WHY NOT PRAISE GOD MORE?
By F. W. Morse
In Deuteronomy 28 the Lord tells the children of Israel, “If thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the Lord thy God, to observe and to do all His commandments, . . . blessed shalt thou be in the city, and blessed shalt thou be in the field.” In the sermon on the mount, the Saviour pronounced a blessing upon those who are poor in spirit, upon those who mourn, upon the meek, upon those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, upon the merciful, upon the pure in heart, upon the peacemakers, and upon those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake. We understand that one meaning of the word “blessed” is happy; Mr. Webster gives this as the first definition of the word. Happy people are those who live for God in every act and in every thought. We may live in the crowded city, or our work may be in the open field of toilsome labor; but, dear fellow travelers, let us show that we are a happy people, in the words we speak, in the tones of our voice, and in the expression of our countenances. “Blessed [“happy”] shalt thou be when thou comest in, and blessed [“happy”] shalt thou be when thou goest out.” A lovely companion, indeed! The Lord’s people are appointed to be a sunshine of happiness in this world, and they will shine as the sun in the everlasting kingdom. Matt. 13:43. A well-known writer has said:— “O, do not think that it matters not how you lead this life below,
It matters much to the heedless throng that you see go to and fro;
For all that is high, and noble, and good has an influence on the rest;
And this world is better for every one who is living at his best.”
The precious beatitudes given in Deuteronomy 28 continue by declaring, “The Lord shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto.” He into whose life God puts happiness, dispenses joy and happiness to all around him; and of him can be said, in the words of the good old hymn,— “How happy is the man who hath chosen wisdom’s ways;
He hath measured off his span to his God in prayer and praise.”
Only a few days are now left us in which to offer praise and thanksgiving in the enemy’s land, and if we fail here, we shall find our place where “there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.” Deut. 28:47 says, “Because thou servedst not the Lord thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart;” then follow the woes and sorrows of the unrejoicing, complaining life. Let us take diligent heed to all that the Lord has said to us; for in His tender mercy He has given admonitions bearing upon all the course of life; and every shade, manner, and form of experience in these perilous times is explicitly dwelt upon, with counsel for the right, and warning against the wrong. So shall we be a happy, holy people unto the Lord.