Habakkuk Pt. 11 A Glorious Ending of Prayer, Praise and Joy.

Good morning to each one of our Readers and thank you for dropping in to study God's word today. 

We have a week of milder weather headed our way and it is truly refreshing after a period of high heat and humidity. The breezes are pleasant and remind me that wind is one of the symbols of the Holy Spirit. I need to have His wind blow across the embers of faith in my heart to keep my love and passion for Him glowing brightly.

Today we reach the end of the book of Habakkuk. Truths communicated to us by this prophet of God are timeless and I have been continually struck by how relevant  his experiences are with our own circumstances. 

So far, we saw a distressed prophet seeking answers to his questions and concerns from God. We saw that Jehovah quickly responded in a vision to answer his questions and put to rest his concerns. We saw God lead Habakkuk along so that he trusted on the unchanging character of God. 

We learned that Habakkuk was a genuinely humble and faithful servant of Jehovah who sought the welfare of God's people and who wanted them to adhere to God's law. We also read about the contrast of the wicked versus the upright man and that the man who is right with God will live by faith.

Then we read about God showing Habakkuk what He was going to do to the Babylonians through 5 "woes" that were pronounced upon them. God will not let His enemies slide by unpunished. 

Habakkuk was deeply moved and having seen all these wonderful and fearful things in a vision, he prayed that Jehovah would revive His people and that He would remember His mercy even in the midst of dispensing much needed judgment. 

The vision the prophet saw drew to a close with God giving Habakkuk stupendous scenes of His glory. In doing this God was reminding His prophet of all the times when He worked mighty works to save His people. Habakkuk saw the vastness of God and His infinite power to control all nature in contrast to the smallness of mankind. 

It composed an overwhelming vision of God as Sovereign Creator and Ruler of all who is able to keep His promises and who will not abandon those who trust Him.

Rejoicing in Jehovah without regard to circumstances. 

Habakkuk 3:17-18  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. 

Habakkuk put all the aspects of his vision into perspective for us. There were going to be hard times coming when the land would yield no harvest and most of the animals would die off. This struck right at the heart of Israel's economy in that era. They grew olives, fruits, grains and raised herds of various animals and flocks of sheep and goats. However, there would be a time coming when all those vital things would fail.

Habakkuk saw the purposes of God and he was content knowing that God would work it out for their best and for His glory. 

Instead, his heart was filled with praise and rejoicing because of Jehovah Elohim. Remember the meanings of these two Divine Names because it helps us understand who the prophet was trusting and praising and by extension who we are trusting in and praising today. 

Habakkuk is rejoicing, exalting and triumphing in Jehovah, the promise keeping, unchanging God who inhabits eternity but comes alongside those who have humble hearts and contrite spirits. He is the source of lovingkindness. 

The prophet has joy over knowing Elohim. The word joy means that his heart was filled with an abiding happiness and gladness. The Psalmist echoes this truth in the texts below. God put the gladness in Habakkuk's heart just as He will place it in our hearts when we earnestly seek Him and submit to His Word.

Psalm 4:7  Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.

Psalm 30:11  Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; 

Psalm 51:8  Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.

Notice in both of these texts that challenging times preceded abundant joy. First, the enemies enjoyed a harvest while the Psalmist did not but he still had gladness in his heart. 

Next, he faced hard times that called for sackcloth and mourning but it was followed by gladness. The chastening work of God may be hard to go through but once the believer is through, he or she has gladness and rejoicing. God's work of purifying believers and molding us into useful servants is never over and must be done in this life. 

Jehovah will grant us strength for our needs.

Habakkuk 3:19  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. 

Habakkuk rejoiced because He learned to run to the sheltering arms of Jehovah and to depend upon His faithful care for the sheep of His pasture. He was strengthened physically so that he could faithfully discharge his duties as a prophet. The strength he received from Jehovah was like that of a swift footed animal such as a deer or gazelle. Just as those animals can run bounding over or around obstacles so Habakkuk was empowered to move steadily through difficult times.

He was strengthened spiritually so that he would not grow weary in well doing. Walking with the LORD on high places tells us that the prophet enjoyed close communion and companionship with Jehovah. Habakkuk saw the All Glorious God in visions that he received. He knew the beauty of His holiness from the scriptures. He reviewed the unwavering faithfulness of God for His people in all ages. 

Psalm 96:8-9  Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts. 9)  O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth. 

This text from Psalm 96 expresses the place of rest where the LORD led His prophet through various aspects of the vision He gave. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

Habakkuk had questions about all the chaos and calamity his people were facing. He had questions about what God was going to do regarding Israel's disobedience. He was burdened that the law of God was ignored and that none of the judges were making right judgments. 

In short, he asked the same kind of questions that we may be asking. Our world is full of uncertainty and chaos.

Habakkuk has shown us a good pattern of praying, casting our cares upon the everlasting arms of God and seeking understanding from the Lord. 

Habakkuk demonstrated confidence that God would answer his prayers. He showed us humility in his response to God's revelation of judgment. He also judged his own character in light of what he knew to be true of Jehovah.

Habakkuk expressed his full trust and   complete confidence in God that His plan was best. He was filled with joy and praise as he rested in God's promises. 

I pray that the Lord will grow our faith and teach us to rest in His Word, trust in His work and anticipate His coming to earth to establish the everlasting Kingdom of God. 

May we be found faithful servants of our Mighty God.

Bob