Mission FPC
The book of Psalms is the biblical book in which the adjective “happy” appears the most: 34 occurrences in the French Second 21 translation. This is hardly surprising for a book in which there are many questions of feelings and emotions, especially from King David. More surprisingly, the book of Deuteronomy comes second in the number of occurrences of the word “happy”.
Here are a few examples: Chapter 4:30-40: know therefore today, and lay it to you heart, that the LORD is God in heaven above and on the earth beneath; there is no other. Therefore, you shall keep his statutes and his commandments, which I command you today, that it may go well with you and with your children after you, and that you may prolong you days in the land that the LORD your God is giving you for all time.
Deut 5:29 Oh that they had such a heart as this always, to fear me and to keep all my commandments, that it might go well with them and with their descendants.
Deut 5:33 You shall walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, that you may live, and that it may go well with you, and that you may live long in the land that you shall possess.
Deut 6:3 Hear therefore, O Israel, and be careful to do them, that it may go well with you, and that you may multiply greatly, as the LORD, the God of your fathers has promised you, in a land flowing with milk and honey.
Deut 6:18 And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the LORD, that it may go well with you, and that you may go in and take possession of the good land that the LORD swore to give to your fathers.
Deut 6:24 And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that He might preserve us alive, as we are this day.
Without multiplying the examples, we discern a common point in all these verses of Deuteronomy: happiness is linked to obeying God, following His commandments, respecting and putting into practice His laws. It is attachment to God and to His Word that makes us happy.
This what I wish for us for this new year of 2022. May we all enjoy reading and putting the Bible into practice!
On behalf of the entire FPC team,
Mission FPC
Leave a Reply