STUBBORN JOY!

Friday, April 26, 2019

STUBBORN JOY!

Hab 3:17-18

17 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.

Here we have a prophet, having just delivered the horrible news of the invasion of the Chaldeans and the devastation of Israel, stubbornly declaring his faith in Jehovah. All the evidence would have excused despair and complaining but the prophet does neither. Instead he actually uses the word JOY to describe his condition.

Stubborn JOY discounts the obvious!

Habakkuk carefully and painfully paints the desolate landscape of after-war. Vineyards had been trampled by the hooves of horses and the feet of men until it looked like newly plowed ground watered with blood. The fig blooms had fallen and there would be no fruit. Anything of any good had been consumed by the invaders including most of the flocks and herds. Cruelty refused to replace or to rebuild.

But stubborn joy discounts all this because it is part of the decree of God. It is part of his plan and his plan is always best. We may not understand it but we stubbornly cling to this hope because of God’s nature and the history of his mercy. We know, deep inside, that God will provide.

Stubborn JOY stands upon faith!

The prophet concludes his letter with verse 19 which says: “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.” Have you ever seen mountain goats climb what seemed like impossible ridges? They seem to need no more than a pebble for their footing and they do not seem afraid in the least. They are equipped for these lofty places by their Maker and it is in their Creator – not their footing – they put their trust! Note carefully that he does NOT say that his joy is in his circumstances but in the God of his salvation.

And so we remember the old hymn: “On Christ the Solid Rock I stand. All other ground is sinking sand; all other ground is sinking sand.”

Lam 3:25-26

25 The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.

26 It is good that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the LORD.

Dear Lord, I will both hope and STUBBORNLY wait until you rescue me. AMEN