Psalm 144

True Happiness

Introduction

It has been suggested that if God took His Holy Spirit away from many churches, ninety five per cent of what they do would carry on as usual, and no one would know the difference. This suggests how remote God can be from some lives, and how much their lives centre around themselves and religious activities, but not in God. He might as well not be there for all practical purposes. They are out of touch with spiritual reality.

God is everything to the Psalmists. He was at the centre of their lives. Everything revolved around God, His will, His glory, and His power. If God had removed Himself, they would have been empty shells, nothing of value left. They would have been absolutely shattered, with nothing to live for.

This challenges every Christian and every church. If God withdrew Himself, would our life be very much the same. Would we still come on Sundays, sing the hymns, read the Bible and pray as usual, because in fact God is not a reality to us, He is not the focus of it, we do these things purely as a religious activity?

To the Psalmist in Psalm 144, God is everything. He teaches him to defend himself (Psalm 144:1), My loving God and my fortress, my stronghold and my deliverer, my shield (Psalm 144:2). He is the centre of his praises (Psalm 144:9); He delivers him from his enemies (Psalm 144:6,7,10), and provides for him abundantly (Psalm 144: 13,14). This is all the more wonderful to the Psalmist since he himself is nothing, he is unimportant and unworthy. What is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him? Man is like a breath; his days are like a fleeting shadow (Psalm 144:3,4).

In the light of this, the Psalmist concludes, Blessed are the people whose God is the Lord (Psalm 144:15). It is simply great to belong to the Lord. Nothing else compares with it. The Hebrew word translated “Blessed” in the NIV, is literally “O, the happiness of”, and other translations keep the word “happy” here. Happy is a more familiar word to us and to outsiders. So we are going to look at the subject of happiness.

An infidel was once addressing a crowd, assuring them there is no God, no devil, no heaven, no hell, no resurrection, and no judgement. People enjoyed it, for it was what they wanted to hear. An old woman pushed through the crowd, looked the speaker in the face, and asked in a loud voice, “Are you happy?” He did not reply, only looked scornfully. She went on, “You have told us to throw away our Bibles and be like you. Before we take your advice, we want to know what good will result. Do your new motives give you any comfort and make you happy?” The speaker stammered, shuffled, fidgeted, tried to change the subject, but the old lady insisted on an answer. The crowd now came round to her side. They did not accept his excuses, and finally the infidel left in confusion. His conscience did not allow him to say he was happy.

But whatever our condition – unbelief, indifference, half-hearted Christianity – here is a very relevant question – “Are you happy?”

Search for happiness

There are many things which divide men – class, politics, education, and money. But all are agreed that happiness is essential. This is deep-rooted; we shrink from pain, sorrow and toil. Leisure, hobbies, life-style are all motivated by desire for happiness. All are concerned to find happiness, and most are certain that the last place you will find happiness is in “religion” – else our churches would be crowded. Instead, most think religion is dull, boring, and a killjoy. And to be honest, sometimes Christians are poor specimens and help to perpetrate the lie.

“Some Christians have enough religion to make them miserable, but not enough to make them happy” (C.H.Spurgeon). Hudson Taylor was put off the claims of Christ because of Christians who were poor specimens. In his day, to be a Christian was “to become serious”. He commented, “Judging by their faces, it was a very serious matter indeed”. Later he said, “If only our faces suggested the blessings of salvation – the unbeliever would have to call Christian conversion ‘becoming joyful’”. Oliver Wendell Holmes said he would have become a clergyman but for the local minister calling on his father. “He had a face like an undertaker”, he described.

Shams offered by the world

The world offers us merriment and gaiety of various kinds, all of which would lift our spirits temporarily. They are forms of escapism, diverting people from the realities of life. The world accuses Christians of escapism because they hope for “Pie in the sky when you die”. But in fact the Christian does not run away from the grim facts of the present life. He knows exactly why the world is as it is. He faces the fact of sin – its guilt, power and penalty. He does not live in a world of make-believe, pretending he is better than he really is.

But the world’s diversions do not last. The novelty wears off. Empty and shallow things pass away. Riches lose value, and will be no use to us when we are in eternity. Friends often fail us, or go away, or die. Positions, qualifications – soon discover many others have the same, and they are commonplace. Fame and reputation is temporary, many celebrities are soon forgotten, except by close family. Here are all these things – but they do not touch our deepest needs and have only very passing value.

Madame de Pompadour, a favourite of King Louis XV, had unbounded wealth and influence, yet spoke of having no peace in her ambitions. “I am always gloomy, and unreasonably so. I have the kindness of the king, an attachment of servants, the fidelity of friends. This ought to make me happy, but it does so no longer. My magnificent house in Paris pleased me for two days. I am dead before my time. My life is a continual death.”

Sir Humphrey Davey, successful in every area of life, described himself as “very miserable”. He, and many others, discovered that nothing offered by the world has real or lasting happiness. It does not meet our basic needs. Only temporary pleasure, but not lasting satisfaction. Must look elsewhere for the ingredients of true and lasting happiness.

One vital ingredient missing in all these suggestions for happiness is God our Maker, Saviour and judge. When He is left out of account, there will be no true happiness, though most would be astonished to hear that. Happy are the people whose God is the Lord, says the Psalmist.

The source of true happiness in the world

We begin by reminding ourselves that happiness is a by-product of life. If we make it our main goal, it will elude us as the rainbow’s end recedes from little boy seeking a pot of gold. “I looked at Jesus and the dove of peace flew into my heart. I looked at the dove of peace, and she flew away.” (C.H.Spurgeon). Never seek experiences. Seek the Lord.

“Once it was the blessing, now it is the Lord.

Once it was the feeling, now it is the Word.

Once the gifts I wanted, now the Giver own.

Once I sought for healing, now Himself alone”

(A.B.Simpson)

Experiences and lasting happiness are the result of the right relationship with God. Then we can look at every side of life without discomfort. We look at the past without guilty fears, the present without discontent, and the future without anxiety.

There is happiness and satisfaction for the man of God, for the thorough going truehearted Christian.

“Solid joys and lasting treasure

None but Zion’s children know”

(John Newton)

True happiness does not depend on circumstances or anything external and that changes. It lasts even in adversity and sickness. It meets the basic needs of the soul and the conscience. This is only for the man who has felt his sins, who rests on Christ, and has been born of the Holy Spirit.

Augustine’s Confessions state, “You have made us for yourself and our hearts are restless till they find rest in you”. N.B. There will always be restlessness, dissatisfaction, looking for something more in the unbeliever. There is a God-shaped void in every man that only God can fill. We are made for God, and if we do not know Him we have missed the whole point of our being and existence. He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness (Psalm 107:9). He who comes to me will never hunger. He who believes on me will never thirst again (John 6:35).

First, we take a look at what has been done in the past for us. The blood of Jesus Christ God’s Son cleanses us from all sin (1 John 1:7). The honest man who has fallen into debt is never happy, he is always miserable till the debt is cleared. We cannot be debtors to God’s law and still be happy. The only way to clear our debts is to look to Christ who died for our sins. Blessed is the man whose transgressions are forgiven (Psalm 32:1). In John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress, on reaching the cross, Pilgrim’s load fell off his back and rolled into the empty tomb at the bottom of the hill. Little wonder freed Pilgrim gave three leaps of joy and sang, “Blest cross! Blest sepulchre! Blest rather be the man that there was put to shame for me!”

Secondly, look at the blessings of the present. The Lord is my shepherd. I shall lack nothing (Psalm 23:1). I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews 1:5). The peace of God, which passes all understanding (Philippians 4:7). Joy unspeakable and full of glory (1 Peter 1:8). How much we can rejoice about even now.

Then looking into the future – No condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:1). To die is gain… With Christ, which is far better (Philippians 1:21,23). This is happiness which is independent of circumstances. It is given us from a friend who never dies. He gives us real pleasure in things which are solid, real and lasting.

A converted Jewish Rabbi said, “How can I ever thank you for opening to me the book of books that I might drink from the inexhaustible fountain and know my soul refreshed. I have not only found a Saviour, but also a friend. Hitherto I had religion without joy, and love without emotion.”

Happiness in God can be increased

There are degrees of happiness. Some Christians are not as happy as they might be. They are not all enjoying the privileges of being a child of God. Continuing happiness which is increasing depends on an increasingly obedient relationship with the Lord, and therefore consistent with Christian living. Our happiness is marred by unforgiven or unforsaken sin, by not being fully surrendered, not keeping a clear conscience and short accounts with God, or by disobedience, doubt, bitterness and pride. Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly… but his delight is in the law of the Lord (Psalm 1:1,2).

A lady once complained to Andrew Bonar that she did not have enough joy. He replied, “It is not more joy that you need, but more of Christ.” To stray out of God’s way brings disaster. As Bunyan’s Pilgrim found out, wandering down “By-path Meadow” leads to “Doubting Castle” and “Giant Despair”. God has married holiness and happiness. Keep a clear conscience. Heed every call to full consecration. Walk with God daily. Do not depend on yesterday’s grace. Always abound in the work of the Lord. Press on with Christ. Avoid compromise. Be clear-cut for God. The most decided, most committed and most hard-working Christian is always the happiest.

Conclusion

Happy are the people whose God is the Lord (Psalm 144:15). But the crucial issue is whether the Lord is our God. The main concern of the Gospel is not to make us happy. The preacher is not a psychiatrist. His main concern is to deal with the relationship with God. Happiness is only a by-product, produced from reconciliation with God, and growing with obedience. The text and the Gospel point us to God and Christ, not to experiences.

This is illustrated from the story of Spurgeon’s conversion. It was a snowy day when the young 15-year-old Spurgeon sat among a small congregation at Artillery Street Primitive Methodist Church in Colchester. The text was Look unto me and be ye saved (Isaiah 45:22). The preacher emphasised that all it took was a look; you did not even have to lift a foot. You did not have to go to college, you could be the biggest fool, and you did not have to earn £1000 a year. You did not have to look to yourself. Then the preacher fixed his eyes directly on Spurgeon and said, “Young man, you look very miserable. You always will be miserable in life and death if you do not obey my text. But if you obey now and at this minute, you will be saved. Young man, look to Christ. There is nothing you have to do except look and live.” Spurgeon recorded later, “I could have looked my eyes away. I looked at Him and He looked at me. And we were one forever.”

Happiness? It is not an impossibility, even in this world. In fact it is a glorious reality, based on reconciliation to God by the blood of His Son. Then go on, stayed on His grace. Do you have happiness already? Then it can grow and be increased. It depends on obedience to the heavenly vision. It depends on whether we are growing in grace and knowledge.