Bibledoorajar rejoices with saints who are happy this week

     Have you ever thought about happiness being excellent?  The Queen of Sheba did.When she observed how happily Solomon's servants served him, she found their happiness excellent. They served him with joy and their joy was an undisputed sign that they were daily drawing strength by being in the presence of the king and by being in a blessed environment. Solomon's servants were happy because the king had been able to greatly improve their living conditions. Through him, they too, attained wisdom and understanding. How happy to live at a time when there was no war, no protests in the city, and when prosperity reigned. How happy are people who live in such conditions. Their children prosper and grow into fine servants suitable to serve the king (See Psalm 144 in which David envisioned such an environment after God would give victory and also Proverbs 3:13 which attests to the happiness of those who find wisdom and its' gain).
     God had instructed Israel to "rejoice before the Lord your God in everything you undertake to do" (Deut. 12:18). As long as they lived on their property they were not to abandon spiritual matters that would bring them joy. Strength and gladness were to be found in His presence (1 Chron. 16:27). This is simply what God thinks---the righteous should be glad and His wisdom and understanding can make it happen in spite of life's circumstances. If we realize we are not happy, then, we can appeal to God for revival. However, during the period in which the queen visited King Solomon, the servants were at perfect peace and full of joy thinking of all that God had done through their king.
     Jesus said that every time a sinner repents there is great joy among God's servants in heaven. This set against the revelation that there are many who do not think they need repentance and these bring heaven no joy (the 99). Jesus had some advice for his disciples as to how to maintain joy in their service to God. According to John 15:12, He told them to stay in His love and follow His commands and, then, their joy would be complete. Is this not when we usually lose our joy? Something happens in our "world" and we respond poorly. We lose our desire to serve the King and our love wanes. We wonder why our environment is not blessed and happy. But Jesus had to walk out terrible suffering in order to follow the commands of His Father. The apostles and disciples of the New Testament attest that sometimes tribulation will be a part of the picture until the King returns. Our responses to tribulation will be critical if we wish to maintain our joy. Paul said it is possible to be "sorrowing yet always rejoicing, poor yet making many rich; as having nothing, and yet possessing all things" (2 Cor. 6:10). One way he said we could attain this state when we have lost our joy is to be filled anew with the Spirit. This happens by renewing our minds (repenting) and speaking to ourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in our hearts to the Lord. Humbling ourselves in the sight of the Lord leads to Him being able to lift us up. In our weakness we become strong and though our environment be filled with tribulation, our hearts can know happiness and can look with great joy to a time coming when all servants of the King will serve Him happily. According to the king whom the queen was visiting, this viewpoint is that of those who have wisdom (Prov. 15:21) and, it too, is the wisdom of that One greater than Solomon. Praise Him for all He has done, is doing, and will do for those who love Him and wish to be His servants.