PROVERBS 15:13.
“A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”
A merry heart is a heart that is full of joy; a heart that is delightful and pleasant.
A merry heart is a heart that is joyful in the God of his salvation; that rejoices in what Christ did for him on the cross of Calvary, where He shed His blood for the remission of our sins.
Such a heart has become the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, because he has believed and received Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour.
By the pardon, he has received through the blood of Jesus Christ, the atonement for his sins. He is now having righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost! These (will) make his countenance (to be) cheerful.
Such a person’s heart is in continual feast, because he knows that with joy will he draw water out of the wells of salvation; and as such, it causes him to lift up his head with joy.
He remembers that Jesus said in the Gospel of John chapter 16 verse 33 –
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
So, a merry heart is a cheerful heart that shows forth a cheerful countenance, because he knows that as long as he is in Christ, abiding in the word of God, he will continue to have peace.
And as long as he remains cheerful in what Christ has done for him on the cross of Calvary, … even in tribulation, he knows he will overcome! He will overcome every situation, because Christ has overcome the world; and Christ has shown us the way to overcome.
So, A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: because it is a heart that knows that he will always overcome every situation that comes across his ways.
Proverbs chapter 15 verse 30 says this–
“The light of the eyes rejoiceth the heart: and a good report maketh the bones fat.”
So, a merry heart is a heart that has yielded itself for his eyes of understanding to be enlightened. He has understanding and knowledge of what Christ has done for him on the cross of Calvary.
As the Scripture tells us in Ephesians chapter 1 verse 17:
“That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:”
So, a merry heart is a heart that has received wisdom and revelation in what Christ has done for him.
We continue in that Ephesians chapter 1 verse 18:
“The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,”
So, a merry heart is a heart that knows what Christ has done for him and is remaining in the LORD, abiding in the word of God. And as he is abiding in the word of God, he is abiding in joy. So, it makes his face cheerful.
When your eyes of understanding is enlightened in the word of God, in what God hath provided for you through the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ:
Your heart will rejoice.
You will have a merry heart that will make a cheerful countenance.
Your countenance will shew forth the state of your heart.
So, a merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance!
Proverbs 17 verse 22 says –
“A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.”
So, a merry heart is a healthy heart. That’s why the Bible tells us to keep our heart with all diligence, for out of it comes all the issues of life. So, a merry heart is a healthy heart that produces a cheerful countenance.
That’s why the Word of Wisdom is coming to you today, encouraging you to have a merry heart; For “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”
‘Sorrow of the heart’ causes a man to be sad, to stoop down, to be depressed. His spirit sinks; and it becomes obvious in his countenance.
See the interaction between King Artaxerxes and Nehemiah, in Nehemiah chapter 2 from verse 2: ...
“Wherefore the king said unto me, Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick? this is nothing else but sorrow of heart. Then I was very sore afraid,”
So, Nehemiah came before the king. For the first time, his countenance was sad and the king could discern that this is sorrow of heart!
So, the king asked: ‘Why is thy countenance sad, seeing thou art not sick?’
That Nehemiah chapter 2 verse 3 continues, it says–
“And said unto the king, Let the king live for ever: why should not my countenance be sad, when the city, the place of my fathers' sepulchres, lieth waste, and the gates thereof are consumed with fire?”
So, the “sorrow of heart” causes a man to be sad; and it will be obvious!
The trouble of your heart will show in your countenance!
We should not allow the troubles of this world to make us lose focus on what Jesus has promised us.
In the Gospel of John chapter 14 verses 1-2, it says–
“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.”
Verse 2: “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”
So: “A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”
A troubled heart, a sorrowful heart will be difficult to hide. It will be obvious in a man's actions and his face.
A troubled heart will be weakened spiritually, physically and mentally.
A sorrowful heart will not be able to achieve what God has purposed for him to achieve.
If the word of God you hear causes you sorrow because of sin and guilt, the Bible encourages you to repent!
As the Scripture tells us in 2 Corinthians chapter 7 from verse 8, it says –
“For though I made you sorry with a letter, I do not repent, though I did repent: for I perceive that the same epistle hath made you sorry, though it were but for a season.”
Verse 9: “Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing.”
So, if the word of God convicts you of sin; exposes and brings you to the place of guilt: Repent!
It continues in that 2 Corinthians chapter 7 verse 10, it says–
“For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”
It is good to have godly sorrow that will work out repentance for salvation. And as such, if it comes across to you that you need to be sorrowful because of your sin: Repent!
So, “godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”
Don’t sorrow after the things of the world.
Let nothing of the world: the lust of the flesh, the pride of life be the reason why you are being sorrowful. For ‘the sorrow of the world worketh death’: because if you sorrow after the things of the world, you will die in your sins. But if you repent, being convicted of your sins and you purpose not to return to sin, … that, is “godly sorrow that produces repentance”!
“A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.”
I encourage you:
Come into the saving knowledge of the word of God and receive the joy of salvation, the joy from the LORD; for the kingdom of God is - righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost!
And as you receive this joy and purpose to remain in it, you will remain blessed in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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