April 11 ▪ Day 101

Scripture Readings

Proverbs 15:13
Jeremiah 31–32
Ephesians 5–6
Psalms 101

Verse Focus (Proverbs 15:13)

A happy heart makes the face cheerful,
     but heartache crushes the spirit.

Meditation

Proverbs 15:13 says, in the NRSV, “A glad heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of heart the spirit is broken.” This is so obviously true, it makes me wonder what purpose there is in telling us this.

I realize I’m assuming that we have no control over whether or not we have a glad heart or one filled with sorrow. That assumption is why I feel puzzled over this proverb. And while it’s true that we don’t always have control over joy and sorrow connected to various life events, it is also true that our choices can and do affect our emotions.

We have an English proverb, “Grin and bear it.” The common understanding of this proverb is to admonish one to manage something unpleasant without complaining. But another meaning is that by literally grinning about it, you alter your mood to bring about a more positive attitude towards your tasks (or, at the very least, you protect others from the unpleasantness you feel).

Psychologists and medical professionals will tell you that the expression our face holds actually affects our emotional state. Scientific studies have shown that the act of smiling triggers chemicals in your brain that will lift one’s mood, bringing about a more positive attitude. It doesn’t matter if the smile is genuine or not. The muscle movements in and of themselves trigger the brain chemicals that will boost one’s mood.

My point isn’t that we should make a cheerful face to create a happy heart (although doing so may help). That’s not what the Biblical proverb is telling us. My point is that we have some choices about whether or not we do have a glad heart. When I look at the Hebrew for this verse, the word describing the heart that is translated as “merry” or “happy” or “glad” is from a word that primarily means to rejoice. And rejoicing is an action we choose to do. A rejoicing heart makes a cheerful countenance. As believers, we have so much to be thankful and grateful for. The intentional practice of gratitude leads to rejoicing and opens the door to joy.

Father God, when proverbs seem obvious, please help us to understand deeper truths. I know there’s a lot more to this verse than I explored today, but I’m grateful for today’s increase in insight. Help us to have faces that reflect the truth of your grace and goodness to us in Christ Jesus. Amen.

In addition to the prophecies of the exiles’ return from Babylon, Jeremiah 31 also contains important Messianic prophecies, including the Scripture in verse 15 that refers to Herod’s massacre of all the male toddlers and infants in and around Bethlehem (as we are told in Matthew 3:16-18). Most notable is the promise of a new covenant for the people of Israel and Judah. It will be unlike the former covenant, which the people constantly broke; rather, in the new covenant God’s law will become internal — written in the people’s minds and hearts (v. 31).

Verse 3 tells us that “the people who survived the sword found grace in the wilderness” and verse 11 tells us that God has redeemed his people “from hands too strong for him.” And I see that the Babylonian captivity mirrors the Exodus. The people were enslaved and taken to Babylon, where they served for three generations — a small sliver of time compared to how long they were down in Egypt. But in being forcibly removed from the Promised Land and then later being rescued by God and brought back, they too experience God’s grace and liberation.

The chapter contains many verse treasures. Verse 3 says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.” Verse 16 promises “reward for your work,” while verse 17 pledges “hope for your future.” In verse 25, God makes a promise that comforts all generations when He says, “I will satisfy the weary, and all who are faint I will replenish.”

Jeremiah 32 takes place in 587 BC. This was during Nebuchadnezzar’s siege of Jerusalem in the tenth year of King Zedekiah (a year before the city’s fall and final destruction). The prophet is directed to buy some property from a cousin in his hometown of Anathoth, about three miles away from Jerusalem. Because Jeremiah was confined to the guards’ courtyard in the royal palace of Jerusalem, his purchase of the property amidst the siege was a very public event. Jeremiah delivers the deeds to his assistant Baruch, with the instruction to seal the documents in a clay jar “so they will last a long time (v. 14).” And with this action, Jeremiah proclaims God’s prophecy that there will again be buying and selling of property in the land of Judah.

After this, Jeremiah prays to God. It is unclear to me whether this prayer was also public or whether Jeremiah prayed privately because he was confused by what God was telling him. God replies to Jeremiah and tells him that yes, Nebuchadnezzar will capture the city and the people will be killed or banished. However, God promises to regather the people and bring them back to Judah. He again speaks of the new covenant He will establish, saying that it will be an “everlasting covenant (v. 40).”

Today we finish reading the book of Ephesians. In chapter 5, Paul continues giving practical advice for Christian living. He begins by telling us to imitate God, loving each other sacrificially as Christ loved us. Twice I notice references to thanksgiving. Indeed, verses 19 and 20 exhort us to be “singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts, giving thanks to God the Father at all times and for everything in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” This strikes me as exactly what our proverb was talking about today — how to have a rejoicing heart and a cheerful face.

Paul tells us to live as “children of light (v. 8).” As part of this, verse 16 tells us to make “the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” Verse 16 has become increasingly significant to me over the past few years. Every time I read this chapter, this verse stands out. How important it is to make the most of every opportunity! Perhaps it’s because I’m getting older — I have a greater understanding of how precious time is. Or perhaps I have a greater sensitivity to the Holy Spirit now and He is impressing on me the urgency to use my time wisely.

Towards the end of chapter 5, Paul speaks about the relationship between husband and wife. He uses the metaphor of marriage to describe the relationship between Christ and the church. “This is a great mystery,” he says in verse 32, referring to how the marriage partners become “one flesh.” And today as I read these words, I have fresh insight even though the marriage metaphor is a familiar one for Christians.

In the gospels, Christ refers to himself as the bridegroom; in the book of Revelation, we see the church as the bride of Christ. I have thought of the marriage covenant between two parties, and the covenant between Christ and his church. There is love and commitment is this covenant. With husbands and wives, I have thought of “one flesh” as a connection that is sometimes physical yet always spiritual — a union deeper than our culture typically understands. But I don’t think I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how the Christ and the church become “one flesh.” Today’s flash of insight wasn’t entirely verbal, so I’m not sure that I can articulate it. The best that I can say is that I gained a greater understanding of the significance of the union between Christ and the church.

In Ephesians 6, there is the famous passage about putting on the whole armor of God. We are not in a fight against “enemies of flesh and blood (v. 12),” but we are battling in spiritual realms that we cannot fully see or comprehend. Truth, righteousness, willingness, faith, and salvation combine with Scripture to fully protect the saints. Once equipped with this armor, prayer and boldness are needed for ministry. The section on the armor of God stands out as it always does when I read the chapter today. So many wonderful sermons are based on this passage! There is a lot of wisdom to be discovered: it is a passage to memorize and meditate on at length.

However, there are two other verses that really stood out to me today. First, Paul’s command in verse 7 to “render service with enthusiasm.” Paul gives this command in the context of relationships between slaves and their masters, and although most of us are not slaves in this traditional sense, we know what it feels like to be compelled to do something by another’s will. Many feel enslaved by their jobs. Some feel enslaved by particular relationships in their lives. Those who are compelled — those who feel enslaved — are generally not happy about it. So we are reluctant to serve. Paul’s command to “render service with enthusiasm” gets to the heart of this reluctance and tells us to rejoice in what we do, not just in what we say.

Verse 8 also struck me. Paul says that “whatever good we do, we will receive the same again from the Lord.” That’s a pretty amazing promise when you stop to think about it! It is easy for us to get discouraged. We feel like our efforts at doing the right thing make no difference at all. Certainly, there are many times when doing good seems to have no impact whatsoever — either for us or for those with whom we relate. With this Scriptural promise we are assured that doing good will eventually be rewarded, whether we see it now or not. Amen to that!

Psalm 101 is an interesting psalm — one that I don’t think I’ve paid much attention to previously. The CSB describes this psalm as “A Vow of Integrity.” Indeed, David makes a series of pledges, laying out the principles by which he will rule himself, his family, and his kingdom. Rejoicing in God’s faithful love and justice is the foundation for this integrity. In verse 2, David says, “I will study the way that is blameless.”

Verse 3 caught my eye. “I hate the work of those who fall away,” says David. “It shall not cling to me.” While I understand what he means, the phrasing is curious. Those who wander, those who transgress — we understand avoiding such people. But hating their work? Because that work — the actions of backsliders and what they produce — clings to you? David’s way of understanding temptation is very different from how I have thought of it. I would like to spend more time meditating on this particular verse.

I love David’s pledge in verse 7 to remove corrupt officials from his government: “No one who practices deceit shall remain in my house; no one who utters lies shall continue in my presence.” What would our world look like if all rulers did this?

Father God, thank you for this look at David’s sense of honor. May we also strive to live our lives with integrity. Thank you for Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. Our efforts at integrity would fail without you. Thank you for forgiveness of sins, and for cleansing us of wickedness. Help us to walk in godliness. Help us to rejoice in what we do and to serve with enthusiasm. In Jesus’ name, Amen.