A Merry Heart
by Jody L. Apple

"Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, but a good word makes it glad." (Pr 12:25); "A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance, but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken. All the days of the afflicted are evil, but he who is of a merry heart has a continual feast." (Pr 15:13,15); "The heart knows its own bitterness, and a stranger does not share its joy. A sound heart is life to the body, but envy is rottenness to the bones." (Pr 14:10, 30); "A merry heart does good, like medicine, but a broken spirit dries the bones." (Pr 17:22)

    What does it mean to have a merry heart? Whatever it is, the verses cited above make it sound like it is something desirable, something that can even benefit us physically.

    Even the wisdom of this age recognizes that our attitude affects our physical health. I have personally witnessed a physician tell a patient's family that without the will to live (definitely a positive attitude toward one's life), the physical treatment offered by his staff would be insufficient to keep him alive.

    Surely we can sing the praises of having PMA (positive mental attitude). All the great sales gurus (Ziglar, Stone, Nightingale, Hopkins, et. al.) chant that mantra. But that is not the central thrust of a "merry heart" in Proverbs. God does not just want people to "feel good about themselves." Without a proper basis for "feeling good," positive attitude alone is inadequate, if not downright empty.

    What then is to be gained from passages that speak of having a "merry heart?" First, we must understand that "merriness" in these contexts is not happiness at any cost. It is not a "don't worry, be happy" stoic-like response. It is not a worldly "eat, drink and be merry" as expressed by Solomon or the "rich fool" (Ec 8:15; Lk 12:19). The term has a greater meaning than that.

    The word translated as "merry" appears five times in Proverbs. In 2:14 and 29:16 the term appears as "rejoice," in 15:13 and 17:22 as "merry," and in 17:5 as "glad." Elsewhere in the old testament it appears three times as some form of "merry" (1 Kgs 4:20; Es 5:14; Is 2:7); three times as a form of "glad" (2 Ch 7:10; Es 8:15; Ps 126:3); and twelve times as a form of joy (usually "rejoice", cf. Dt 16;15; 1 Kg 1:40, 45; 8:66; 2 Kg 11:14; 2 Ch 23:13; Es 5:9; Jb 3:22; Ps 35:26; 113:9; Ec 2:10; Am 6:13). The Hebrew term (sameach) simply means joyful, merry, glad; which is why it is usually translated as some form of these three.

    Second, an evaluation of the term "merry" in its contexts in Proverbs and elsewhere, demonstrates that the "merriment" ("rejoicing") intended is one closely tied to a knowledge of God and God's word. This is especially important as we see how that term is also tied to the term "heart" in Proverbs. "Heart" is usually associated exclusively with emotion, but biblically the term also refers to the intellect, as well as the will of man. These latter two elements are most notable in "heart" passages in Proverbs (cf. Pr 2:2; 10; 3:1, 3, 5; 4:4, 21; 6:21; 7:3; 10:8; et. al.)

    Third, in Proverbs the "heart" that is "merry" is a heart that knows God and His will, is living in obedience to it, and willingly expresses praise and devotion to God (i.e. rejoices). This is borne out in numerous passages. Godly rejoicing occurs because souls recognize God, His majesty, His truth, and His activities in behalf of His people, and express that recognition. Ungodly rejoicing occurs when souls fail to recognize God, His majesty, His truth, and His activities in behalf of His people, and express that lack of recognition in evil ways.

    In the second chapter of Proverbs we plainly see the emphasis placed upon knowing God's word in our heart. Verse 10 of this passage says "When wisdom enters your heart, and knowledge is pleasant to your soul..." The application of this "wisdom" (the "discretion" of vs 11) comes because "knowledge" of God's will is "pleasant" to the soul. Thus we see that there exists an intrinsic connection between "joy" ("pleasant"-ness) in knowing God's word and the godly rejoicing that is manifested in a "merry heart."

    Those who despise God's wisdom and knowledge and "rejoice in doing evil" (2:14) can never have the "merry heart" that God desires for souls. All the positive mental attitude in the world, beneficial though it might be, cannot take the place of a godly believer, who loves God, loves to learn God's will, loves to put it into practice, loves to teach it to others, and loves to focus on eternal life in the presence of God. Truly, these people have the "merry heart" that God wants us to have.