O Happy Day

“O happy day, that fixed my choice on thee, my Savior and my God!
Well may this glowing heart rejoice, and tell its raptures all abroad.

Chorus
Happy day, happy day, when Jesus washed my sins away!
He taught me how to watch and pray, and live rejoicing every day.
Happy day, happy day, when Jesus washed my sins away!

O happy bond, that seals my vows to Him who merits all my love!
Let cheerful anthems fill His house, while to that sacred shrine I move.

Tis done: the great transaction’s done! I am the Lord’s and He is mine;
He drew me and I followed on, charmed to confess the voice divine.

Now rest, my long-divided heart, fixed on this blissful center, rest.
Here have I found a nobler part; here heavenly pleasures fill my breast.

High heaven, that heard the solemn vow, that vow renewed shall daily hear,
till in life’s latest hour I bow and bless in death a bond so dear.”

Unlike last week’s hymn, the “O” in this week is communicating a since of excitement and exclamation.  If you are familiar at all with the tune of this hymn, the upbeat rhythym of the song goes right along with the words and the theme of this hymn.  The author is reflecting back upon the most important day in every Christian’s life – the day that our sins were washed away.  Remembering back upon that day should bring us happiness because we are reminded of what we were without God, and we now know the blessings we have because we are part of His family.

Couple of phrases I want to comment on and then share a little about the author of this hymn:

• “My long-divided heart” and “Merits all my love” are phrases used in this song that really go hand-in-hand.  How often are our desires divided between what we selfishly want to do and what we know is right? Between what is good for us personally, but not good for others around us?  Between what is righteous and what is sinful?.  Paul describes this kind of struggle between right and wrong and between what we ought to do and what we actually do in Romans Chapter 7, so our struggle is not unique or new.  However, if we purpose in our heart to give God our best and determine not to give Him the “leftovers,” our heart will no longer be divided.  The song says that He “merits all my love.”  Jesus said the greatest commandment was to “Love the Lord your God with all your soul, might and strength.”   Giving Him your devotion and love in all that you do and making Him the priority will indeed bring true happiness.
• “Rejoicing every day” – Do you find it easy to rejoice every day?  If we are honest, that is difficult to do.  There is a phrase used many times in the Psalms where Scripture reminds us to rejoice in our salvation. I think that the more we reflect on our salvation and what Jesus did for us on a daily basis, the easier it becomes for us to rejoice every day.  We aren’t trying to rejoice about our circumstances or our feelings (things that are temporal and change from day to day).  But we can rejoice because we have salvation and eternal life.

Now to the story behind the author.  Phillip Doddridge was the son of Monica Doddridge.  Prior to Phillip being born, 18 of Monica Doddridge’s 19 children died in infancy.  He was her 20th child and he, too, appeared stillborn at birth.  However, while being laid aside by the doctors, he cried out, and the doctors were able to save him.  His mother purposed in her heart that he would be raised up to honor the Lord.  She taught him many Bible stories as a young child and was an important part of his accepting Christ.  After reading this story, I wondered how easy it could have been for this young man to have had a bitter spirit.  His mother could have been very angry with God, and could have infected her son with this kind of anger and bitterness.  Often times, people that have experienced great tragedies are not only bitter themselves, but sow seeds of bitterness in the people around them, especially their children.  Mr. Doddridge could have easily written a song  called “O Miserable Days” if he had reflected on the great tragedy his mother experienced.  However, she purposed in her heart to overcome tragedy, and it was apparent that she was successful in that endeavor.

The question I think all of should ask ourselves is – Our we sowing seeds of bitterness in our lives or the lives of those around us because of our circumstances or the tragedies we have experienced?  Or are we, like Monica Doddridge, telling the stories of Jesus, and of God’s grace and goodness to others and sowing seeds of happiness?  Do we rejoice everday? – not because our lives are easy or because we don’t have problems, but because God sent “His only begotten Son” to pay the punishment for our sins and give us eternal life.  That is definitely something to be happy about.