Happy are the Blessed

31 MARCH

Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD. 
Psalm 114:15

SUGGESTED FURTHER READING: Matthew 5:1-12

David says that those people are happy to whom divine favor has been shown and manifested. 
Should anyone object that only a gross and worldly spirit would estimate man's happiness in terms of transitory gifts, I would reply that we must read the two things in connection: that those people are happy who recognize the favor of God in the abundance they enjoy. They have a sense of happiness from these transitory blessings that persuades them of their Father's care and leads them to aspire after the true inheritance of eternal blessings. There is no impropriety in calling those happy whom God blesses in this world, provided they do not show themselves blind to the improvements and uses they make of God's mercies or foolishly and lazily overlook the author of them.
The kind providence of God in not suffering us to lack the basic needs of life is surely a striking illustration of His wonderful love. What is more desirable than to be the objects of God's care, especially if we have sufficient understanding to conclude from the liberality with which He supports us that He is our Father? For everything is to be viewed in reference to this point. It would be better for us to perish for want than to have mere brute satisfaction that forgets the main thing, that only those are happy whom God has chosen as His people.
In giving us meat and drink, God allows us to enjoy a certain measure of happiness, but it does not follow that believers who struggle through life in want and poverty are miserable, for this want, whatever it be, God can counterbalance by better consolations.

John Calvin

FOR MEDITATION: 
When God blesses us by meeting our material needs such as food, clothing, housing, and work, we may feel happy. But that happiness is incomplete if we do not look beyond the gifts to the Giver, as well as to the ultimate Gift of all, Jesus Christ our Savior.

365 Days With Calvin
Selected and Edited by Joel R. Beeke