Podcast Introduction

Today is Psalms Wednesday. We'll read chapters 128-130. I do have an on this date in church history for you. I’m calling today’s episode “It’s More Than Happy.”  

Design: Steve Webb | Photo: Roy Javier on Unsplash

Comments on Psalm 128

Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways!

Psalm 128:1 ESV

I don't think we've ever really talked much about what it is to be blessed. "Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways!" What does that actually mean? I mean, that's a pretty inclusive statement, right? "Blessed is everyone..." 

You've probably heard that "blessed" means "happy." But just in my own experience, I can tell you that I have not been, nor am I always now "happy." The human experience is never one of continual happiness. Is it? All of us have times of trial, tragedy and heartbreak. Whether or not we fear the Lord and walk in His ways. Look at Job! He feared the Lord and walked in His ways. I can’t think of any point in the first 41 chapters out of 42 that we can say, “Yes, Job should be happy now.”

So to be blessed must mean more than "happy." But wait. Maybe we need to look at the definition of "happy." 

* The Cambridge Dictionary: feeling, showing, or causing pleasure or satisfaction:

* Merriam-Webster: favored by luck or fortune; enjoying or characterized by well-being and contentment; GLAD, PLEASED

* Dictionary.com: delighted, pleased, or glad, as over a particular thing; to feel joy; be glad; rejoice.

So to be happy is more than just a light, giddy, feeling that comes as a result of some sort of event. A recent event in my life that made me happy was the birth of my latest grandchild. When Penny was born, I was happy that she and her mom was healthy and doing well. It makes me happy when a ls fam member sends an email or comments on the show notes page. 

But life is not just about those moments, is it? We all have times of loss, illness, disappointments. And in those times, happiness flees. 

But this verse says, "Blessed IS..." 

IS conveys the meaning of a *constancy*. An enduring state. When God appeared to Moses in the burning bush, Moses said to God, "“Suppose I go to the Israelites and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what shall I tell them?”, God said, “I AM WHO I AM. This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I AM has sent me to you’” AM is a form of the word IS. In a very simplified way, God was saying that no matter when or where, He is there. 

"Blessed IS..."

So how can we be blessed no matter when or where? 

The Greek word *makarios" is translated as "blessed". It means fortunate, happy, enlarged or lengthy. And it is used in connection to the kind of happiness that comes when we receive favor from God. So *makarios" can mean "favored." In Luke 1 we are told that Mary, the mother of Jesus was "blessed among women." She was favored by God.

Jesus used the word "blessed" many times in the Beatitudes in the Sermon on the Mount.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you."

Matthew 5:3-11 ESV

These are not things that usually bring happiness, are they? What Jesus was describing was something much d...