“I Will Joy in the God of My Salvation” (Hab 3)

Though the fig tree may not blossom,

Nor fruit be on the vines;

Though 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—

18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will joy in the God of my salvation. (vs17-18)

I will rejoice in God no matter what! He says, “I will joy in the God of my salvation”.  This great truth isn’t selfishness; it recognizes the preciousness of salvation, and though the world will be destroyed in flame of fire, and though sinners around me perish, and though I don’t have all that I desire in this world, I shall be saved!  

When we see salvation as precious, then everything else is SECONDARY. I have the main thing - eternal life - and possessing this, I only have pain and trouble a little while. He says, “while we do not look a the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor 4:18).

How can someone be inconceivably rich, having billions in the bank, and then get overly upset because his wallet was stolen, and he must miss a meal?  So it is with us. I may have heartbreak and disappointment. I may be physically infirm or persecuted and hated.  I may have many problems, see little fruit in my ministry, and desire to leave this body soon, but I also have the unsearchable riches of Christ, the eternal reward, and the thing that Jacob called “every thing”. We read, “Then Esau said, ‘I have enough, my brother; keep what you have for yourself... And Jacob said... ‘Please, take my blessing that is brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have all things.’ So he urged him, and he took it” (Gen 33:9-11).  Bless God’s name that you and I put things in perspective.

Life’s present agonies are temporary and righteous, and the filling of hell is JUST.  “For true and righteous are His judgments, because He has judged the great harlot who corrupted the earth with her fornication; and He has avenged on her the blood of His servants shed by her” (Rev 19:2).  We’ve escaped this condemnation by grace alone, and we’ll sing God’s praises, agreeing with Him on Judgment Day. We’ll judge, rather then being judged as unfaithful.  

Finally, bless His name for the hope of Christ, and use it! Don’t live merely pondering what you don’t have, where you’ve gone wrong, and the pain of this present existence.  Live in the light of the gospel, and wipe your tears, resting your head upon the shoulder of His grace.  He will make you more than a conqueror, and while trouble all around you is heartbreaking, He will wipe away your tears (Rev 21:4).

"Keep Silence Before Him" (Habakkuk 2:5-20)

Reverence God

(vs18-20) “What profit is the image, that its maker should carve it, the molded image, a teacher of lies, that the maker of its mold should trust in it, to make mute idols?  Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Awake!’ to silent stone, ‘Arise! It shall teach!’ Behold, it is overlaid with gold and silver, yet in it there is no breath at all.  But the Lord is in His holy temple.  Let all the earth keep silence before Him”.

Stand in awe before the God of glory, humble yourselves, and hurry to Christ’s gospel. He will punish the wicked, He will save the elect, and He's to be worshiped in fear and holiness (2 Cor 7:1).  Blessed be the gospel that saves.

First, He is going to punish wickedness, even though sinners prosper now (vs5-11, 15-19).  He says, “Will not all these take up a proverb against him, and a taunting riddle against him, and say, ‘Woe to him who increases what is not his—how long [how long shall he ‘get away with it]? And to him who loads himself with many pledges’? Will not your creditors rise up suddenly? Will they not awaken who oppress you? And you will become their booty.  Because you have plundered many nations, all the remnant of the people shall plunder you, because of men’s blood and the violence of the land and the city, and of all who dwell in it.” They're adding flame to the fire, being hateful to others, and thus, heaping up wrath for themselves.  Verse 15-17, says, “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, pressing him to your bottle, even to make him drunk, that you may look on his nakedness [the exploit and deceive him]!  You are filled with shame instead of glory. You also—drink! And be exposed as uncircumcised [unclean, unbelieving, and abomination to God]! The cup of the Lord’s right hand will be turned against you, And utter shame will be on your glory.  For the violence done to Lebanon will cover you, and the plunder of beasts which made them afraid, because of men’s blood and the violence of the land and the city, and of all who dwell in it.”  

You have done to others, He says, and now God will do to you, and He can do nothing else, lest He be unjust.  He doesn’t punish sin immediately, but He does punish assuredly and eternally, giving sinners what they deserve, when they reject the gospel, deceive, and misuse their fellow man. He uses their wickedness, and THEN He sends them to hell. He is keeping a record, and after sin has done its purpose, eye for an eye and tooth for tooth justice must come.

Secondly, God saves by the wickedness of others and insures that the elect will come in (vs12-14).  He says, “Woe to him who builds a town with bloodshed, who establishes a city with iniquity! Behold, is it not of the Lord of hosts that the peoples labor to feed the fire [deceive themselves with sin], and nations weary themselves in vain?  For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea”. His glory in deliverance will be seen, so that wickedness has no power over God. He raised Christ to demonstrate sin's defeat in God's salvation, for He ALWAYS turns evil into good!  Joseph, a picture of Christ, sold and hated by his brethren, said, “But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive” (Gen 50:20).  His grace is gloriously unmoved by the evils of men, and He conquers sin by the terror that sin gives.  He brings His elect to repentance by the afflictions of Satan, controlling the tiniest things for good, and rescuing us in a way whereby His wrath and mercy are glorified. He’s seen fit to show the HIGHEST good that He can to human beings - redeeming us, and eternally teaching us of His just, electing, and sanctifying love.  

Finally, worship Him reverently, obeying, honoring, and fearing God (vs20). He says, “But the Lord is in His holy temple. Let all the earth keep silence before Him”.  He is no plaything or god to approach on your terms.  Repent continually and pray to escape the wrath to come.  Believe on Christ to have DIED the death that you merit, and believe that He's earned your holiness, by faith alone. Receive the righteousness and help of God, not only in your standing, but also your walk and behavior, “For if by the one man’s offense death reigned through the one, much more those who receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness will reign in life through the One, Jesus Christ” (Rom 5:17).

Don't take God lightly, despising mercy by unbelief and refusing to be changed. Believe wrath is coming and sin is futile; it is a losers game with eternal regret and agony. Believe that God, in spite of sin and by sin, brings the elect to Christ, using all pain for our good, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Rom 8:28).  Fear God obediently and honor Christ, looking to Him continually for power over sin and hope for sins committed.  Be holy by faith and action.  

“The Just Shall Live By His Faith” (Hab 1:1-2:4)

"Then the Lord answered me and said: 'Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith" (Hab 2:2-4).

You and I must walk by faith because it will be rewarded, says God.

We don’t see everything immediately how we desire it, but believing God, we wait (Hab 2:2-4). He says, "The just shall live by faith", and this isn’t momentary; it is the life and walk of true believers. God has made promises, we take them as true, and then we walk in the light of the gospel, obeying the word, waiting until our reward comes, believing things are and shall be as He says.

The grace of God isn’t easy street. There are difficulties, trials, and many woes (Hab 1:-2:1). Habakkuk said, “O Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? Even cry out to You, ‘Violence!’ And You will not save. Why do You shall me iniquity, and cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; there is strife, and contention arises. Therefore the law is powerless, and justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; therefore perverse judgments proceeds”, and, “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil, and cannot look on wickedness. Why do You look on those who deal treacherously, and hold Your tongue when the wicked devours a person more righteous than he”, and again, “I will stand my watch and set myself on the fortress, and watch to see what He will say to me, and what I will answer when I am corrected” (vs2, 4, 13-14, 2:1). God has promised us eternal life and promised that we are justified by faith, so we walk in this knowledge, cleaving to God’s word above else. We may FEEL forsaken, feel like sin is winning, and think our labor is vain, but this life will be rewarded. The righteous will be forever exalted and the wicked forever punished, but we wait. We wait until heaven when pain will be gone, and we wait continually, and in hope.

We are not walking by human wisdom, taking matters into our own hands, or living our way, “For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved, it is the power of God. For it is written, ‘I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent” (1 Cor 1:18-19). We walk with the Invisible God by faith, taking what He says as true, and living by it, following it carefully, amidst the warfare of life.

Don’t think faith is an easy life, but believe it will be as He has said (2:4). He says, “Behold the proud [those who tell God, “No, I won’t obey You”], his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith”. The Lord Jesus died for all who believe that He did, and He has saved all who trust His salvation. You have every blessing for Christ’s sake. The Spirit will help you, the Father will be faithful to you, and in the end, all tears will be gone. He promises assuredly, “And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away” (Rev 21:4). Believe, and live by what you believe, until you SEE your faith, in face to Face contact with Christ, become a reality. Believe God.

In Wrath Remember Mercy (Hab 3:2)

“O Lord, I have heard your speech, and was afraid: O Lord, revive your work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make known; in wrath remember mercy.”

In wrath, God remembers mercy. This fact is unalterable. God always remembers mercy amidst His wrath. Though the world be damned, God IS always saving the elect. Though He chasten, He is always bringing our salvation to pass by the enemies He afflicts us with. Ethiopia and Seba are ransoms for us, and so are all the wicked. They exist so we can live. He sends wrath to destroy sinners, and yet He sends mercy to save sinners as well – “Rejoice, O you nations, with his people: for he will avenge the blood of his servants, and will render vengeance to his adversaries, and will be merciful unto his land, and to his people” (Deut 32:43).

He has an elect for His mercy, and He has people APPOINTED to destruction, because His character demands both – “Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in his goodness: otherwise you also shall be cut off” (Rom 11:22). It doesn’t matter who we are; if we leave God’s Son, we’ll perish in our ungodliness, because we’re important only as we’re in Christ, and to leave Him… if we die in sin… evidences we were appointed to wrath (I Pet 2:8). He is holy and forgiving, loving and just. He is good and severe, and if we want His goodness, then we will believe in His goodness, though wrath is deserved.

God sent the Chaldeans to afflict Israel, and then God sent destruction upon the afflicter (Hab 1). God will use the boss to afflict the child of God’s behavior, and then He’ll destroy the boss for his lack of love and kindness – “For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior: I gave Egypt for your ransom, Ethiopia and Seba for you” (Is 43:3). The second cause is punished, but the elect is spared. You are precious, so He uses all things for your good, chastening you sore, and destroying the means of chastisement. In either way, both ATTRIBUTES of God – goodness and severity – are revealed.

When chastened and tasting wrath, remember His mercy, because He does – “You will perform the truth to Jacob, and the mercy to Abraham, which you have sworn unto our father from the days of old” (Micah 7:20). If you will have mercy then believe His mercy. He is merciful indeed.

You and I may hurt now, but just as He punishes, He will heal… just as He HURTS, He will also save. He doesn’t keep anger forever – (Micah 7:18) “Who is a God like unto you, that pardons iniquity, and passes by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? He retains not his anger forever, because he delights in mercy”.