If you're happy and you know it
Psalm 47
To the choirmaster. A Psalm of the Sons of Korah.
1 Clap your hands, all peoples!
Shout to God with loud songs of joy!
2 For the LORD, the Most High, is terrible,
a great king over all the earth.
3 He subdued peoples under us,
and nations under our feet.
4 He chose our heritage for us,
the pride of Jacob whom he loves. [Selah]
5 God has gone up with a shout,
the LORD with the sound of a trumpet.
6 Sing praises to God, sing praises!
Sing praises to our King, sing praises!
7 For God is the king of all the earth;
sing praises with a psalm!
8 God reigns over the nations;
God sits on his holy throne.
9 The princes of the peoples gather
as the people of the God of Abraham.
For the shields of the earth belong to God;
he is highly exalted!
Psalms 47:1-9 (RSV)
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Comedian Howie Mandel did something one time that has
stuck with me ever since. He clapped one time, then
said "Know why I did that?" And then went on to say,
"Because I'm happy and I know it." Obviously he was
steeling a line from the song "If you're happy and you
know it clap your hands". I think about this line
almost daily. Have you ever noticed people who just
don't seem to be happy? Or if they are, they don't
tell their face?
When Sarah and I were living in Iowa, we would take
our cans to the grocery store to receive back our
deposit of five cents a can. There was a particular
lady who worked behind the recycling desk whose face
did not know it if she was happy. In fact, her
non-verbal cues were so negative, that at first I
didn't care if I ever brought my business there again.
Then I decided I needed to take my cans to her more
often in order to help her get over whatever it was
that was bothering her. I'd fill my grocery cart full
and wheel it up to her counter with a big smile on my
face. I really wanted to say to her, "Are you a happy
person?" And if she answered, "Yes" I would say "Then
you need to tell your face."
While serving in Spencer, IA, my office was directly
across the hall from the restrooms, so I got to daily
see our pre-schoolers during their potty break. They
always had a big smile on their face and would peek in
my door and say "Hi! Bill". They would daily add a
little sunshine to my heart.
This is what the psalmist is sharing. As God's
people, we are happy and we know why! Because of what
Christ has done for us in redeeming us from the
hopelessness of sin, we cannot help but be filled with
joy. And we should daily share our joy with others.
If you are happy in your heart that Jesus died for
you, be sure you tell your face because it may be
saying something else to someone who really needs to
know if you're happy and you know it.
William Hiskey
William Hiskey is the Director of Youth Ministries at First English Lutheran Church in Spencer, IA.
Updated: 11/05/2003
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