August 20, 2024 • 28 mins
The podcast discusses the interpretation of Proverbs 16:20, challenging the idea that it prescribes "belly laughing" for joy and well-being. True biblical joy is not about external expressions like laughter but involves deeper engagement with Scripture. The focus is on understanding and practicing God’s word to achieve genuine peace and contentment.
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Pastor Eric (00:32):
All right, welcome to another episode of faith cast
And this is a ministry of faithbaptist church in visalia, california
(00:58):
host of this podcast and one ofthe pastors at faith baptist church
It is My privilege to be here
And today I want to continue in Wherewe left off last time The Three Biblical
(01:23):
Prescriptions for Improving Mental Health.
And we got through twoof those prescriptions.
And I want to look at the third one.
It's been a busy week for me.
Busy couple weeks, actually.
This week just a couple daysago my granddaughter, my
(01:44):
first granddaughter was born.
And so that's been really a an amazingexperience to become a grandfather
for the first time and hold a littlebaby girl who is my flesh and blood.
And those of you who don't know me I'mWell, those of you do know me, know that
I have seven boys and there are no girls.
(02:08):
And I tell people I kept having kids,kept hoping that they would be a girl.
And so we ended up with all these boys,which, you know, I love, I love my boys,
but I always wanted to have a little girl.
And that was not in God's planfor us, although we did have a
couple miscarriages along the way.
So and I never did find out.
What the gender they were.
(02:29):
So maybe I have a daughterin heaven, I don't know.
But I do know I have a granddaughterand she is absolutely beautiful.
And what a what a joy.
What a, what a, what an amazinggift God gives to mankind.
So much better than animals.
People sometimes treat their, theirpuppies like they're their little kids.
(02:54):
And, you know, I'm not against animals,but there's nothing like holding a
precious little baby that is bornEspecially a granddaughter, a little girl.
So, what, what, it's been a greatlast couple days for me, but I'm
also very excited to be here.
And I want to look at the thirdbiblical prescription from
(03:19):
the biblical prescription forfor improving mental health.
And this is from a a cardiologist, adoctor who is offering the scripture.
I think they've put together a Bible studyprogram kind of like this and and so I
(03:39):
just wanted to go through and, you know,what are the prescriptions coming from,
prescriptions coming from this guy andis it worth looking into the Bible study.
And my main point in doing this isjust being able to just help us think.
Rightly.
about how to handle the word.
(04:00):
And these, these are basic examples.
But there are all kinds of examples whereit gets far more intricate in in the
way that people mishandle the scripture.
And if you don't handle thescripture right, you will not get
the biblical prescriptions right.
And so anyway, let's jump in here.
The third biblical prescriptionfor improving mental health.
(04:24):
We'll jump in.
I think he's going to summarize.
The first two and thengive us the third one.
So let's find out what it is.
Here we go.
Number one, prescription being outside.
Number two, prescriptionwater and living water.
And now let's look atprescription number three.
And we're going to the proverbsfor that proverbs, proverbs,
(04:48):
proverbs, 16, six versus 20.
So the third biblical prescriptionI like to leave with you
today is one of happiness.
You know, in this world that we're in, alot of people are pretty They're uptight.
They're not happy.
(05:08):
Well, it's okay to laugh.
It's okay to focus on happy things.
It's okay to do things that are fun.
It's okay to see the lighter side in life.
It's okay to belly laugh.
All right.
That's interesting.
Let me read Proverbs 16 20.
He's going to read it here.
(05:30):
But let me just.
Preface it a second here.
He says Preface 1620, Preface1620 says that he who considers
the word will find good and howblessed is he who trusts in Yahweh.
Now, I don't know whattranslations he is using.
Maybe his translation talks about bellylaughing, but I don't see it in this text.
(05:57):
He who considers the wordwill find good and how blessed
is he who trusts in Yahweh.
Certainly there's implicationsfor joy here but I'm curious
to see where, how he's going todraw this out if he even does.
Let's let's continue.
Well, in Proverbs 16, 20, it's anotherbiblical prescription, and it says this,
(06:23):
The word wisely will find good and whoeverTrust in the Lord Happy is he okay, so
that's where he's getting happy is he?
My version says how blessed okay,that's that's you know, that's I
don't know what translations use andyou know Maybe the NIV or something
(06:45):
like that Fine, it's it's not a badhat being blessed and being happy is
They're they're the similar ideas.
So, that's where he's getting, He whotrusts in Yahweh, how happy is he.
And that is an absolute truth.
Those who trust in the Lord,that's the only source of joy.
(07:07):
And so, we'll see ifhe I, I, I'm just nuts.
I get, like, happiness.
But I don't understandthe belly laugh thing.
I don't get that this prescriptionsounds like he's saying that to His
prescription is based in Proverbs16 20 is you need to belly laugh.
(07:29):
You need to laugh more
But this is this is reallyan indicative statement here.
How blessed is he who trusts in Yahweh.
This is a result of thosewho trust in Yahweh.
So let me just listen a littlemore, give some more context here.
It doesn't necessarily mean thatwe have to be giddy and laugh all
(07:52):
the time, even though that helps usmake a chemical called endorphins.
So when we trust in the Lord.
So we don't have to be giddy andlaugh all the time, even though that
creates a chemical called endorphins.
So if we want the endorphins, again,this is a physical, he keeps going
physical, very, very physiological.
(08:13):
He is a doctor, I meanthat's his whole world.
And I said this I think lasttime, like I'm not, I'm not
trying to make fun of this guy.
I think he's probably a good doctor.
I'm not trying to pick on him, I'mjust trying to show examples of how
scripture can be used in a way thatis not the way it should be used.
(08:34):
Just to teach us how to do this.
So, but, but he keeps going physiological.
Seems like his world is physical.
Which makes sense.
He's a cardiologist.
And he's, you know, he's a professingbeliever, it seems, probably is but I
think he needs to study how to use, youknow, how to study the Bible and how
(08:58):
to use the scripture because he keepsbringing it back to physiological,
but let's listen a little more.
When we worship him, when we realizethat the trials of this world, including
anxiety and depression and fear.
Well, when we trust inthe Lord, guess what?
He promises that we would happy as he,he would give us a place inside where
(09:22):
we know that even though we face trials,sometimes he's allows our trials,
including problems with mental health,to make us stronger, to increase.
It's that relationship because God seesus forever, not just for the here and now.
Okay.
I kept pausing in it because Ithought he was done and then I was
(09:42):
like, wait, he had more to say.
So that's why it started a littlebit, but I agree with that.
You know, what are you saying?
He's describing what the verse is saying.
So he considers the word will find good.
How blessed is he who trustsin you, who trusts in Yahweh.
If you trust in the Lord.
He will make you he will give you joy.
(10:03):
This is the only way to happiness.
So this is true what he is saying.
That's a good use of, well, it's thevery basic use of Proverbs 16, 20.
But, He's going to go back to thebelly laugh idea here in just a minute.
Let's listen a little bit longer.
(10:25):
So many of us battle with mentalhealth, but these are some things
that we can do biblical prescriptions.
And when we're outside, wehave physiologic changes.
When we drink water.
We also can improve our body body.
We're happy and see thegood side of things.
And when we trust in God and wehave that peace that comes from that
(10:45):
relationship, we have true joy insideand also, you know, getting back to
happiness, you know, one thing thathelps me, and you might want to try
this is, you know, sometimes when you'refeeling bad, you might be a little
depressed, might be a little unhappy,just find something funny to laugh at.
Okay.
That's.
(11:05):
That's I feel like this is where hewanted to go all along, I mean he
started with that idea, that, youknow, the, the happiness, we're, the,
the third prescription and then hesays it's the belly laugh, goes to
Proverbs 16, 20 and then he describeswhat it's saying here, which is true,
like this is the only way to have joy.
But then he goes back to the belly laugh.
(11:28):
It's because he, he keeps goingback to the physiological.
And Proverbs 16, 20 is that there'sphysiological outworking from it.
There, there is a promise that youare blessed, you are happy, you will
have joy if you trust in the Lord.
(11:49):
I'm pretty sure that people cango through very difficult times in
their lives in, Never belly laughand yet have that joy that is what
God does for those who trust in him.
(12:11):
So this is kind of a mixed bag herebecause he's giving What is true, but
he keeps going back to what I thinkis actually his prescription and
that is that you need to belly laugh.
You need to laugh.
Proverbs 16 20 is telling youthat you need to laugh more.
And in fact, he'll continuesaying exactly this.
(12:35):
Listen.
Or some people just laugh at themselves.
Just laughing out loud initself creates chemistry
endorphins that are good for you.
So even if you don't haveanything that's funny, just
occasionally go through the motion.
(13:00):
Just by, okay.
See, that made me laugh.
It's good to laugh.
I like to laugh.
It's, it's fun to be around people who whomake me laugh and we, we, we enjoy humor.
That's, that's true.
There are, there are good feelingsthat come from laughing, but that
(13:23):
has nothing to do with Proverbs 16.
20.
Has nothing to do with Proverbs 16.
This is not about just laughing.
When you're going throughhard things, Proverbs 16.
20 tells you to bellylaugh, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
That's not what this is saying thatyou, you're going to miss the depth of
(13:49):
what this text is actually telling us.
If you follow this guy's line ofthinking, I mean, you could see it in
Proverbs 16 from the very beginning.
And actually there's this idea ofhaving a happy heart and being gladdened
of heart, like Proverbs 1530, brighteyes, gladden the heart, a good
(14:11):
report puts fat fat on the bones.
And so there's physiological.
Responses to somebody whointernally in their spirit is,
is has joy and is at peace.
And then it, and then it describesthose who are not at peace.
Verse 15, verse 32, he who neglectsdiscipline despises his soul.
(14:32):
And so there's misery.
But he who listens to reproofacquires a heart of wisdom.
And then it talks about the fear ofYahweh is a discipline leading to
wisdom, but before glory comes humility.
This idea of being disciplined.
Well, being disciplined in what?
Well, in pursuing wisdom.
(14:52):
It's, it's trying to tellus where joy comes from.
It's not saying, hey, when you'remiserable, just laugh out loud.
What it's saying is, you needto know How to find wisdom.
And if you find wisdom, that'sthe source of inner peace and joy.
And that is what Proverbs 16 is about.
(15:14):
You know, Proverbs 16, 1, theplans of the heart belong to man.
So there's man making his plan.
Plans, but the answer ofthe tongue is from Yahweh.
God is in control.
He's the one who's ultimately directing.
He's the one who's actually providingthe answers and the purposes and
the, the, the action, the activity.
(15:35):
So God is sovereign.
And then verse 2, all the ways aman appear in his own sight, in his
own thinking, he thinks he's great.
But, but you've got to dive deepbeyond the, the external in, in,
in what your natural tendency isto think, and you've got to look
deeper to where the Lord looks.
Verse 16, verse 2, theYahweh weighs the motives.
(15:58):
The Lord knows the heartbetter than you do.
He knows your actual motives.
Everybody boasts of their owngoodness, but the Lord knows
what is going on in the heart.
And then verse three, commit your works toYahweh and your plans will be established.
This is all a God centered worldview,that he is in control, he is sovereign,
(16:24):
and that our job as believers isto submit to him and to his word.
You can see this, it's just, this,this chapter is just loaded with
God being the one who is in control.
God being the one that wesubmit to, that we serve.
Verse 4, Yahweh's madeeverything for its own purpose.
(16:46):
Even the wicked for the day of evil.
This is all His doing.
Even the wicked.
Are not outside of his domain andhis control and his authority.
God has created them for the day of evil.
You know, get your mind around that.
Meditate on that.
Think about that.
That's quite a thought.
(17:07):
Everyone who is proud in heartis an abomination to Yahweh.
Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.
All the prideful peoplewill be punished in hell.
By loving kindness and truth,iniquity is atoned for.
And by the fear of Yahweh,one turns away from evil.
When man's ways are pleasingto Yahweh, he makes even his
(17:29):
enemies to be at peace with him.
It just, it's just directing the innermotives of the heart toward a God centered
perspective in, in, in orientation.
So that everything you dois with the, I to the Lord.
(17:49):
There's a fear of God that he'sgoing to punish all who are prideful.
And then there's the humblewho will humble themselves.
Well, how do they humble themselves?
Well, by submitting to the scripture,by submitting to God's word and by
obeying it, by letting it permeate.
But this is why Proverbs is constantlyreferring to bringing us back to
(18:13):
this, this concept of pursuing wisdom.
We need to be those who pursue wisdom.
How do we do that?
God's word, knowing who God is.
If you do this, thenthere's these benefits.
And it goes on and describes,verse 16, it says, how much better
(18:34):
is it to acquire wisdom than finegold and to acquire understanding
is to be chosen above silver.
So, so.
It's much better to bewise than to be rich.
And then it's got the warnings.
Pride goes before destruction, ahaughty spirit before the stomach.
So it's better than to be humblein spirit with the lowly than to
(18:56):
divide the spoil with the proud.
It is better to submit yourselfto the truth and to pursue God.
in knowledge, and to pursue him inholiness, and to pursue his word, to
know what he says, to know what heactually says, what are the actual
biblical prescriptions for you, becauseman looks on the outward, but God works
(19:16):
on the heart, all the ways a man appearin his own sight, but Yahweh considers
the motives, he weighs the motives,
and it is only then theone who considers the word.
That we'll find good.
This is the verse.
Our doctor got his prescription from.
He who considers the word we'll find good.
(19:38):
And how blessed is he who trusts inYahweh, the one who is considering
pondering, meditating on wisdom,on the word, on God's revealed.
word.
That's where the joy comes from.
(20:00):
And this is, this is where a personcan be going through difficulties in
their lives trials and hardships andnever lose that joy because it is not,
it is not rooted in physiological.
It is rooted in a deep trust that God willnever let any one of his promises fail,
(20:30):
that he has never failed.
that he's never in crisis mode.
He knows exactly whathe's doing at all times.
And his word reveals it to us withvery specific details, what God
is doing, where he is going, thepurpose of trials in our lives,
(20:51):
so that we are, we have no excusefor for not trusting in him.
That's really what Proverbs16 is, is speaking of.
Insight is the fountain oflife to the one who has it.
That this is, we're talkingabout knowledge, knowledge of
(21:13):
God, knowledge of his word.
The discipline of theignorant fools is folly.
I mean, this contrast between theone who is pursuing life and the
one who is pursuing death, the wiseman is pursuing the, the word of
(21:33):
God in wisdom, in knowledge of God.
The fools come under discipline and it,their, their ignorance is their folly.
It produces folly.
The heart of the wise gives insight to themouth and increases learning to his lip.
Pleasant words are honeycomb sweetto the soul and healing to the bone.
(21:54):
That this is speaking of God'sword and speaking of the heart
of the one who is pursuing it.
This has zero to do with belly laughing.
This has zero to do with someendorphins that you can trigger
(22:16):
by just choosing to laugh.
Ha ha ha.
And even if he'ssandwiching a true but weak
understanding of Proverbs 1620, that those who trust in the
Lord there's joy, that's true.
(22:39):
But even though he has that truth,he's got it sandwiched in with
this very wrong understanding.
of what the Word of God is driving ustoward, which is not physiological.
It doesn't mean there aren'tphysiological benefits.
Of course there are.
(22:59):
There's blessings.
Like, joy is something you feel.
Happiness is something you feel.
It's a byproduct of someone who has peace.
Somebody who is trusting in the Lordand who is trusting in His Word.
And you don't need to bellylaugh to have that peace.
(23:23):
You don't need to just laugh outloud sometimes to have that joy.
This is something God gives.
It's exactly what Philippians4 says, that you need to be
somebody who thinks what is true.
I'll read it here.
I preached on this, this last Sunday.
4 verse 8 says, Finally, brothers,whatever is true, whatever is
(23:47):
dignified, Whatever is right, whateveris pure, whatever is lovely, whatever
is commendable, if there's anyexcellence, if there's anything worthy
of praise, consider these things.
That's really what Proverbs 16 is saying.
Ponder it.
Think about it.
And then it says, the things you havelearned and received and heard and
seen in me, practice these things.
So not only think about it, but do it.
(24:10):
You, you are proving that you believe itis true and you are pursuing the, the,
the wisdom of God and the knowledge ofGod by living it out, by practicing it.
Nobody who refuses to practicethe truth actually believes it.
You believe it and therefore you do it.
(24:31):
A lot of people get that confused becausethey'll say, Oh yeah, I believe that.
But their life doesn't demonstrate.
No, you don't believe it.
You believe what you do.
I mean, you see this everywhere.
People that who believe that theworld is coming to an end who are
absolutely convinced, you know, youcan see by their, their, their, often
their prep, prepper lifestyle, right?
(24:52):
Do you see those preppers andyou're, and you look at them and
they've got, their house is justfull of food and full of stuff.
Cause they're just expecting total chaos.
And you say, wow, you reallybelieve that the end is coming.
Yeah.
Well, how do you know?
Because they, they're, they're,they're everything about their
life demonstrated, demonstrates it.
And you need that kind of.
(25:13):
And not to offend you preppers out there,but sometimes you go a little crazy.
You need to have that equal zealand, and, and crazy for God's word
more than anything else because youknow the, it is only through that
(25:36):
pursuit of God, his word, and throughwisdom that you're gonna find joy.
In fact, he says it's proverbin Philippians four, verse nine.
He says, if you practice these things.
The God of peace will be with you.
This is the only way.
So he said this this doctor has saidso far that if you, you know, want to
(26:02):
apply these principles, then you needto go outside more, you need to drink
more water, and you need to belly laugh.
And I'm telling you that you just needto learn how to read and study your Bible
and then practice what you see there.
(26:23):
Be a true believer andyou will find peace.
You will find joy.
You will find no regrets because God knowshow we are created and we were created
to know him, and this is the only way.
So that's it.
That's, that's what Proverbs 16 is about.
(26:46):
That's what the book of Proverbs is about.
That's what the Bible is about.
Pursue God through his word andtrust his word, which is evident.
By how you live out his word.
All right, welcome to another episode of faith cast
And this is a ministry of faithbaptist church in visalia, california
(00:58):
host of this podcast and one ofthe pastors at faith baptist church
It is My privilege to be here
And today I want to continue in Wherewe left off last time The Three Biblical
(01:23):
Prescriptions for Improving Mental Health.
And we got through twoof those prescriptions.
And I want to look at the third one.
It's been a busy week for me.
Busy couple weeks, actually.
This week just a couple daysago my granddaughter, my
(01:44):
first granddaughter was born.
And so that's been really a an amazingexperience to become a grandfather
for the first time and hold a littlebaby girl who is my flesh and blood.
And those of you who don't know me I'mWell, those of you do know me, know that
I have seven boys and there are no girls.
(02:08):
And I tell people I kept having kids,kept hoping that they would be a girl.
And so we ended up with all these boys,which, you know, I love, I love my boys,
but I always wanted to have a little girl.
And that was not in God's planfor us, although we did have a
couple miscarriages along the way.
So and I never did find out.
What the gender they were.
(02:29):
So maybe I have a daughterin heaven, I don't know.
But I do know I have a granddaughterand she is absolutely beautiful.
And what a what a joy.
What a, what a, what an amazinggift God gives to mankind.
So much better than animals.
People sometimes treat their, theirpuppies like they're their little kids.
(02:54):
And, you know, I'm not against animals,but there's nothing like holding a
precious little baby that is bornEspecially a granddaughter, a little girl.
So, what, what, it's been a greatlast couple days for me, but I'm
also very excited to be here.
And I want to look at the thirdbiblical prescription from
(03:19):
the biblical prescription forfor improving mental health.
And this is from a a cardiologist, adoctor who is offering the scripture.
I think they've put together a Bible studyprogram kind of like this and and so I
(03:39):
just wanted to go through and, you know,what are the prescriptions coming from,
prescriptions coming from this guy andis it worth looking into the Bible study.
And my main point in doing this isjust being able to just help us think.
Rightly.
about how to handle the word.
(04:00):
And these, these are basic examples.
But there are all kinds of examples whereit gets far more intricate in in the
way that people mishandle the scripture.
And if you don't handle thescripture right, you will not get
the biblical prescriptions right.
And so anyway, let's jump in here.
The third biblical prescriptionfor improving mental health.
(04:24):
We'll jump in.
I think he's going to summarize.
The first two and thengive us the third one.
So let's find out what it is.
Here we go.
Number one, prescription being outside.
Number two, prescriptionwater and living water.
And now let's look atprescription number three.
And we're going to the proverbsfor that proverbs, proverbs,
(04:48):
proverbs, 16, six versus 20.
So the third biblical prescriptionI like to leave with you
today is one of happiness.
You know, in this world that we're in, alot of people are pretty They're uptight.
They're not happy.
(05:08):
Well, it's okay to laugh.
It's okay to focus on happy things.
It's okay to do things that are fun.
It's okay to see the lighter side in life.
It's okay to belly laugh.
All right.
That's interesting.
Let me read Proverbs 16 20.
He's going to read it here.
(05:30):
But let me just.
Preface it a second here.
He says Preface 1620, Preface1620 says that he who considers
the word will find good and howblessed is he who trusts in Yahweh.
Now, I don't know whattranslations he is using.
Maybe his translation talks about bellylaughing, but I don't see it in this text.
(05:57):
He who considers the wordwill find good and how blessed
is he who trusts in Yahweh.
Certainly there's implicationsfor joy here but I'm curious
to see where, how he's going todraw this out if he even does.
Let's let's continue.
Well, in Proverbs 16, 20, it's anotherbiblical prescription, and it says this,
(06:23):
The word wisely will find good and whoeverTrust in the Lord Happy is he okay, so
that's where he's getting happy is he?
My version says how blessed okay,that's that's you know, that's I
don't know what translations use andyou know Maybe the NIV or something
(06:45):
like that Fine, it's it's not a badhat being blessed and being happy is
They're they're the similar ideas.
So, that's where he's getting, He whotrusts in Yahweh, how happy is he.
And that is an absolute truth.
Those who trust in the Lord,that's the only source of joy.
(07:07):
And so, we'll see ifhe I, I, I'm just nuts.
I get, like, happiness.
But I don't understandthe belly laugh thing.
I don't get that this prescriptionsounds like he's saying that to His
prescription is based in Proverbs16 20 is you need to belly laugh.
(07:29):
You need to laugh more
But this is this is reallyan indicative statement here.
How blessed is he who trusts in Yahweh.
This is a result of thosewho trust in Yahweh.
So let me just listen a littlemore, give some more context here.
It doesn't necessarily mean thatwe have to be giddy and laugh all
(07:52):
the time, even though that helps usmake a chemical called endorphins.
So when we trust in the Lord.
So we don't have to be giddy andlaugh all the time, even though that
creates a chemical called endorphins.
So if we want the endorphins, again,this is a physical, he keeps going
physical, very, very physiological.
(08:13):
He is a doctor, I meanthat's his whole world.
And I said this I think lasttime, like I'm not, I'm not
trying to make fun of this guy.
I think he's probably a good doctor.
I'm not trying to pick on him, I'mjust trying to show examples of how
scripture can be used in a way thatis not the way it should be used.
(08:34):
Just to teach us how to do this.
So, but, but he keeps going physiological.
Seems like his world is physical.
Which makes sense.
He's a cardiologist.
And he's, you know, he's a professingbeliever, it seems, probably is but I
think he needs to study how to use, youknow, how to study the Bible and how
(08:58):
to use the scripture because he keepsbringing it back to physiological,
but let's listen a little more.
When we worship him, when we realizethat the trials of this world, including
anxiety and depression and fear.
Well, when we trust inthe Lord, guess what?
He promises that we would happy as he,he would give us a place inside where
(09:22):
we know that even though we face trials,sometimes he's allows our trials,
including problems with mental health,to make us stronger, to increase.
It's that relationship because God seesus forever, not just for the here and now.
Okay.
I kept pausing in it because Ithought he was done and then I was
(09:42):
like, wait, he had more to say.
So that's why it started a littlebit, but I agree with that.
You know, what are you saying?
He's describing what the verse is saying.
So he considers the word will find good.
How blessed is he who trustsin you, who trusts in Yahweh.
If you trust in the Lord.
He will make you he will give you joy.
(10:03):
This is the only way to happiness.
So this is true what he is saying.
That's a good use of, well, it's thevery basic use of Proverbs 16, 20.
But, He's going to go back to thebelly laugh idea here in just a minute.
Let's listen a little bit longer.
(10:25):
So many of us battle with mentalhealth, but these are some things
that we can do biblical prescriptions.
And when we're outside, wehave physiologic changes.
When we drink water.
We also can improve our body body.
We're happy and see thegood side of things.
And when we trust in God and wehave that peace that comes from that
(10:45):
relationship, we have true joy insideand also, you know, getting back to
happiness, you know, one thing thathelps me, and you might want to try
this is, you know, sometimes when you'refeeling bad, you might be a little
depressed, might be a little unhappy,just find something funny to laugh at.
Okay.
That's.
(11:05):
That's I feel like this is where hewanted to go all along, I mean he
started with that idea, that, youknow, the, the happiness, we're, the,
the third prescription and then hesays it's the belly laugh, goes to
Proverbs 16, 20 and then he describeswhat it's saying here, which is true,
like this is the only way to have joy.
But then he goes back to the belly laugh.
(11:28):
It's because he, he keeps goingback to the physiological.
And Proverbs 16, 20 is that there'sphysiological outworking from it.
There, there is a promise that youare blessed, you are happy, you will
have joy if you trust in the Lord.
(11:49):
I'm pretty sure that people cango through very difficult times in
their lives in, Never belly laughand yet have that joy that is what
God does for those who trust in him.
(12:11):
So this is kind of a mixed bag herebecause he's giving What is true, but
he keeps going back to what I thinkis actually his prescription and
that is that you need to belly laugh.
You need to laugh.
Proverbs 16 20 is telling youthat you need to laugh more.
And in fact, he'll continuesaying exactly this.
(12:35):
Listen.
Or some people just laugh at themselves.
Just laughing out loud initself creates chemistry
endorphins that are good for you.
So even if you don't haveanything that's funny, just
occasionally go through the motion.
(13:00):
Just by, okay.
See, that made me laugh.
It's good to laugh.
I like to laugh.
It's, it's fun to be around people who whomake me laugh and we, we, we enjoy humor.
That's, that's true.
There are, there are good feelingsthat come from laughing, but that
(13:23):
has nothing to do with Proverbs 16.
20.
Has nothing to do with Proverbs 16.
This is not about just laughing.
When you're going throughhard things, Proverbs 16.
20 tells you to bellylaugh, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
That's not what this is saying thatyou, you're going to miss the depth of
(13:49):
what this text is actually telling us.
If you follow this guy's line ofthinking, I mean, you could see it in
Proverbs 16 from the very beginning.
And actually there's this idea ofhaving a happy heart and being gladdened
of heart, like Proverbs 1530, brighteyes, gladden the heart, a good
(14:11):
report puts fat fat on the bones.
And so there's physiological.
Responses to somebody whointernally in their spirit is,
is has joy and is at peace.
And then it, and then it describesthose who are not at peace.
Verse 15, verse 32, he who neglectsdiscipline despises his soul.
(14:32):
And so there's misery.
But he who listens to reproofacquires a heart of wisdom.
And then it talks about the fear ofYahweh is a discipline leading to
wisdom, but before glory comes humility.
This idea of being disciplined.
Well, being disciplined in what?
Well, in pursuing wisdom.
(14:52):
It's, it's trying to tellus where joy comes from.
It's not saying, hey, when you'remiserable, just laugh out loud.
What it's saying is, you needto know How to find wisdom.
And if you find wisdom, that'sthe source of inner peace and joy.
And that is what Proverbs 16 is about.
(15:14):
You know, Proverbs 16, 1, theplans of the heart belong to man.
So there's man making his plan.
Plans, but the answer ofthe tongue is from Yahweh.
God is in control.
He's the one who's ultimately directing.
He's the one who's actually providingthe answers and the purposes and
the, the, the action, the activity.
(15:35):
So God is sovereign.
And then verse 2, all the ways aman appear in his own sight, in his
own thinking, he thinks he's great.
But, but you've got to dive deepbeyond the, the external in, in,
in what your natural tendency isto think, and you've got to look
deeper to where the Lord looks.
Verse 16, verse 2, theYahweh weighs the motives.
(15:58):
The Lord knows the heartbetter than you do.
He knows your actual motives.
Everybody boasts of their owngoodness, but the Lord knows
what is going on in the heart.
And then verse three, commit your works toYahweh and your plans will be established.
This is all a God centered worldview,that he is in control, he is sovereign,
(16:24):
and that our job as believers isto submit to him and to his word.
You can see this, it's just, this,this chapter is just loaded with
God being the one who is in control.
God being the one that wesubmit to, that we serve.
Verse 4, Yahweh's madeeverything for its own purpose.
(16:46):
Even the wicked for the day of evil.
This is all His doing.
Even the wicked.
Are not outside of his domain andhis control and his authority.
God has created them for the day of evil.
You know, get your mind around that.
Meditate on that.
Think about that.
That's quite a thought.
(17:07):
Everyone who is proud in heartis an abomination to Yahweh.
Assuredly, he will not be unpunished.
All the prideful peoplewill be punished in hell.
By loving kindness and truth,iniquity is atoned for.
And by the fear of Yahweh,one turns away from evil.
When man's ways are pleasingto Yahweh, he makes even his
(17:29):
enemies to be at peace with him.
It just, it's just directing the innermotives of the heart toward a God centered
perspective in, in, in orientation.
So that everything you dois with the, I to the Lord.
(17:49):
There's a fear of God that he'sgoing to punish all who are prideful.
And then there's the humblewho will humble themselves.
Well, how do they humble themselves?
Well, by submitting to the scripture,by submitting to God's word and by
obeying it, by letting it permeate.
But this is why Proverbs is constantlyreferring to bringing us back to
(18:13):
this, this concept of pursuing wisdom.
We need to be those who pursue wisdom.
How do we do that?
God's word, knowing who God is.
If you do this, thenthere's these benefits.
And it goes on and describes,verse 16, it says, how much better
(18:34):
is it to acquire wisdom than finegold and to acquire understanding
is to be chosen above silver.
So, so.
It's much better to bewise than to be rich.
And then it's got the warnings.
Pride goes before destruction, ahaughty spirit before the stomach.
So it's better than to be humblein spirit with the lowly than to
(18:56):
divide the spoil with the proud.
It is better to submit yourselfto the truth and to pursue God.
in knowledge, and to pursue him inholiness, and to pursue his word, to
know what he says, to know what heactually says, what are the actual
biblical prescriptions for you, becauseman looks on the outward, but God works
(19:16):
on the heart, all the ways a man appearin his own sight, but Yahweh considers
the motives, he weighs the motives,
and it is only then theone who considers the word.
That we'll find good.
This is the verse.
Our doctor got his prescription from.
He who considers the word we'll find good.
(19:38):
And how blessed is he who trusts inYahweh, the one who is considering
pondering, meditating on wisdom,on the word, on God's revealed.
word.
That's where the joy comes from.
(20:00):
And this is, this is where a personcan be going through difficulties in
their lives trials and hardships andnever lose that joy because it is not,
it is not rooted in physiological.
It is rooted in a deep trust that God willnever let any one of his promises fail,
(20:30):
that he has never failed.
that he's never in crisis mode.
He knows exactly whathe's doing at all times.
And his word reveals it to us withvery specific details, what God
is doing, where he is going, thepurpose of trials in our lives,
(20:51):
so that we are, we have no excusefor for not trusting in him.
That's really what Proverbs16 is, is speaking of.
Insight is the fountain oflife to the one who has it.
That this is, we're talkingabout knowledge, knowledge of
(21:13):
God, knowledge of his word.
The discipline of theignorant fools is folly.
I mean, this contrast between theone who is pursuing life and the
one who is pursuing death, the wiseman is pursuing the, the word of
(21:33):
God in wisdom, in knowledge of God.
The fools come under discipline and it,their, their ignorance is their folly.
It produces folly.
The heart of the wise gives insight to themouth and increases learning to his lip.
Pleasant words are honeycomb sweetto the soul and healing to the bone.
(21:54):
That this is speaking of God'sword and speaking of the heart
of the one who is pursuing it.
This has zero to do with belly laughing.
This has zero to do with someendorphins that you can trigger
(22:16):
by just choosing to laugh.
Ha ha ha.
And even if he'ssandwiching a true but weak
understanding of Proverbs 1620, that those who trust in the
Lord there's joy, that's true.
(22:39):
But even though he has that truth,he's got it sandwiched in with
this very wrong understanding.
of what the Word of God is driving ustoward, which is not physiological.
It doesn't mean there aren'tphysiological benefits.
Of course there are.
(22:59):
There's blessings.
Like, joy is something you feel.
Happiness is something you feel.
It's a byproduct of someone who has peace.
Somebody who is trusting in the Lordand who is trusting in His Word.
And you don't need to bellylaugh to have that peace.
(23:23):
You don't need to just laugh outloud sometimes to have that joy.
This is something God gives.
It's exactly what Philippians4 says, that you need to be
somebody who thinks what is true.
I'll read it here.
I preached on this, this last Sunday.
4 verse 8 says, Finally, brothers,whatever is true, whatever is
(23:47):
dignified, Whatever is right, whateveris pure, whatever is lovely, whatever
is commendable, if there's anyexcellence, if there's anything worthy
of praise, consider these things.
That's really what Proverbs 16 is saying.
Ponder it.
Think about it.
And then it says, the things you havelearned and received and heard and
seen in me, practice these things.
So not only think about it, but do it.
(24:10):
You, you are proving that you believe itis true and you are pursuing the, the,
the wisdom of God and the knowledge ofGod by living it out, by practicing it.
Nobody who refuses to practicethe truth actually believes it.
You believe it and therefore you do it.
(24:31):
A lot of people get that confused becausethey'll say, Oh yeah, I believe that.
But their life doesn't demonstrate.
No, you don't believe it.
You believe what you do.
I mean, you see this everywhere.
People that who believe that theworld is coming to an end who are
absolutely convinced, you know, youcan see by their, their, their, often
their prep, prepper lifestyle, right?
(24:52):
Do you see those preppers andyou're, and you look at them and
they've got, their house is justfull of food and full of stuff.
Cause they're just expecting total chaos.
And you say, wow, you reallybelieve that the end is coming.
Yeah.
Well, how do you know?
Because they, they're, they're,they're everything about their
life demonstrated, demonstrates it.
And you need that kind of.
(25:13):
And not to offend you preppers out there,but sometimes you go a little crazy.
You need to have that equal zealand, and, and crazy for God's word
more than anything else because youknow the, it is only through that
(25:36):
pursuit of God, his word, and throughwisdom that you're gonna find joy.
In fact, he says it's proverbin Philippians four, verse nine.
He says, if you practice these things.
The God of peace will be with you.
This is the only way.
So he said this this doctor has saidso far that if you, you know, want to
(26:02):
apply these principles, then you needto go outside more, you need to drink
more water, and you need to belly laugh.
And I'm telling you that you just needto learn how to read and study your Bible
and then practice what you see there.
(26:23):
Be a true believer andyou will find peace.
You will find joy.
You will find no regrets because God knowshow we are created and we were created
to know him, and this is the only way.
So that's it.
That's, that's what Proverbs 16 is about.
(26:46):
That's what the book of Proverbs is about.
That's what the Bible is about.
Pursue God through his word andtrust his word, which is evident.
By how you live out his word.
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