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The Mitzvah of Happiness

By Toby Janicki | Comments (5) | Posted on October 26, 2007

The Torah teaches us in Deuteronomy 28:45-47, “So all these curses shall come on you and pursue you and overtake you until you are destroyed, because you would not obey Hashem your God by keeping His commandments and His statutes which He commanded you. They shall become a sign and a wonder on you and your descendants forever. Because you did not serve Hashem your God with joy and a glad heart, for the abundance of all things.”

After a long list of dreaded curses and evils in this chapter of Torah, Hashem states that these will come about because of disobedience. Of all the commandments of the Torah, the one Hashem chose to list as the primary mitzvah for which these curses come about is not what many may expect. It is not idolatry, kashrut, or even Shabbat. Rather, it is for failing to be happy.

Job states in 2:10, “Shall we indeed accept good from God and not accept adversity?” Failing to be happy with all that Hashem does shows a lack of faith. It displays a spirit that says Hashem doesn’t run the world as we may please. It states that we can do better than Hashem. For such a haughty attitude, Hashem brings tribulations upon us as stated in the Gemara, “there are no tribulations without prior transgressions.”

Paul states in Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!” Here is a command from Paul to the various congregations to be happy. Worry and saddness are characteristics of the yetzer hara, the evil inclination. The yetzer is always trying to separate us from Hashem. The Master states, “And who of you by being worried can add a single hour to his life?” So how do we remain happy even with all the worries and stress of life?

First and foremost, we should accept all that Hashem does with complete faith and trust. We should never complain because this is tantamount to idolatry. There is a man in the Talmud who repsonded to every situation with the words, “gamzu” [this too] meaning, “this too, is for the good.” James responds similarly when he tells us to “consider it all joy, my bretheren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance” (James 1:2-3).

Second, we should realize that the various things we encounter in life (whether good or less good) come from Hashem to draw us closer to Him. We should respond with every not-so-good situation with teshuvah [repentance] and prayer. Sometimes Hashem sends us difficultites to get our attention as if to say, “My son or daughter, you have forgotten about Me.”

Third, after steps one and two, we should put a big smile on our face and realize that Hashem is in control and running the world. These steps will keep every day full of happiness and joy and help make us better disciples of our righteous Messiah (may He speedily return in our days, Amen).

(Credit: Brian R. Volunteer/ Researcher)

About the Author: Toby Janicki is a teacher, writer and speaker for FFOZ. He is also a writer for messiah magazine and the author of the Restoration Workbook and a new book on the Mezuzah.

Visitor Comments

I didn't see living a life of joy and happines as being as evident in this verse as is serving the Lord and our attitude in so doing. Personally, I see service doing HaShem's tasks He places before us, not necessarily needing to understand His end-game, as growing us in our obedience and respect to our Creater. Our hope and joy simply comes from understanding that the end has been written and bless God He has made a place for us there through Messiah. Thankyou for your work, David.

Posted by: David Kimble | October 27, 2007 5:10 PM

This is just what I needed to hear as the weekend was a series of trials for me. It is so true the Father was trying to get my attention and the still quiet voice inside of me telling me to be still and pray to the Father and to remember Him. I have always thought of myself as a happy person and a person w/a "Polly Anna"attitude.(The attitude 'things will always get better').
This article is just what I needed to read to deciede to be happy and to learn that is is a mitzvah to be happy.
Thank you so much.

Posted by: linda d.thomas | October 29, 2007 9:36 AM

This was a great encouragement to me! I am growing in the season of faith- searching for it more then anything right now- to prepare for end of days- I am going to try to stop complaining in some area's of my life. To say " This too is for MY good". James 1:2-3 is a verse that I am going to study today - joy in trials / produces endurance because my faith has been tested. Faith to endure- totally needed for these days.
Thanks!!!
LB

Posted by: LB | October 29, 2007 11:18 AM

There is and old saying, you learn something new everyday. I never, realized how important, it is to be happy, while we go through the fire. It makes sence, "Those whom He loves, He chastizes." That, is something to be glad about, after all it is for our own good.

Thank you,

MA Rodriguez

Posted by: Melanie A. Rodriguez | October 29, 2007 11:38 AM

I have taken this verse to be a very important life verse in my own life. I used to pray for healing in the Church and almost always, the healing didn't manifest itself until we began to thank and praise Him. I think of this with our Abba Father, when He gives us a gift, isn't it the proper thing to thank Him, even if we don't think of the gift as something we necessarily "love!"

Keep up the "heart" matters of the Torah; we need to hear them over and over!

Posted by: EAJ | October 29, 2007 12:56 PM

In Breaking Bread we present a clear exposition on the traditional blessings before and after meals. Includes halachah, detailed explanations and an introduction to the table blessings of the early believers.

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