Many people today think of being blessed as having possessions or money, and being happy as simply feeling good. In Psalms and elsewhere in the Bible, to be blessed or happy means receiving God's gifts and doing what God wants done.

Sometimes blessings or happiness does involve possessions. For example, having food to eat, a place to live, and a family are signs of God's blessing (Ps 127.3; 128.4,5; 144.12-15). All these things are gifts from God that make life and a future possible. But, there is more to life than that. True life means to be connected to God, and true blessing or happiness involves being open to God's teaching and living as God wants (Ps 1.1,2; 119.1,14,174).

This is why the psalm writers can be happy even when things seem to be all wrong with their lives. Many psalms are prayers for help. In these prayers, authors complain bitterly of being oppressed, of being opposed by enemies, and of being surrounded by troubles of all kinds. But they still are happy because they trust that God “blesses and protects everyone who runs to him” (Ps 2.12). Such trust is what it means to be connected to God. This kind of happiness leads people to obey God joyfully and to become like God in what they do (see Ps 41.1,2; 112.1-4). Their blessing will also result in blessings for others, as God promised Abraham (Gen 12.1-3).

This kind of happiness is what Jesus told people about. He invited people not to do what they wanted, but instead to “Turn back to God!” (Matt 4.17). For Jesus and for his followers, this means suffering (Matt 16.21-24). But living as God wants means true blessing or happiness. According to Jesus, “God will bless you when people insult you, mistreat you, and tell all kinds of evil lies about you, all because you are a follower of the Son of Man” (Matt 5.11). The prayers for help in Psalms are prayed by people who are being insulted, mistreated, and lied about (for example, see Ps 9.13; 13.4; 17.9; 109.2-5). But because God is on their side, they know what true happiness is all about (Ps 119.92).