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Ring of Truth provides 366 daily ‘proofs’ that the Bible is consistent throughout from Genesis to Revelation, and relevant for our lives today!
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Habakkuk 3:17-18
“Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.”
Been there, done that, got the T-shirt. Have you?
The trouble with most of us, however, is that we think we are there just because we don’t get our own way with God or we are down to our last $10,000 in the bank (or at least $1,000 in the bank). Most of us, in the so-called ‘West’, have little or no real concept of poverty. As I often say to folk here in New Zealand – just take a short plane trip for 4 hours and you can see real poverty.
We also have a habit of ‘Westernising’ the Scriptures, which is inappropriate.
This chapter is Habakkuk’s prayer in response to God’s answer. It is a very apt prayer for all of us today. “Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time, make them known; in wrath remember mercy” (v 2). Amen.
Wouldn’t you like to see the awesome power of God in your own experience, like Moses and Elijah? What did Elisha say? “Where now is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” When he struck the water, it divided to the right and to the left, and he crossed over (2 Kings 2:14).
I’ve prayed that too, but unfortunately not with the same success. James says, “You do not have, because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures” (James 4:2-3).
Oh dear, sounds like a check-up time again, doesn’t it? What are your motives when you pray? Think about it and do a thorough check-up.
I love his ending, “In wrath remember mercy” (v 2). We all stand condemned and deserve the wrath of God, but we cry – “Mercy”. “Please forgive us Lord, because of the Sacrifice of Jesus Christ, our Saviour.” You see, if we desire to see God’s awesome power, it will destroy us – unless the Blood of Jesus covers us and God is therefore merciful to us. Yes, we all want to see the power of God but let’s remember who we are first.
In our verses for today, Habakkuk declares that no matter what God does, what calamity comes upon his people and nation, it won’t stop him trusting and being joyful in the Lord. That’s what Paul meant in Philippians when he wrote, “Rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4). It’s what James meant when he said, “Consider it pure joy… whenever you face trials…” (James 1:2).
As Nehemiah said, “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (8:10). Always remember this – the enemy can never sap your strength if you retain your joy in the Lord.
What a great way Habakkuk ends his book. “The Sovereign Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to go on the heights” (v 19).
You can reach the highest heights only after you have been through the deepest valleys and conquered (v 17-18). It is only by passing through those experiences that all our ‘baggage’ and the ‘trappings of this world’ get loosened and fall away. Then we are enabled to scale the peaks God has designed for us to enjoy.
How high have you gone?
How high are you prepared and determined to go?
What things are you prepared to let go of or overcome in order to get there?
(See also Hebrews 12:1-2 & Romans 8:28 & 37-39 - they prove this message is a ‘Ring of Truth’!)
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