The Word of God and Happiness

 Temple Baptist Church - 1-14-2024

Psalm 119:17-24

 

Introduction:

 

A.  We live in a nation of unhappiness.  I saw the following in an old message that I had saved from many years ago.  If it was so then, can you even imagine how it is now?

 

1.  The Constitution of the United States guarantees its citizens the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But Americans aren't happy!

 

2.  We represent six percent of the world's population and take ninety percent of the world's tranquilizers. Why? We are looking for happiness in all the wrong places. The result is frustration. One lady said, "The only thing holding me together in my hair spray".

 

3.  The search for happiness itself winds up being the chief cause of unhappiness. The more knowledge we acquire, the less wisdom we seem to have.

 

4.  The more economic security we attain, the more disenchanted we become with ourselves, our spouses, our children, our lives.

 

5.  Some folks turn to religion (not necessarily to Christ), and then wait passively by for something stupendous to happen that would change their circumstances.

 

6.  There is no great secret to finding happiness! We simply must be obedient to the Word of God.

 

B.  God has given to us all that we need to live not only blessed life, but also a delightful one! 

 

2 Peter 1:3-4  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue:  (4)  Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.

 

1.  God has equipped us for a glorious and virtuous life here.

 

2.  This life comes through the knowledge of Him which is found in God’s Word.

 

3.  Our delight in God and the things of God gives us a “divine nature” which escapes the corruption of the world.  It allows us to walk on a higher plane.

 

C.  Is this our guarantee of constant happiness in this life?  The answer is a definitive “NO”. Some call this third stanza of Gimel “The Word of God and Trials”.

 

1.  In verse 17, it says “deal bountifully … that I may live”

 

2.  In verse 19, it says “I am a stranger”.  The child of God is no longer “at home” in this present evil world.

 

3.  In verses 21-22, we find “reproach and contempt”.  2 Timothy 3:12  Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

 

4.  In verse 23, we find “princes also did sit and speak against me”.  Our ungodly government, which we are commanded to pray for, hates our biblical views of sin and perversion.  The Bible is very specific about such wickedness, and we need to be also.  There is an old saying, “Call a spade a spade!”

 

5.  So, do you think that you can live a clean life and be popular with this world?  Again, the answer is a definitive “NO”.

 

D.  How to survive in these last perilous, immoral, rebellious, and persecuting times? Keys that unlock a life of happiness in an unhappy world are found in this third stanza:

 

1.  Verse 17.  Keep God’s Word.  To guard or to protect.  It has been under attack from Genesis, chapter 3, until our day.  The Bible is ALWAYS RIGHT and only leads right.  Keep God’s Word for your own personal walk with God also so as to share with others.

 

Jude 1:3  Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.

 

2.  Verse 18.  Pray for illumination from God’s Word.  Open the eyes of our understanding that we may see what God is saying.

 

Proverbs 4:5-7  Get wisdom, get understanding: forget it not; neither decline from the words of my mouth.  (6)  Forsake her not, and she shall preserve thee: love her, and she shall keep thee.  (7)  Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom: and with all thy getting get understanding.

 

3.  Verse 19.  Seek God’s Word.  In the Old Testament, the saints operated with both the written Word of God and the revelations of the Word of God through the Seers or Prophets.  Today, we do not have to worry about the Word of God being hidden as we have it in our Bible.  Seek it daily, seek it early, seek it often. 

 

Job 23:11-12  My foot hath held his steps, his way have I kept, and not declined.  (12)  Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.

 

4.  Verse 20.  Long for God’s Word.  Make the Bible a priority in your life instead a thing of little value and a drudgery to read.  The Bible is a “Love Letter” from a God who loves us.  What beauty, what truth, what wisdom, what consolation, what testimony, what encouragement we find in the Word of God.

 

Psalms 19:7-11  The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple.  (8)  The statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.  (9)  The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous altogether.  (10)  More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.  (11)  Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward.

 

5.  Verse 21-22.  Obey God’s Word.  The Bible is not a book of choices!  Yet we continue to choose to either obey or disobey it.  Obedience to God is commanded and also essential to our victorious life in Christ and this world in which we live.  “Whereunto ye do well that ye take heed.”

 

2 Peter 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

 

6.  Verse 24.  Delight in God’s Word.  The Book of Psalms begins with the words “Blessed is the man”.  The man is blessed when he maintains a road of personal separation from the wickedness of this world and the answer to the question, “How can that man be separate and blessed?” is answered in the second verse.  “But” draws a contrast between the godly and the ungodly with the key being “delight … meditate day and night”.

 

Psalms 1:2  But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.

 

Desire – to take great pleasure in something of great value.

 

7.  Verse 24.  Seek your counsel in God’s Word.  As Jesus Christ is “Wonderful”, He is also the “Counsellor”.  He is the Incarnate Word and has give to us in His physical absence His Inscribed Word.  The Word of God is the best “Counsellor” that we can have because it is neither wrong nor does it vary!

 

Isaiah 9:6  For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

 

Conclusion:  We all know what time it is spiritually and know the “falling away” that is taking place.  The world no longer wants the things of God.  There is great confusion and sorrow that leads to depression and unfulfillment.  Despite the tenor of the times, we can live lives of joy and happiness through God’s Word.