Deu 33:29 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.
Job 5:17 Behold, happy is the man whom God correcteth: therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty:
Psa 128:1 A Song of degrees. Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.
Psa 128:2 For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
Psa 144:15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.
Psa 146:5 Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:
Psa 146:6 Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:
Pro 3:13 Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
Speaking of wisdom-- Pro 3:18 She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
Pro 14:21 He that despiseth his neighbour sinneth: but he that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
Pro 16:20 He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.
Pro 28:14 Happy is the man that feareth alway: but he that hardeneth his heart shall fall into mischief.
Pro 29:18 Where there is no vision, the people perish but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.
Joh 13:16 Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him.
Joh 13:17 If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them.
Jas 5:11 Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.
1Pe 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled
1Pe 4:14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
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Happy - corrected of God
Happy - feareth the Lord
Happy - whose God is the LORD
Happy - finding wisdom, has understanding
Happy - retaining wisdom
Happy - wisdom
Happy - help the poor
Happy - trusts in the Lord
Happy - feareth (awe) of the Lord
Happy - keep the law
Happy - being a servant
Happy - enduring
Happy - suffer for righteousness' sake
Happy - reproached for the name of Christ
What we deem happiness is not what God deems happiness. Our sense of happiness has become warped. We consider happiness selfish pleasure. We are happy when we get things, happy when we can give things that endear others to us, happy when we don't have any problems. If someone asks you if you're happy what do you think you'd answer? Our usual answer is 'I don't know.' Seriously, we all have various things that bring us happiness. If you're in the middle of one of those things you will probably answer 'yes' to being happy. If you're not then you could say 'no'. But most people don't even know if they're happy, or aren't happy. They might answer they're content, or rather... and you know this is true... they're okay. Most people are OKAY. Just okay. Neither happy, nor sad, but just okay. Isn't okay where most people live the majority of their lives? Is that a good thing?
Another word for happy is joyful, joy.
Psa 5:11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
Psa 35:9 And my soul shall be joyful in the LORD: it shall rejoice in his salvation.
Ecc 7:13 Consider the work of God: for who can make that straight, which he hath made crooked?
Ecc 7:14 In the day of prosperity be joyful, but in the day of adversity consider: God also hath set the one over against the other, to the end that man should find nothing after him.
Isa 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels
Psa 5:11 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice: let them ever shout for joy, because thou defendest them: let them also that love thy name be joyful in thee.
Pro 12:20 Deceit is in the heart of them that imagine evil: but to the counsellors of peace is joy.
Pro 21:15 It is joy to the just to do judgment: but destruction shall be to the workers of iniquity.
Isa 51:11 Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.
Luk 15:10 Likewise, I say unto you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.
Joh 15:10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love.
Joh 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.
Joh 16:20 Verily, verily, I say unto you, That ye shall weep and lament, but the world shall rejoice: and ye shall be sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy.
Joh 16:21 A woman when she is in travail hath sorrow, because her hour is come: but as soon as she is delivered of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world.
Joh 16:22 And ye now therefore have sorrow: but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you
Joh 17:13 And now come I to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they might have my joy fulfilled in themselves
Rom 14:17 For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.
Rom 15:13 Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.
Gal 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
Php 1:25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith
Heb 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Jas 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptation
1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. 1Pe 4:13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.
Jud 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost,
Jud 1:21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life.
Jud 1:22 And of some have compassion, making a difference:
Jud 1:23 And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Jud 1:24 Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,
Jud 1:25 To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.
Our happiness, our joy is to be found in one place only-- in Jesus. We can't expect joy and happiness in earthly things even though being the creatures that we are it is natural for us to seek happy things, happy times, happiness and joy. Our hearts and lives feel lighter when we are happy and we holdfast to it for as long as we can but inevitably it dissipates and we're back to being okay, or even sad. All temporal pleasures are fleeting and nothing compared to the joy we will find in Christ Jesus. If we place our hope and happiness in Him, not to receive ANY temporal pleasures or happiness, but to keep the faith, keep His commandments, to keep Him ever before us as our Lord God Creator of heaven and earth and all that is in them- then one day we will know a joy incomparable to any temporal pleasure or joy we could ever receive here and now on earth.
Does this mean we should be sad or depressed, unhappy here and now? No. But the joy we seek is the joy that is everlasting. All other joy that comes our way is all well and good to be appreciated and grateful for, thankful for, but not something we should place our hope in. Temporal happiness's aren't what we should strive for and count our lives as success or failure, our joy should be in the surety of Jesus Christ and the salvation we find in Him now and forever. May God help us truly find our real joy in Him and only Him through His mercy and His grace.
Amen.
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