"God remains gloriously all satisfying and the human heart remains a ceaseless factory of desires."(1) It is without question true that all seek happiness, and if we don't get it from God, where will we look? Christianity is not about self denial in this respect, it is about a feast of great joy and its all about God.

This is no new concept that has come about by fanatical christian enthusiasts. God has through out history had a passion for glory and we have always had a passion for happiness. There are many feast and celebrations in the hebrew tradition that are suposed to be joyous celebrations of God's sovereignty and grace. In 2 Chronicles chapters 27-31 is a good example of how through the waves of history God is glorified by our satisfaction in him. It also shows the dangers of not being happy in God and pursuing our portions in other things.

In Chapter 27; The present king of Israel, Jotham, serves God and gives Him glory and everyone prospers. Everyone is satisfied in God. In chap 28 the next King, Ahaz, somehow finds the God of his fathers insufficient. Discontented, he starts building alters to false God's and tearing up the temple of God for scraps to build idols with.

Now, if any of you are like me your thinking, What is this guy demented? Doesn't he know what happens when people start building idols and tearing down temples in the Bible? Can't he see that prosperity and joy came from times when Kings served God and abolished all idols and that calamity always falls on those that start messing with idols? After God has provided so much and been so faithful, how can you not be satisfied? This guy is just an idiot!!

But when I stop to think about it, I can recall many times in my life, that I left the sanctuary of God for the solace of lesser things. How many times have I pursued satisfaction in other things above God? How many times have I looked to be filled with pride, accomplishment, money, women (and the list goes on)?

How often has calamity followed when I went after these idol things? I've been more then disillusioned with life and filled with so many disappointments. Then I realized, that the follies of these evil kings are not so foreign to my own experience, and I deserved greater destruction then God had allowed to befall me.

So as the story goes; Calamity ensues, Judah is invaded and a good portion of Israel held captive. Instead of calling to God for salvation, the folly of the people of Israel multiplies and they call out to the god's of the invaders. So of course, more invaders come. They come from all sides sacking Judah left and right. Chapter 29 begins After this decimation and a new King, Hezekiah, takes the throne. He destroys the alters to the false Gods, restores the temple, and reinstates the priests. He brings everyone in for an amazing worship service where; "the burnt offerings began along with a song to the Lord with trumpets accompanied by the instruments of David, king of Israel. While the whole assembly worshiped, the singers also sang and the trumpets sounded.... They sang praises with joy and bowed down and worshiped." Chron. 29:27-30 The joy of the Lord is once again among the people. After seeing the rotten fruits of idolatry, the people's hearts return to God.

Hezekiah reinstates Passover inviting all of Israel to come for a great feast. It says, "They celebrated the feast for seven days with great joy and the Levites and the priests praised the Lord Day after day with loud instruments to the Lord." By the end of the seven days everyone is so joyous that they decided to celebrate the feast another seven days, and it says they did so with great joy. After this feast of God is over, the people tasted the joy of the Lord this created within them a sour taste for false God's. There is a holy spring cleaning across the land, a purging of all idols and alters to false God's.

Now after all of this Assyria comes to invade Judah. However this time God delivers them and Israel prospers. God is exalted and his people remains protected and joyously satisfied in His abundance. This prosperity continues until the next generation becomes unhappy and decides to look elsewhere for fulfillment and destruction returns. In this light we see our happiness in God is essential. Matthew Henry said "They joy of the Lord will arm us against the assaults of our spiritual enemies and put our mouths out of taste for those pleasures with which the tempter baits his hooks."(1) It's all about God, and when we are all about God, we are so filled with joy and the sense of His beauty that it would be ridiculous for us to look anywhere else, thus we nullify the lust for ungodly things.

We must constantly remind ourselves of the bitter taste that morsels of sin produce and contrast that to the all fragrance and savory flavor of the all satisfying feast of God. God is glorified in the mercy he bestows upon his people. We have more then enough to praise him for when we think back to the pits he has pulled us out of.

<>< - Jason Deford - <><

 

The main concept behind this lesson comes from the book "Desiring God" by John Piper.