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One of the most marvellous things about reading through the Bible each year is the way we are blessed to discover scriptures that have always been there but now they "speak" to us, "jump out" at us, or are noticed like it is the very first time we truly see them. To me, this has always been incredibly exciting and I cannot imagine ever becoming used to this, nor would I want to because it is a real love of discovery and adventure between the pages of God's supernaturally written Word. Readers of the Bible hold this book in awe and know the treasure that lies within is valuable like a pearl of great price — indeed it is our most precious physical possession so much so that we tend to wear them out and own more than one (Matthew 13:45-46). However, mine presently needs a book binder to provide some first aid as it is becoming more and more challenging to flick through the worn pages as some are loose, while some sections have come completely away from the spine. My NKJV Bible cost only 20 cents from a book sale as a gift to me about 10 years ago yet it is perfect in size and I know where everything is in an instant so am finding it difficult to be without it, if only for a short while in the repair shop.
With all that in mind, let me share with you about the latest nugget of gold I held in my hands this week (Psalm 119:162). The book of Habakkuk in the Old Testament is of 3 chapters in duration so it is brief but holds a vitally strong message. His most unusual name means to embrace, to cling to passionately, fervently, and this is certainly exactly what Habakkuk did — cling to God in good times as well as bad times and all those times in between when things did not make sense. Human nature is such that people tend to seek God out for help only in the bad times when they are desperately sad, hurting or are afraid. In times of plenty when all is going well people forget about God and rely on their own strength to get on with life. Habakkuk lived in the time of King Josiah, one of the good kings of Judah, who tragically died at a young age from battle because he did not seek out God's will this one particular time. Prior to his rulership from the tender age of 8 things were not good in the land and after his death at 39 years things then declined rapidly into a society where God was shunned and people did what was right in their own eyes. Sound familiar? You will find Habakkuk nestled between the books of Nahum and Zephaniah, and if you go too fast while flipping the pages it can easily be missed. The part that gave me much to reflect and meditate on comes from the following verses in Habakkuk 3:17-19 "Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labour 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. 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".
This passage filtered through my brain and the cognitive processes understood that this was written for us via the prophet Habakkuk under divine inspiration to comfort and reassure those existing in the end times in which we are living now. It gave me a glimpse of a picture of what is ahead even if it is rather bleak, to say the least, and not something recognisable from anything previously experienced. Habakkuk is revealing his faith and confidence in knowing all will be well despite whatever happens, when all looks wrong, strange, difficult, sad, tumultuous and lonely because God is there, always there behind the scenes as it were ensuring we will achieve salvation once our physical lives are complete (Amos 3:7, Psalm 25:14). We know we are in for some tough times ahead when food will be scarce and there will be nothing to take out of the ground or off the fruit trees because of natural disasters and from the effects of war amongst other things we have not ever experienced before but we know, WE KNOW GOD IS WITH US AND FOR US, and so we faithfully trust, like the prophet Habakkuk, that our Provider will provide no matter the harsh circumstances, for this is living faith and there is a certain peace, even joy to cling to knowing Christ's return is imminent (Romans 8:31, Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 118:6).
Then, the matter of the flock cut off from the fold sounds very much like people will be scattered so that they are no longer together; wandering about, some gone as they have left and are no longer under the protection of the shelter of the stalls. Even so many will be refined eventually in God's time during the Great Tribulation (Matthew 24, Revelation 7). Trusting God's will for us brings confidence knowing His plan is perfect yet we, like Habakkuk, should tremble and melt with fear knowing that every decision we make in this life has ramifications and consequences whether immediately or later on down the track. God tells us via the apostle Paul to work out our own salvation with trembling and fear and this is precisely what Habakkuk was doing in his hymn of faith (Philippians 2:12-13). One day I very much look forward to hearing Habakkuk's words set to music from stringed instruments. In the meantime my imagination suggests that there is light and shade, high pitch and tone for the uplifting parts, with deeper tones and vibration for the sections of lamentation and weeping. However it sounds, it will be a piece of dramatic beauty and is deeply personal between Habakkuk and God. We are so blessed to be able to share in these personal exchanges. Have you ever had an exchange like this before where you go to God, maybe not in song and hymn, but with a question or two, maybe more, presenting your ideas, thoughts, concerns, and received answers? The answers are always found in our Bible and it is so loving the way God gets to show us what we need to know with exact, precise timing especially when we ask (Hebrews 1:1-2).
Do we stand like Habakkuk with living faith anticipating the glorious outcome when Jesus Christ will return to usher in the Kingdom of God, knowing that all these present sufferings are really like nothing by comparison? We know what the apostle Paul said in Philippians 3:7-8 "But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ". Rubbish, refuse, nothing, worthless, everything in this life is vanity by comparison of gaining Christ, therefore all that Paul went through like Habakkuk, and like us, is completely worth it to achieve salvation. Knowing we are practicing diligently now to resist and overcome sin in order to gain eternal life gives us the strong impetus to keep on striving, learning, praying, meditating, fasting, and repenting. We must never give up as our lives depend on it — and think of all those loved ones — relatives and friends, neighbours, and even countless acquaintances who are presently sleeping, awaiting their change, that we will help. In the meantime those who are God's, sigh and cry for all the abominations done just like Habakkuk as mentioned in the book of Habakkuk and also written in Ezekial 9:4.
Habakkuk is an account of faithful obedience, one that we do well to take great notice of in order to understand his thoughts, words, and actions. It is a powerful reminder of the times we are living in now, times of preparation before the very difficult period comes, for it will be here quite suddenly and unexpectedly especially if we are not watching. For those who have an incredibly close relationship with God, all good and well, for they will joy in the strength which is found in Him, giving them the blessing of running up to high places just like the deer who leap in the air, sure footed, and swift to claim the position of safety and protection. Habakkuk kept his focus on the big picture of salvation realising that God knows all, sees all, and His will is unsearchable as humankind operates with faulty logic fraught with carnal human nature. Throughout his life Habakkuk remained humble unlike King Josiah who, even though a good king, lost his focus momentarily, relying on his own strength therefore we definitely need to "take a leaf" out of the prophet Habakkuk's example in order to remain faithfully obedient until our last breath.