People in the Hands
of The Happy God
By Jonathan Mitchell

When I was in high school, our English Literature textbook had the unfortunate sermon by Jonathan Edwards, "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God." When we think of how many students had to read that horrible sermon, it is no wonder that so many people have a disfigured picture of our Father, in their minds. Think of how many have lived in fear of what they imagined that God might do to them.

Paul gave us another picture of God, in the first chapter of his letter to Timothy. Consider what he said:

"The sound and healthful teaching [which is] in accord with (or: down from; in line with and on the level of) the good news of (or: the message of goodness, ease and well-being pertaining to) the glory, reputation and assumed appearance of The Happy God" (1 Tim. 1:11)

Now we are not saying that our Father will not bring correction to people, for a good father always does this for his children. And fathers do become angry, at times, especially when someone hurts someone else, such as we hear of all through history, and as we observe in the ongoing genocide and trafficking and abusing - in our own day. I do not doubt that our heavenly Father is angry about these behaviors.

But we challenge the idea that, by His very nature, He is an angry God. Consider what we read in Isa. 54:8,

"In effervescent wrath (or: an overflow of vexation - Rotherham), I concealed My face momentarily from you,Yet with eonian benignity (or: lovingkindness age-abiding - Rotherham) I have compassion on you, says your Redeemer, Yahweh" (Concordant Version).

Let us ponder this passage from Ps. 103 (102 in the LXX):

6. One who performs acts of pity is the Lord, and judgment for all who are being wronged!

7. He made known his ways to Moses, to the sons of Israel, his will.

8. Compassionate and merciful is the Lord, slow to anger and abounding in mercy.

9. He will not be totally angry, nor will he keep his wrath forever [Greek reads: on into the {next} age].

10. Not according to our sins did he deal with us, nor according to our acts of lawlessness did he repay us,

11. because as the sky is high above the earth, he strengthened his mercy toward those who fear him;

12. as far as east is from west, he has removed from us our acts of lawlessness.

13. As a father has compassion for sons, the Lord has had compassion for those who fear him,

14. because he knew our makeup. [O] remember that we are dust! (A New English Translation of the Septuagint; brackets added)

Now the common versions have rendered the pivotal phrase of 1 Tim. 1:11 as "the blessed God." However, the core idea of the adjective speaks "of persons characterized by happiness or joy." See my translation of Mat. 5:3ff. This term can also speak of being "happy because of favorable circumstances." (quotes from the Analytical Lexicon of the Greek New Testament, Friberg, Friberg and Miller).

So we suggest thinking of our Father as The Happy God who has the whole world in His hands. And remember, "God so loved the world..." (Jn. 3:16).

Jonathan

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