The people of Judah and Israel were as numerous as the sand on the seashore; they ate, they drank and they were happy.

• 1 Kings 4:20

He settles the childless woman in her home as a happy mother of children. Praise the Lord.

• Psalm 113:9

Daughter Babylon, doomed to destruction, happy is the one who repays you according to what you have done to us.

• Psalm 137:8

This quiz is about the words “happy” and “sad.”  Happy can be found in the NIV 20 times.  When I look up Sad, I found sad in the NIV 38 times.  That was upsetting until I realized that the 38 included 29 times saddle or saddled was mentioned and Sadducees as well.

Since there are not many “sad” verses in the Bible, there will probably be more “happy” questions in the quiz.

Note about the Photo: I have used this photo a lot over the years, but there is a reason why I am laughing in the photo. Our musical son and his family, on the right side of the photograph were all singing “Cheese” to make sure that they were smiling – in five-part harmony, but none came in at the same time. “Chee-chee-chee-chee-cheeeeese.”

The Questions:

	Question	Bible References	Answers
1	In the first use of “happy” in the NIV, Leah names Zilpah’s second son.  Leah exclaims, “How happy I am.  The women will call me happy.”  What was this son’s name?
2	In the first use of “sad” in the NIV, Joseph asks two people who are in prison with him in Egypt why they are so sad that day.  Who are these two people and why?
3	Who visits King Solomon and says that the kingdom must be happy to have such a wise king?
4	Ecclesiastes says that frustration is better than laughter, because a sad “what” is good for the heart?
5	In the last Psalm quoted above, an imprecatory psalm, the next verse says that happy is the one who seizes the Babylonian infants to do what?
6	Who was happy that God provided him shade from the hot sun when a leafy plant sprung up to provide that shade?  But he was not happy long.
7	In the form of saddened, why are the disciples saddened, each asking Jesus if it is them?
8	Which of Paul’s understudies who became ministers in churches themselves was happy to see that the spirit had refreshed the people in the Corinth church?
9	What did Jesus tell the rich young ruler to do that made him sad, and he walked away?
10	In James 5:13, he tells those who have troubles to pray and those who are happy to do what?

This quiz was inspired by the grief process.  I thought of a quiz on the word “grief”, even calling it the “Good Grief!” Quiz, but that seemed inappropriate at this point.  But the constant highs and lows …

A confession: I never really liked roller coasters.  And this emotional roller coaster is the worst one ever.  I keep asking, when will it stop?!?!?!

But the question from Ecclesiastes was oddly comforting.

Bible References:

	Question	Bible References	Answers
1	In the first use of “happy” in the NIV, Leah names Zilpah’s second son.  Leah exclaims, “How happy I am.  The women will call me happy.”  What was this son’s name?	Genesis 30:12-13
2	In the first use of “sad” in the NIV, Joseph asks two people who are in prison with him in Egypt why they are so sad that day.  Who are these two people and why?	Genesis 40:4-8
3	Who visits King Solomon and says that the kingdom must be happy to have such a wise king?	1 Kings 10:4-9
4	Ecclesiastes says that frustration is better than laughter, because a sad “what” is good for the heart?	Ecclesiastes 7:3
5	In the last Psalm quoted above, an imprecatory psalm, the next verse says that happy is the one who seizes the Babylonian infants to do what?	Psalm 137:9
6	Who was happy that God provided him shade from the hot sun when a leafy plant sprung up to provide that shade?  But he was not happy long.	The name of the book provides the answer.  Chapter 4, verse 6
7	In the form of saddened, why are the disciples saddened, each asking Jesus if it is them?	Mark 14:19
8	Which of Paul’s understudies who became ministers in churches themselves was happy to see that the spirit had refreshed the people in the Corinth church?	2 Corinthians 7:13
9	What did Jesus tell the rich young ruler to do that made him sad, and he walked away?	Luke 18:23
10	In James 5:13, he tells those who have troubles to pray and those who are happy to do what?	James 5:13

Do you have moments of happiness and sadness?

What a silly question.  We all do.  And if we focused on both and tried to ensure that we had more happy times than sad times, it would drive us crazy.

James starts off his letter by saying that we should count it all Joy when we suffer tests and trials.

What?!  Is this like that roller coaster I want to get off of?

But Joy and happiness are often too different things.  I feel joyful that my wife is getting to see Jesus.  She always wanted me to build her a mansion…  Okay, just a little bungalow, something she could call her own.  But now she has a mansion.

So why do I have these fits of sadness?  These are not tears of Joy, but tears of sadness.  I wrote that the first thing about my wife that I absolutely loved was her voice.  If God were to give me one more wish, it would be that when I see her again in Heaven, her voice will be just as lovely.  My few recordings of her voice are cherished possessions.

   …

   …

   …

The Answers:

	Question	Bible References	Answers
1	In the first use of “happy” in the NIV, Leah names Zilpah’s second son.  Leah exclaims, “How happy I am.  The women will call me happy.”  What was this son’s name?	Genesis 30:12-13	Asher
2	In the first use of “sad” in the NIV, Joseph asks two people who are in prison with him in Egypt why they are so sad that day.  Who are these two people and why?	Genesis 40:4-8	The cupbearer and baker for Pharoah both had dreams and there was no one to interpret their dreams.
3	Who visits King Solomon and says that the kingdom must be happy to have such a wise king?	1 Kings 10:4-9	The Queen of Sheba
4	Ecclesiastes says that frustration is better than laughter, because a sad “what” is good for the heart?	Ecclesiastes 7:3	A sad face
5	In the last Psalm quoted above, an imprecatory psalm, the next verse says that happy is the one who seizes the Babylonian infants to do what?	Psalm 137:9	Dash them against the rocks.  This psalm was written because the Jews were sorrowful for their exile and the Babylonians demanded they write a song and sing it – not knowing the Hebrew language, obviously.
6	Who was happy that God provided him shade from the hot sun when a leafy plant sprung up to provide that shade?  But he was not happy long.	The name of the book provides the answer.  Chapter 4, verse 6	Jonah
7	In the form of saddened, why are the disciples saddened, each asking Jesus if it is them?	Mark 14:19	Jesus said that a disciple would betray Him.  It is “sad” in the Matthew telling of the story.
8	Which of Paul’s understudies who became ministers in churches themselves was happy to see that the spirit had refreshed the people in the Corinth church?	2 Corinthians 7:13	Titus
9	What did Jesus tell the rich young ruler to do that made him sad, and he walked away?	Luke 18:23	Give all he had to the poor and follow Jesus.
10	In James 5:13, he tells those who have troubles to pray and those who are happy to do what?	James 5:13	Sing a song of praise

This quiz may not have been a very easy one.

Whether you did well on this quiz or, ummm, not so well, for the first video.  Here is one of my favorite videos that relates to question 5 in the quiz, Boney M singing Rivers of Babylon.  The title line and often repeated line in the song is the first verse of Psalm 137, and the other lyrics come from Psalm 19:14 (NKJV).

But then what if you mashed a Southern Gospel classic with an R&B song about being Happy?  Here is David Wesley singing Victory in Jesus/Don’t Worry, Be Happy.

And here are Casting Crowns singing Broken Together.

And it is hard to not be happy when you watch the Asidors, here singing I See You Lord.

And if that has not gotten you happy, here is MercyMe singing Happy Dance.  But if you do not wish to be happy, at least for a few minutes, please don’t watch it.

And if you just do not wish to be happy, here is Tim Hawkins reciting some of his 10,000 Christian Cuss Words.  You know, just it case you have that urge to cuss, and you know it is not proper to do so…

Or you can just scroll back to Happy Dance and click the replay button.

If you like these Saturday morning Bible quizzes, but you think you missed a few, you can use this LINK. I have set up a page off the home page for links to these Saturday morning posts. I will continue to modify the page as I add more.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory.