Blessed…Happiness

Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart (Psalm 119: 1-2).

Blessed… Be blessed. May you have blessings at Christmas and for the New Year… Blessings to you at this time of… or so the cards say… what does this word mean anyway? Prosperity … riches? Family… progeny… and a quiver full of grandchildren gathered about the knees? If we use these definitions will the scripture then morph into, ‘Prosperity to those who seek him with their whole heart’ or ‘children for those who walk in the law of the Lord’. If you do not have grandchildren or riches or these types of blessings, does this mean that God does not favor you?

Thanks be to God that in the bible, the word ‘blessed’ does not follow conventional wisdom. The word is אשׁר , ‘esher and it means happiness. Found only in the plural form is translated, “ O the happiness of the man!” or “O happy man!” God made us for happiness! We desire it, greatly. In fact, we abhor misery and make happiness the grand pursuit. I only want to be happy… I am not happy with this situation… But the problem with seeking happiness apart from God is that our human heart is so perverted, that in the pursuit of it, we choose things that are naturally and morally unfit. So our verse today is a path, God’s pathway to happiness.

Happiness belongs to those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord. Happiness comes to those who keep his commandments and seek him with their whole heart.

Happy are those whose journey of life leads to Heaven. Happy are those who make the will of God the rule over all their actions, and govern themselves, in their conversation, in their actions, by their thoughts and emotions by that rule: They walk in the law of the Lord. They live in God’s ways. They are a living, breathing testimony of God. And happiness is found in seeking, desiring God with all your heart, mind, and strength.

Father, we want happiness… the kind of happiness that you want for us. Thank you for leading us on this journey towards you and towards Heaven. This is your journey for us, for me; making my will, your will in which you live in every word, every thought, every emotion, and every action. Thank you that you are changing our, my desires toward you. Amen.