I have been reading George Muller's exegesis of Deuteronomy 33: 26 - 29 this afternoon. ( from the book called, 'Can God be Trusted?' Published by Christian Focus Publications. )
Here is an excellent quote, " If we are unhappy the fault lies with ourselves. There is no reason why we should not be happy children. Our Father loves us, and He will lead us safely through. Having such a Father it may well be said of us, 'happy art though oh Israel; who is like unto thee, O people saved by the Lord, the shield of thy help, and who is the sword of thy excellency? (verse 29 below)
These Israelites were happy because they had such a God. Look how He delivered them and saved them. It was He who delivered them from the Egyptians, who led them through the Red Sea, destroying the host of Pharaoh. It was He who led them through the wilderness, provided them with heavenly food and water from the rock, and finally led them into the land of promise.
And remember that it is by Him that you and I are delivered from a worse power than Egypt: are delivered from greater enemies than the host of Egyptians and by Him we are led through the difficulties of this life. He is leading us until at length He will land us safely above. Ought we not to be happy, truly happy in the Lord? I ask you affectionately, is it so with you? Are you all happy Christians? You ought to be, if you will only look to Him. Trust Him with child like simplicity, and you will see how ready He is to help you and give blessing." (unquote)
Perhaps this post would be better titled...How should Christians always find happiness? There are very real times of grief, testing and troubles, and yet if we are willing to patiently wait on our Lord in faith and trust, we will find happiness in looking to His face, in knowing His character....for it is only in knowing God that we can find true happiness! As Muller points our earlier in this book, God is our salvation by grace, He is our portion, our strength, our deliverer! Muller points out too that this passage was written at the time before the Israelites were safely in the promised land. Muller says, (quote) " Remember how God fought for them (Israel) time after time. How the sun stood still at the request of Joshua. How again, the elements from heaven fought for them; how stones were hailed from heaven upon the enemy. The hornets were also by Jehovah used for the destruction of the enemies. In various ways Jehovah fought on their behalf, and showed His mighty power in leading His people to posses the land." (unquote) God is also the eternal God who stays the same forever. The God who saves Israel, saves us, cares for us and looks after us too.
Deuteronomy 33:
26 “There is none like God, O Jeshurun,
who rides through the heavens to your help,
through the skies in his majesty.
27 The eternal God is your dwelling place,and underneath are the everlasting arms.
And he thrust out the enemy before you
and said, ‘Destroy.’
28 So Israel lived in safety,
Jacob lived alone,
in a land of grain and wine,
whose heavens drop down dew.
29 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.”
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