Bible Questions Answered:
“...when I watch these people,
talking, laughing and socializing, I can't help but look at their
faces and see how really lonely, and unhappy they really are...”
Shelia/ Boston, Massachusetts U.S.A.
Bible Answer:
Bible Texts:
Oh how our systems of navigation have
changed over the years. From the compass, to the Sextant and Clock to
todays G.P.S. (Global Positioning System).
Yet, there is something that never
changes and that is the Word Of The Lord. Yes, even stars change
their courses over enough time. But chart and guide of the church of
The Lord Jesus Christ, is His immutable Word.
James 1:17 KJV
Every good gift and every perfect
gift is from above, and cometh down from
The Father Of Lights, with whom
is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.
Clocks may run irregular, cloudy skies
may prevail, and satellites may fizzle, and yet
The Word Of The Lord, never fails!
The Word, alone is a guide to be
trusted.
Happiness
Of The World:
Proverbs 14:13 KJV
Even in laughter the heart is
sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.
Ecclesiastes 2:1-3,11 NLT
1 I said to myself, “Come on,
let’s try pleasure. Let’s look for the ‘good things’ in
life.” But I found that this, too, was meaningless.
2 So I said, “Laughter is silly.
What good does it do to seek pleasure?”
3 After much thought, I decided to
cheer myself with wine. And while still seeking wisdom, I clutched at
foolishness. In this way, I tried to experience the only happiness
most people find during their brief life in this world.
11 But as I looked at everything I
had worked so hard to accomplish, it was all so meaningless—like
chasing the wind. There was nothing really worthwhile anywhere.
As
Christian People, We Have A Heavenly Guide To Happiness:
Psalm
25:9 KJV
The
meek will He guide in judgment: and the meek will He teach His way.
Psalm
31:3 KJV
For
thou art my Rock and my Fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead
me, and guide me.
Psalm
32:8 I KJV
will
instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will
guide thee with Mine eye.
Psalm
48:14 KJV
For
this God is our God for ever and ever: He will be our guide even unto
death.
Psalm
73:24 KJV
Thou
shalt guide me with thy counsel, and afterward receive me to glory.
Psalm
78:52,72 KJV
52
But made His own people to go forth like sheep, and guided them in
the wilderness like a flock.
72
So He fed them according to the integrity of His heart; and guided
them by the skilfulness of His hands.
Isaiah
58:11 KJV
And
The Lord shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in
drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered
garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.
Jeremiah
3:4 KJV
Wilt
thou not from this time cry unto Me, My Father, thou art the guide of
my youth?
Luke
1:78,79 KJV
78
Through the tender mercy of our God; whereby The Dayspring From On
High hath visited us,
79
To give Light to them that sit in darkness and in the shadow of
death, to guide our feet into
The
Way of peace.
John
16:13 KJV
Howbeit
when He, The Spirit Of Truth, is come, He will guide you into all
Truth: for He shall not speak of Himself; but whatsoever He shall
hear, that shall He speak: and He will shew you things to come.
What
Does Our Guide Tell Us About Happiness?
Psalm 1:1,2
NLT
1 Oh, the
joys of those who do not follow the
advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with
mockers.
2 But they
delight in the law of The Lord, meditating on it day and night.
Psalm 1:1,2
NCV
1 Happy
are those who don’t listen to the wicked, who don’t go where
sinners go who don’t do what evil people do.
2 They love
The Lord’s teachings, and they think about those teachings day and
night.
Psalm 1:1,2
NRSV
1 Happy
are those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or take the
path that sinners tread, or sit in the seat of scoffers;
2 but their
delight is in the law of The Lord, and on His law they meditate day
and night.
Psalm 1:1,2
YLT
1 O the
happiness of
that one, who Hath not walked in the counsel of the wicked. And in
the way of sinners hath not stood, And in the seat of scorners hath
not sat;
2
But -- in the law of Jehovah [is] his delight, And in
His law he doth meditate by day and by night:
True
Happiness Is The Result Of Having A Right Relationship With
The
Lord.
Psalm
5:11 KJV
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.
Psalm
16:11 KJV
Thou wilt shew
me The Path Of Life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right
hand there are pleasures for evermore.
Psalm
21:1 KJV
The king shall
joy in thy strength, O Lord; and in thy salvation how greatly shall
he rejoice!
Psalm
27:6 KJV
And now shall
mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore
will I offer in His tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I
will sing praises unto The Lord.
Psalm
30:5 KJV
For His anger
endureth but a moment; in His favor is Life: weeping may endure for a
night, but joy cometh in the morning.
Psalm
32:11 KJV
Be glad in The
Lord, and rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all ye that are
upright in heart.
Psalm
35:9,27 KJV
9 And my soul
shall be joyful in The Lord: it shall rejoice in His salvation.
27 Let them
shout for joy, and be glad, that favor my righteous cause: yea, let
them say continually, Let The Lord be magnified, which hath pleasure
in the prosperity of His servant.
Psalm
43:4 KJV
Then will I go
unto The Altar Of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp
will I praise thee, O God my God.
Psalm
51:12 KJV
Restore unto
me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free Spirit.
Psalm
63:5 KJV
My soul shall
be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise
thee with joyful lips:
Psalm
67:4 KJV
O let the
nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people
righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah.
Psalm
81:1 KJV
Sing aloud
unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto The God Of Jacob.
Psalm
89:15 NLT
Happy are
those who hear the joyful call to worship, for they will walk in The
Light Of Your Presence, Lord.
Psalm
95:1,2 KJV
1 O come, let
us sing unto The Lord: let us make a joyful noise to The Rock Of Our
Salvation.
2 Let us come
before His presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto
Him with psalms.
Psalm
98:4,6 KJV
4 Make a
joyful noise unto The Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and
rejoice, and sing praise.
6 With
trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before The Lord, The
King.
Psalm
100:1 KJV
Make a joyful
noise unto The Lord, all ye lands.
Psalm
105:43 KJV
And He brought
forth His people with joy, and His chosen with gladness:
Psalm
126:1-6 KJV
1 When The
Lord turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that
dream.
2 Then was our
mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said
they among the heathen, The Lord hath done great things for them.
3 The Lord
hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
4 Turn again
our captivity, O Lord, as the streams in the south.
5 They that
sow in tears shall reap in joy.
6 He that
goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come
again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.
Psalm
132:9,16 KJV
9 Let thy
priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for
joy.
16 I will also
clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud
for joy.
Psalm
144:15 KJV
"...Happy
is that people, whose God is The Lord.
Psalm
149:2,5 NLT
2 O Israel,
rejoice in your Maker. O people of Jerusalem, exult in your King.
5 Let the
faithful rejoice that He honors them. Let them sing for joy as they
lie on their beds.
Proverbs
14:21 KJV
"...he
that hath mercy on the poor, happy is he.
Proverbs
16:20 KJV
"...whoso
trusteth in The Lord, happy is he.
Proverbs
28:14 KJV
""whoso
trusteth in The Lord, happy is he.
Proverbs
29:18 KJV
Where there is
no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is
he.
Isaiah
12:3 KJV
Therefore with
joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation.
Isaiah
29:19 KJV
The meek also
shall increase their joy in The Lord, and the poor among men shall
rejoice in
The Holy One
Of Israel.
Isaiah
35:10 KJV
And the
ransomed of The Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and
everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness,
and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.
Isaiah
49:13 KJV
Sing, O
heavens; and be joyful, O earth; and break forth into singing, O
mountains: for The Lord hath comforted His people, and will have
mercy upon His afflicted.
Isaiah
51:3,11 KJV
3 For The Lord
shall comfort Zion (God's
people): He will comfort all her waste places; and He will
make her wilderness like Eden, and her desert like the garden of The
Lord; joy and gladness shall be found therein, thanksgiving, and the
voice of melody.
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.
Isaiah
55:12 KJV
For ye shall
go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the
hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of
the field shall clap their hands.
Isaiah
61:3,10 KJV
3 To appoint
unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the
oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of
heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the
planting of The Lord, that He might be glorified.
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.
John
16:33 KJV
These things I
have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye
shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the
world.
Romans
14:17 KJV
For the
kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace,
and joy in
The Holy
Ghost.
Romans
15:13 KJV
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.
Galatians
5:22,23 KJV
22 But the
fruit of The Spirit is love, joy, peace, long suffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith,
23 Meekness,
temperance: against such there is no law.
Colossians
1:11-14 KJV
11 We also
pray that you will be strengthened with all His glorious power so you
will have all the endurance and patience you need. May you be filled
with joy,
12 always
thanking The Father. He has enabled you to share in the inheritance
that belongs to His people, who live in The Light.
13 For He has
rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the
Kingdom of His Dear Son,
14 who
purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.
I
Peter 1:7,8 KJV
7 "...the
appearing of Jesus Christ:
8 Whom having
not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see Him not, yet believing,
ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:
1
John 1:4 KJV
And these
things write we unto you, that your joy may be full.
Jude
1:24,25 KJV
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,
25 To the only
wise God our Savior, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both
now and ever. Amen.
