“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, Yet I will exult in the Lord, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation.” Habakkuk 3:17-18 (NASB)
We might think we find happiness from the things in the world, and when things are going our way, we find ourselves glad. But such things do not last. Today’s verses might sound like circumstances many are facing these days. Many have been decimated by the effects of the choices which authorities have made to manage the health crisis at the world’s door*. Our verse is from a prayer written by the prophet Habakkuk in an Old Testament book of the same name. It mentions the possibility of severe hardships we might face. When we do, faith becomes a matter of devoted allegiance to our God. It is then we must have confidence in Him regardless of our circumstances. The promise for us here is that Our Lord is a source of real joy for those who know Him. Our circumstances change and when they do, let's say, along with Habakkuk, that although all our resources and reserves are gone, “yet I will rejoice in the Lord” Lasting joy is found in trusting the Lord. The prophet experienced this true joy and that why he wrote this prayer.
- 188 -
* Coronavirus disease 2019 is an infectious disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. It was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, Hubei, China, and has resulted in an ongoing pandemic as of the date of this posting.
