Habakkuk 3: 16 When I heard, my belly trembled; my lips quivered at the voice: rottenness entered into my bones, and I trembled in myself, that I might rest in the day of trouble: when he cometh up unto the people, he will invade them with his troops. 17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: 18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. 19 The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.
In chapter 1, Habakkuk shows the burden he is under. In chapter 2, he shares the vision the Lord gave him. In chapter 3, he offered his prayer to God. Every one of us in under a burden of some sort, but in the midst of it the Lord gives us a vision. The devil might show us gloom and doom, but God is greater. Romans 8:28 says and we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Habakkuk called on the Lord. Our response to the burden and vision should be to call on God.
This was before Ezekiel’s time. Babylon was battling Israel. The King of Israel was wicked. He offered his own children to Baal as a sacrifice. He was into the occult. Some people in Israel tried to hang on to what was right, but Nebuchadnezzar was headed toward a terrible battle that would put Israel into 70 years of captivity in Babylon. Habakkuk was burdened that those trying to serve the Lord suffered more than those who served Baal. He asked God why evil went unpunished and calamity was upon those who stayed true to the Lord. Others prospered. God’s people didn’t seem to. In 1:2-4 he said O Lord, how long shall I cry, and thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and thou wilt not save! Why dost thou shew me iniquity, and cause me to behold grievance? for spoiling and violence are before me: and there are that raise up strife and contention. Therefore the law is slacked, and judgment doth never go forth: for the wicked doth compass about the righteous; therefore wrong judgment proceedeth.
Doesn’t this bring to mind the times we now live in? It is disturbing. Habakkuk couldn’t understand, so he asked why. When a nation suffers because of sin, the entire nation suffers. The entire world will suffer before Jesus returns. We have no idea how much we will have to endure. In the midst of it all, there is reason to praise God and live right, more reason to do that than fall away and turn from God. Habakkuk trembled and quivered. Instead of Israel praying to God, they went after Baal. Today, with the signs around us that it’s about over, you’d think churches would be full. You’d think people would turn to God. By in large, however, we see a falling away.
I’m a Bible-believing Christian to which the world has attached terms like conservative or right wing. There are all kinds of labels for those who follow the Bible. I can’t help what terms they use. God is the judge, not the world. Jesus said people will be unprepared when he comes back because they have been taken away by the cares of this world and their lives. The real concern is that we stick with the Lord. Habakkuk was paying too much attention to what was going on around him; he let it get to him. Don’t let the devil get to you. These are prophetic times. Jesus is coming—ready or not—like it or not. It’s time to get down to business with God.
Habakkuk got a talk from the Lord. Are we willing to listen to him? We’re ready and willing to present our case to God, but when it is his turn to speak, often we don’t want to hear it. We don’t want to wait. Don’t jump to conclusions. Consider who God is. Regardless of who or what troubles us, it is God that matters above all.
Verse 17 begins with the word although. Although the vineyards had no grapes, although the olive trees had no olives, although the flocks had died, although the herd was gone from the stall, although ugliness surrounded instead of beauty, although success seemed to be failure—there was something to remember. Church doesn’t fail. The Word of God doesn’t fail. God doesn’t fail. People fail. Although it looked worse than it ever had before, Habakkuk said YET WILL I REJOICE IN THE LORD. He didn’t say “what’s the use or I might as well just quit.” God had and still has it all in his hands. It may seem like bad times. For the although’s in your life, you can still have this resolve. I WILL REJOICE. I WILL PRAISE. I WILL ENJOY being a Christian. It takes more muscles to frown than smile. Sure we’ve got things to frown about, but we have much more to rejoice over.
Don’t be ashamed of the Lord. Be a witness. Rejoicing is the outward expression of internal joy in the Lord. It’s time God’s people showed their lights. Has God ever given us a blessing that didn’t deserve a smile or a “thank you?” We have reason to smile every day. We may hurt and have pain and quivering. Our stall doesn’t have to be empty. There is reason to rejoice. This is the factor for survival.
In 2:4, Habakkuk came to this conclusion: the just shall live by his faith. Regardless of anyone else, regardless of anything else, walk by faith and trust the Lord. Don’t serve the Lord when things are good and walk away if they are not. Habakkuk said the Lord God is my strength. God is Lord, not the devil, not man, not your circumstances. God is total Lord and the only real Lord. Walk by faith in him regardless of what comes or goes in your life. Rejoice in him. He alone is the source of your strength.
Habakkuk said he will make my feet like hinds’ feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. We’ve all seen deer run and jump. They go places that we can’t imagine. We can walk in high places too when we trust God. Sure there are low places in our life, but God always provides high places and help in our low times. He will lift us up.
No wonder he said give it to the chief singer on my stringed instruments. Put music to it. This is more than just knowledge; it’s something to act on. There is still reason to sing. Although’s will come. Let’s take Habakkuk’s advice. Rejoice. Have joy. Take this song and get his vision.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 