Happy

Happy are you, O Israel! Who is like you,

a people saved by the LORD,

the shield of your help,

and the sword of your triumph!

Your enemies shall come fawning to you,

and you shall tread upon their backs.

Deuteronomy 33:29

This blessing to Israel reminds us today of what it means to be a people saved, secured, and sent on mission by God Himself. It is a happy experience to be a people who are saved by the Lord. And we ought to look, feel, and talk about that happiness! Because of Who God is and what God does for His saved people, happiness marks our lives. There are three reasons we are happy from this verse.

First, we are happy as God’s saved people because God protects us. He is “the shield of help” for His people. Why should we worry? Why live in fear? God is protecting and will always protect those He has saved. They are totally surrounded by His shield. Nothing gets through in a surprise attack on God’s protection. We can happily rest under the shield of God’s help.

Secondly, we are happy because God fights for us. He is the “sword of triumph”. He brings victory over sin, over the world, and over those who oppose Him and His truth. We don’t fight our own battles. We shouldn’t even think to try! God is the victory-bringer. And that keeps us humbly happy in Him.

And the third reason we are happy is because God defeats His foes. Again, it is not up to us to defend God. He is completely capable and all powerful over His, and our, enemies. And as His saved people, those who would oppose us are in actuality opposing God. They shall not ultimately succeed. In fact, in the end, all those opposed to God will one day bow the knee before His throne at their judgment by Him. God never loses, so rejoice Christian in the God Who protects us, fights for us, and defeats all His foes!