The Happy Man by Gerald Van Horn
Psalms 34:8 and 22
David wrote this Psalm many years ago. He was in very difficult circumstances and yet found a source of happiness. There is a lot of Christians who feel that to be a child of God means unhappiness. That is not true. God wants His people to be happy! There is no room for long faced Christians. It is true that many Christians are unhappy. They give the appearance that they are enduring something strange and foreign. Christ has provided many blessing to enjoy. There are grounds for Christian happiness. David knew the secret and has shared it with everyone.
1. When you establish all your thoughts on the Lord you will be happy. Verses .1-3
“I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul shall make her
boast in the Lord; the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let
us exalt his name together.”
Happy Christians have a made -up mind. They realize that their thought life is important and that all of God’s dealing with us is for a purpose. They do not fold their arms and complain. “ Woe is me! “ David came to know that whether things are pleasing or whether he was in pain that God was in control of every situation. He knew that God could be trusted. Such a life brings the peace of God and true pleasure. Why not make up your mind today that you will dwell on the goodness of God.
2. We are happy because fear will not have a hold on you. Verse 4.
“I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all fear.”
A great blessing awaits those who are gripped by fear. “God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and love, and a sound mind,” ( I Timothy 1:7.) When God gives you something no man can take it away from you. It is sad to see many today living with multiple phobias. Feelings of fear and frustration that only can bring sadness. God wants us to be free. David learned this secret and you can too. “Fear not for I am with you always,” says the Lord.
3. We are happy when we realize that our sins are covered. Verse 5.
“They looked unto him and were lightened: and their faces were not ashamed.”
Sin comes between a man and his God and he is cut off from God. David knew that his sins were covered. David had sinned grievously but he tells us that God has forgiven him. The results are that he can look to God for his source of blessing. No one else except Jesus is able to forgive sin and flood the human soul with peace and joy. Jesus did the work for us on the cross.
“O happy day when Jesus washed my sins away!”
4. We are happy when we have our prayers answered. Verse 6.
“This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.”
God is in the business of answering our prayers. Vrs. 15 “The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears open unto their cry.” We may not understand all the ramifications of prayer we just know that God hears and answers. Sometimes we wait too late to take our need to the Lord. The Lord is more eager to hear our prayer than we are to pray. You can enjoy today the blessing of answered prayer. Peter experience a miraculous deliverance from prison in Acts 12 InVrs.5 says, “Peter therefore was kept in prison; but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.” The inference is that while the church was praying God was answering their prayers. There is great joy in the camp when God begins to move because of prayer.
5. We are happy because God will defend against all enemies. Verse 7-8.
“The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. O taste and see
t hat the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.”
What a great promise. It is one every child of God can rely on. In Psalms 24 David tells us though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death we need not fear for God is with us. We have the full Amour of God to protect us. Ephesians 6:13. The enemy can only hurl threats at us that cannot harm us.
6. When God supplies our needs we will be happy. Verses 9-10.
“O fear the Lord, ye his saints; for there is no want to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and
suffer hunger; but they that seek the Lord shall not want any good thing.”
It is certain God will take care of us. He will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Illustration: A elderly women lived next door to a skeptic who constantly made fun of her faith and trust in God. One day he decided to put a sack of groceries on her front porch. He hid in the bushed to see what she would do when she discovered them. Directly she opened her door and there was the sack of groceries. She exclaimed, “Thank you Lord for meeting my needs!” The man jumped out of the bushes and said, “A hah, you see that was me that left the package on your porch and not God.” The women exclaimed, “ No, God gave me these He just had the devil deliver them.”
7. We are happy when we know our future is secure. Verses. 19,21.
“Many are the affections of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” (22) The Lord
Redeemed the soul of his servant: and none of them that trust him shall be desolate.”
The future is bright for those who trust in the Lord. The wicked have no future and their end is frightful to say the least. As we trust in the Lord He has promised a great future of blessings beyond out expectation. Most of all we are blessed because we know Him. He has done so much for us and it is only
His amazing grace.
