Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16
"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007
 

A Marvelous Hymn of Faith

Print the article

This entry was posted on 05-23-2007 and is filed under Devotional.

"Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; thought 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 - yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation" (Habakkuk 3:17,18 NKJV).

This is my favorite verse in Habakkuk. It is an amazing hymn of faith in God, sung by a people who found themselves in dire straits. I preached from this text several years ago during my visit to Zimbabwe. There I saw firsthand a modern fulfillment of this text. The Marxist dictator Robert Mugabe had driven out all the white farmers and I saw many farms that were fallow. But I also visited churches where the worshipers manifested a Habakkuk-like faith!

I read in Time magazine a few weeks ago that inflation is off the charts in Zimbabwe. For the same price that you could have built a three bedroom home with an in-ground swimming pool before Mugabe, you can now buy only one brick. That's right, one brick! We should earnestly pray that our brothers and sisters in Zimbabwe, where thousands are being systematically starved to death, might find "rest in the day of trouble"
(v. 16). May this hymn of faith comfort them and may it challenge us to "rejoice in the Lord" no matter what. And may we mightily repent of our whining and grumbling!

Prayer: Loving Father, today we come to You not for ourselves but for our brethren in Zimbabwe. Help them to know that You are still in control and may they continue to praise You even though "the fields yield no food." Through Christ we pray.
 

What did you think of this article?




Trackbacks
Trackback specific URL for this entry
  • Trackbacks are closed for this post.
Comments
    Display comments as (Linear | Threaded)

    • 05-23-2007 Bonnie McGlumphry wrote:
      Vic,

      Isn't it interesting how these verses speak in different ways to different people at different times of crises?

      I was reading these verses on May 9th in the ICU two days after Garilee's surgery not knowing the final outcome relating to his vision, neuro muscular abilities, memory, personality, etc.

      My reassurance came from verses 18 and 19 that no matter the outcome "I will still be glad in the Lord, I will rejoice in God my Savior." The promise of the Lord being my strength and making me strong "like a deer that does not stumble as it walks on the steep mountains" gave me the courage to wait upon the Lord until He unveiled the final outcome of Garilee's surgery.

      May God continue to be praised for the strength He gives the weak during times of crisis.

      Bonnie
      Reply to this
    Leave a comment

    Submitted comments are subject to moderation before being displayed.

     Enter the above security code (required)

     Name (required)

     Email (will not be published) (required)

     Website

    Your comment is 0 characters limited to 3000 characters.



      
    Copyright . http://HONEYFROMTHEROCK.POEMINISTRIES.ORG. All rights reserved.