D. Scott Meadows
I have a friend, 85 years old, who asked me to pray she would have “strength for the journey,” so to speak. Like most of the elderly, life is getting harder for her. I do pray for her, and I remember that the Bible says, “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Neh 8.10).
Joy is desirable but difficult especially in life’s hard times like some of you face. I want to be a helper of your joy today, and encourage you.
The man Habakkuk had learned the secret of constant joy. This grabs our attention. He ends his OT book with a testimony about this:
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.
19 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.
I.e., “Even in the worst of times, I will rejoice in the Lord because He is my strength and my Savior.”
EVEN IN THE WORST OF TIMES (v. 17)
He describes a hypothetical situation, “worst case scenario,” in an agricultural society (farmers). No figs, no grapes, no olives, no crops, no sheep, no cattle. These were staples of Jewish survival, basics of physical pleasure. The conditions here are catastrophic, leading to starvation, a miserable way to die.
Habakkuk was a prophet of the Lord and foretold divine judgment on the people of Judah for their sins. God planned that a people called the Chaldeans was about to invade (ch. 1). The figs, grapes, olives, crops, sheep and cattle would be consumed and stolen by foreigners. So Habakkuk sees spiritual and national disaster, not just personal.
Because he describes a situation so extreme, it includes us and anything we could suffer. Even if I should be on my deathbed, and the country is falling apart, and God is judging us for our sins, etc.
I WILL REJOICE IN THE LORD (v. 18)
Habakkuk expresses his settled purpose, his holy resolve, by the statement repeated twice about the future: “I will rejoice, I will joy.” Joy is not just a feeling; it is an action, a choice, a duty, a possibility by the grace of God.
1) An act. Both verbs mean to express joy. In this context it has the idea of religious celebration, praise to the Lord.
2) A choice. “I will” is very strong, an “indirect command to the first person,” i.e., to himself. Habakkuk is telling himself what to do.
3) A duty. The Lord commands His people to rejoice at all times (Psa 33.1; Phil 4.4). To do this is obedience; to fail is a sin.
4) A possibility. Habakkuk expresses his hope for the future. He trusts the Lord will help him do what is right no matter what.
BECAUSE HE IS MY SAVIOR (v. 19)
Beautiful confession of faith in the Lord as present and future Savior:
Present: “The Lord GOD is my [source of] strength.” Christian joy in the worst of times is impossible for sinners apart from God working in our hearts. His power sustains me spiritually, even in catastrophe.
Future: “He will make my feet, cause me to walk,” etc. Hinds are female deer that can climb steep and rocky places safely. The point seems to be sure-footedness as a metaphor for spiritual stability.
This explains why many cannot have joy in their troubles, and why others can and do. The difference is faith in the Lord.
EXHORTATION: TRUST IN THE LORD AND REJOICE IN HIM
Which kind of person are you? Are you a God-fearing, religious person of true, biblical, Christian faith? Do you believe that God became a man in Jesus Christ, and that He died on the cross for sinners, even for your sins, and rose from the dead on the third day?
If not, this is the way to a true conversion: “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved” (Acts 16.31). I exhort you to it.
If so, then all you need do is focus your attention on the Lord, His grace, His promises, His sufficiency, to experience true joy. Don’t wait until you feel happy. Praise Him openly and sincerely when you feel the most miserable. The very act of worship will lift your spirit and strengthen your heart. “The joy of the Lord is your strength.” Amen.
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