice and find their happiness in HIM. HE is that ONE who treads upon their “high places” even as Paul declares, “Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” (2Cor 10:5) They are being brought to see the glory of HIM who sits upon the throne of Heaven and is alone worthy to be praised. In this, they are blessed and happy beyond measure.

Elder John Crowley

GRACE GAZETTE
Volume XXII Issue 25

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Published occasionally for mourners in Zion
Wherefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; And make straight paths for your feet,
lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. Hebrews 12::12-13