Habakkuk’s Hymn of Praise Part 4: The Faith Commitment Habakkuk 3:16-19

Habakkuk 3:16 16 I heard and my inward parts trembled, At the sound my lips quivered. Decay enters my bones, And in my place I tremble. Because I must wait quietly for the day of distress, For the people to arise who will invade us.

Habakkuk 3:17-18 17 Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, 18 Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.

Habakkuk 3:19 19 The Lord GOD is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds' feet, And makes me walk on my high places. For the choir director, on my stringed instruments.

George Müller

“God delights to increase the faith of His children “God delights to increase the faith of His children. We ought, instead of wanting no trials before victory, no exercise for patience, to be willing to take them from God’s hands as a means. Trials, obstacles, difficulties and sometimes defeats, are the very food of faith.”

I. A Collapse From Regarding God (16) Heart, lips, body, legs…all affected!

I. A Collapse From Regarding God (16) Heart, lips, body, legs…all affected! Daniel 7:28; 8:27; 10:8

(Daniel 7:28 NAU) 28 ¶ "At this point the revelation ended (Daniel 7:28 NAU) 28 ¶ "At this point the revelation ended. As for me, Daniel, my thoughts were greatly alarming me and my face grew pale, but I kept the matter to myself." (Daniel 8:27 NAU) 27 ¶ Then I, Daniel, was exhausted and sick for days. Then I got up again and carried on the king's business; but I was astounded at the vision, and there was none to explain it. (Daniel 10:8 NAU) 8 So I was left alone and saw this great vision; yet no strength was left in me, for my natural color turned to a deathly pallor, and I retained no strength.

I. A Collapse From Regarding God (16) Heart, lips, body, legs…all affected! Daniel 7:28; 8:27; 10:8 Isaiah 6:5

(Isaiah 6:5 NAU) 5 Then I said, "Woe is me, for I am ruined (Isaiah 6:5 NAU) 5 Then I said, "Woe is me, for I am ruined! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I live among a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts."

I. A Collapse From Regarding God (16) Heart, lips, body, legs…all affected! Daniel 7:28; 8:27; 10:8 Isaiah 6:5 Peter in Luke 5:8

(Luke 5:8 NAU) 8 But when Simon Peter saw that, he fell down at Jesus' feet, saying, "Go away from me Lord, for I am a sinful man, O Lord!"

I. A Collapse From Regarding God (16) Heart, lips, body, legs…all affected! Daniel 7:28; 8:27; 10:8 Isaiah 6:5 Peter in Luke 5:8 What did Habakkuk see? (God at work)

I. A Collapse From Regarding God (16) Heart, lips, body, legs…all affected! Daniel 7:28; 8:27; 10:8 Isaiah 6:5 Peter in Luke 5:8 What did Habakkuk see? (God at work) What did Habakkuk do? (Quietly wait) Waiting…may be the hardest thing we as believers will ever have to do!

II. A Celebration of the Redeeming God (17-18) Progression: Fig tree, vines, olive tree, fields, flock, cattle…

II. A Celebration of the Redeeming God (17-18) Progression: Fig tree, vines, olive tree, fields, flock, cattle… Contrast in verses 17 & 18: “Though…though…6x” “Yet…yet…2x” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

“When hell is let loose, and the worst comes to the worst, we are to do more than ‘put up with it’ or ‘be steady’. We are to know a holy joy and manifest a spirit of rejoicing. We are to be ‘more than conquerors’, instead of merely exercising self-control with the aid of an iron will. We are to rejoice in the Lord and to joy in the God of our salvation. Such a time is a test for our Christian profession. If we are not then more than conquerors we are failing as Christians.” --Dr. D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones

II. A Celebration of the Redeeming God (17-18) Progression: Fig tree, vines, olive tree, fields, flock, cattle… Contrast in verses 17 & 18: “Though…though…6x” “Yet…yet…2x” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones quote 2 Corinthians 4:8-9

(2 Corinthians 4:8-9 NAU) 8 ¶ we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;

II. A Celebration of the Redeeming God (17-18) Progression: Fig tree, vines, olive tree, fields, flock, cattle… Contrast in verses 17 & 18: “Though…though…6x” “Yet…yet…2x” Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones quote 2 Corinthians 4:8-9 Paul learned to be content in every circumstance…Philippians 4:132

II. A Celebration of the Redeeming God (17-18) Habakkuk believed Deuteronomy 8:3

(Deuteronomy 8:3 NAU) 3 "He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD.

II. A Celebration of the Redeeming God (17-18) Habakkuk believed Deuteronomy 8:3 Why does Habakkuk rejoice? (He really believes God is a God Who Saves!) Consider Isaiah 12:2; Psalm 25:5; 27:1

(Isaiah 12:2 NAU) 2 "Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; For the LORD GOD is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation." (Psalm 25:5 NAU) 5 Lead me in Your truth and teach me, For You are the God of my salvation; For You I wait all the day. (Psalm 27:1 NAU) The LORD is my light and my salvation; Whom shall I fear? The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?

III. A Confidence From Relying Upon God (19) The “Lord God” is the prophet’s strength.

III. A Confidence From Relying Upon God (19) The “Lord God” is the prophet’s strength. Lord God = Yahweh Adonai

III. A Confidence From Relying Upon God (19) The “Lord God” is the prophet’s strength. Lord God = Yahweh Adonai An image of “hind’s feet” from Psalm 18:34

III. A Confidence From Relying Upon God (19) The “Lord God” is the prophet’s strength. Lord God = Yahweh Adonai An image of “hind’s feet” from Psalm 18:34

Considerations: Wait on the Lord. An untested faith versus a tested faith. Rejoicing in all circumstances. Confidence in God

Conclusion (What We Learned) God is a BIG God. Is there “wickedness” in your life? Even the faithful sometimes have trouble continuing to trust God. Be careful not to fall into the sin of pride.

Conclusion (What We Learned) Take all of your questions and doubts to God…in prayer. Inner attitude/thinking always manifests itself in outward speech/action. Consider God’s past acts and wait patiently for Him to act in the present and future