Habakkuk 3:17-19 NLT – “I trembled inside when I heard this; my lips quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath me, and I shook in terror. I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade us. Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.”
Let’s discuss what’s going on here.
We are looking into a private conversation between the prophet Habakkuk and God.
You see the nation of Judah had become wicked and evil. Like any minister, we want to know what God is going to do about it.
Let’s look at chapter 1:2-4
“How long, O Lord, must I call for help? But you do not listen! “Violence is everywhere!” I cry, but you do not come to save. Must I forever see these evil deeds? Why must I watch all this misery? Wherever I look, I see destruction and violence. I am surrounded by people who love to argue and fight. The law has become paralyzed, and there is no justice in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, so that justice has become perverted.”
God tells Habakkuk that he is going to send the Babylonians/Chaldeans to conquer Judah and take all their possessions. But Habakkuk doesn’t understand this because the Babylonians/Chaldeans were so much worse than Judah, and he makes his complaint to God followed by going to his watch tower to stand at his guard post
- *Let me just say here that when you have a concern or question about what God is doing, it’s ok to go to Him in prayer and talk to Him about it. It’s what you do when He answers you that matters, especially if God brings correction to you which Habakkuk was open to receive. It’s a heart matter and God will honor it if it is done with properly.
So long story shortened, Habakkuk and God have their conversation, and God then gives Habakkuk a vision as to what will end up happening tot he Babylonians in time, but those who are faithful to God will be delivered (2:4)
-Keep in mind, God will always show us a portion of something but not everything.
God is basically telling Habakkuk that hard times are coming which brings us to Habakkuk’s prayer here in chapter 3.
Habakkuk’s response to all of this destruction and possibly starvation is that he will rejoice and be joyful.
WHY??
…….BECAUSE HE TRUSTED GOD!!
He trusts that God will be his salvation and strength through it all.
The year 2020 was a year of dramatic change.
The year 2021 will be a year of trusting in God.
Some of us believe that we trust God 100% and in some areas of our lives we do. But God is going to work on us just a little more. Because he will reveal to us areas that needs improvement. Just when we think we have mastered an area, God pulls the rug out just a little bit more to show us that we’re still not there yet. We will always be a work in progress until we reach heaven.
Proverbs 22:19
“I am teaching you today—yes, you— so you will trust in the Lord.”
<<THE GRAND CANYON STORY>> (See video for full story)
I had 0 trust!
Dictionary definition of trust = to place confidence or depend; to commit or place in one’s care or keeping, to rely on, to permit to stay or go or to do something without fear or misgiving. Also…believing and faith.
There is a couple types of trust that I saw with Habakkuk.
- He Trusted God for his salvation (3:18)
- Micah 7:7 – “As for me, I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me.”
- God has saved us from our wicked ways and we can be in relationship with Him.
- 1 Peter 1:9 “The reward for trusting him will be the salvation of your souls.”
- God will Save us from destruction (and even from ourselves)
- Daniel 3:28 – “Then Nebuchadnezzar said, “Praise to the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego! He sent his angel to rescue his servants who trusted in him. They defied the king’s command and were willing to die rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.”
- Daniel 6:23 – “The king was overjoyed and ordered that Daniel be lifted from the den. Not a scratch was found on him, for he had trusted in his God.”
- Trust God with your life. Dedicate your entire self to Him. Meaning you can no longer call the shots in your life. Let Him make those decision and follow his lead. This mean relinquishing all control.
- How is this done…by believing or trusting Him that he is who he says his is.
- How do we know who he is…..by reading the Bible. Also by believing what he has done.
- And I will tell you that he is faithful and true
- Deut. 7:9 – “Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.”
- Psalms 25:10 – “The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.”
- Psalms 145:13 – “For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations. The Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does.”
- Psalms 146:6 – “He made heaven and earth, the sea, and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever.”
- His plan is perfect and has purpose:
- Isaiah 46:9-10 – “Remember the things I have done in the past. For I alone am God! I am God, and there is none like me. Only I can tell you the future before it even happens. Everything I plan will come to pass, for I do whatever I wish.”
- Jeremiah 29:11 – “For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”
- We can not trust ourselves because we are temporal, limited, and tainted by our own sin nature
- Proverbs 28:26 – “Those who trust their own insight are foolish, but anyone who walks in wisdom is safe.”
- Let’s be honest. We can mess things up. But as long as we trust in Him, He will not let us fall.
- Psalms 37:24 – “Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.”
- When the tough times come (actually they’re here) as long as you put your trust in Him, He will be your strength (3:19)
- God’s strength caused Habakkuk to trust God even during the most difficult times. Habakkuk saw desolation coming and yet he still rejoiced because God is his strength.
- Isaiah 40:31 – “But those who trust in the Lord will find new strength. They will soar high on wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”
- Trust Him in ALL things
- Regardless of external circumstances
- Habakkuk knew that based upon what God showed him that there will be some desolated times. Look at verse 17 again.
- “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty,” Habakkuk 3:17 NLT
- And yet he praised God anyway, because he knew that as long as he was faithful that God would take care of him. This only comes from a place of trust.
- Romans 8:28 – “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”
- Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”
- Hebrews 10:32-36 – “Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same things. You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever. So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.”
- We trust him regardless of our physical blessings.
- Jeremiah 48:7a – “Because you have trusted in your wealth and skill, you will be taken captive.
- 1 Timothy 6:17 – “Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money, which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for our enjoyment.”
- Proverbs 28:25 – “Greed causes fighting; trusting the Lord leads to prosperity.”
- What happens when you put your trust in God…
- Isaiah 26:3-4 – “You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord GOD is the eternal Rock.”
- You will have peace
- Because you have released your burdens to Him
- Because you can rest by letting him be your strength
- Romans 15:13 – “I pray that God, the source of hope, will fill you completely with joy and peace because you trust in him. Then you will overflow with confident hope through the power of the Holy Spirit.”
- When we trust in him, we can have hope that He will work it all out
- and we can have joy and rejoice
- Ultimately Jesus said we can trust him
- John 14:1, 11 – “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.”
- “Just believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me. Or at least believe because of the work you have seen me do.”
- Remember believe is another word for TRUST.
Candy McKee 