We all know that David wrote
fabulous songs that express every emotion known to mankind.
But…we don’t often talk about the
magnificent song of praise written by the prophet Habakkuk at a time when he
was facing overwhelming disasters in every area of his life. This is one of the
most inspiring songs of faith found in the Word.
Habakkuk 1 begins with this cry:
2 O Lord, how long shall I cry, And You will not hear? Even cry out to You,
"Violence!" And You will not save.
3 Why do You show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble? For plundering
and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises.
4 Therefore the law is powerless, And justice never goes forth. For the
wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.
The book of Habakkuk ends with
this song in chapt. 3:
17 Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may
fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off
from the fold,
And there 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;
He will make my feet like deer's feet,
And He will make me walk on my
high hills.
To the Chief Musician. With my
stringed instruments.
As far as we know, there is no
change in circumstances from Chapter One to Chapter Three. Habakkuk was
transported from despondency to faith over the course of these three chapters.
Hab. 1:1 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet upon Shigionoth = victorious
music. A song with strong emotions. It literally means “to reel about through
drink,” “composed with strong emotion, impassioned imagination,” “to play with
an orchestra." This is also the title also occurs in the title of Ps. 7.
Habakkuk knew he was in trouble,
so he composed his song with passion, drive and lots of noise.
Here are a few interesting observations about the song:
• These depressing situations Habakkuk mentions all have
something to do with food and drink (which give us physical strength). Each of
these products are essential to the economy of the family, and to Israel’s
economy—they also signify the blessing of God upon His obedient people.
In addition, the fig tree and the vine had spiritual
significance, for they symbolized the blessing of God upon an obedient people
(Hos. 2:12; Amos 4:9; 1Ki. 4:25; 2Ki. 18:31; Ps. 105:33; Is. 36:16; Jer. 5:17;
8:13; 31:12; Joel 2:19; Hag. 1:11)
We live in troubling times – our personal economies and the
economy of our nation is in trouble. Habakkuk can see that provision is not
coming from the usual sources, just like many families today. We need to turn
our eyes on the Lord – He alone, has the answer for us, and He alone is our
source for all provision.
• Habakkuk’s responses are all inner decisions “I will” 3:18
There are times when the strength and the answer has to
come from deep within. We can get used to others encouraging us and lifting us
up – real faith and strength have to be forged within our hearts.
• Habakkuk’s declaration of where his real inner strength
comes from 3:19
“The Lord
God is my strength”
• Habakkuk prophesies over himself 3:19 “He will make my feet like deer's feet, And
He will make me walk on my high hills.”
Once we have God’s word and direction for our lives, we
need to speak over our own lives and prophecy His words as we watch them come
to pass.
Ps. 16:9 Therefore my heart
is glad, and my glory rejoices; My flesh also will rest in hope.
Ps. 31:7 I will be
glad and rejoice in Your mercy, For You have considered my trouble; You have
known my soul in adversities
Ps. 118:24 This is the
day the LORD has made; We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Look at what
this joyful hope can do for us:
Ps. 4:7 You have put
gladness in my heart, More than in the season that their grain and wine
increased
Ps. 43:5 Why are you cast
down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall
yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God.
Having hope in a hopeless situation is an indication that
you understand God's ultimate plan for your life. What's happening to you TODAY
is part of God's bigger plan. The magnitude of your hopeless situation is
paralleled to the manifestation of the blessing you will receive IF you hold on
and be steadfast and un-moveable.
Let's begin
rejoicing now because we live by faith, not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)
Finally – look at
this one statement from v19:
The Lord God is my strength
All the parts of this song are in
couplets/pairs – except this one concept.
Fig tree – fruit on the vines
Olive – field
Flock – herd
Rejoice in the Lord – joy in God
Then this: The Lord
God is my strength
He then goes back to the couplets/pairs:
He will make my feet like deer's feet - And He will make me walk on my
high hills
This focal statement - that the
Lord is his strength - shouts all by itself. The songwriter has used the poetic
form to proclaim the key to the entire song – the entire prophetic message of
the book. He makes this statement stand out by isolating it in the middle of
all those couplets – that gives it extra weight:
The Lord God
is my strength!
My prayer is that this will also
be our testimony in these difficult days. Let Habakkuk’s song resound inside
you today.
Don't panic. I'm with you.
There's no need to fear for I'm your God.
I'll give you strength. I'll help you.
I'll hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you.
Is. 41:10 (Message)
Don't tell God you have a big problem
tell your problem you have a big God!
Anon
Some thoughts on suffering:
HERE
