“..through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance..” [Romans 5:2-3]
...Yet I will rejoice in the LORD
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 Savior.
The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights. [Habakkuk 3: 17-19]
No Matter what happens, the prophet Habakkuk will trust in God, His strength.
In the meantime, whatever trails the prophet Habakkuk and his people might be called upon to endure as a result of the Babylonian invasion--or the fig tree does not bud, .. or no food on the table... and there be no herd in the stalls--he would rejoice in the Lord and joy in the God of his salvation. He relates it as the result of all which had gone before; such and such was the state of fruit-trees, vintage, harvest, flocks and herds; such was the aspect of all nature, living or inanimate; all was barren, disappointing; all had failed and was gone; and then at last he comes to himself, and I; what is he doing, when all nature and every seeming hope is dead? thus and thus it is with them; and I will rejoice.
Here is the hilarity of faith!-- joy at its best with circumstances at their worst! What a victory! May it be ours!
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 Savior.
The Sovereign LORD is my strength;
he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,
he enables me to tread on the heights. [Habakkuk 3: 17-19]
No Matter what happens, the prophet Habakkuk will trust in God, His strength.
In the meantime, whatever trails the prophet Habakkuk and his people might be called upon to endure as a result of the Babylonian invasion--or the fig tree does not bud, .. or no food on the table... and there be no herd in the stalls--he would rejoice in the Lord and joy in the God of his salvation. He relates it as the result of all which had gone before; such and such was the state of fruit-trees, vintage, harvest, flocks and herds; such was the aspect of all nature, living or inanimate; all was barren, disappointing; all had failed and was gone; and then at last he comes to himself, and I; what is he doing, when all nature and every seeming hope is dead? thus and thus it is with them; and I will rejoice.
Here is the hilarity of faith!-- joy at its best with circumstances at their worst! What a victory! May it be ours!
Fig Tree
“Though the fig tree does not bud ... yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.” [Habakkuk 3:17-18]
