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Photo by www.dreamstime.com “Endless Landscapes of Iceland”

¹⁷ Though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines, [though] the product of the olive fails and the fields yield no food, though the flock is cut off from the fold and there are no cattle in the stalls,

¹⁸ Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the [victorious] God of my salvation!

¹⁹ The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]! (Habakkuk 3:17-19, AMPC)

This Bible passage is one of several I rely upon when the enemy of our souls sends thoughts of discouragement or fear in an attempt to stop me from moving forward. They empower me to push through daily life, certain that God is with me, giving His strength for each tedious task, pleased that I keep my thoughts on Him and share each detail of ordinary days, prizing each shared moment as the mutual treasure and delight they are.

These words also carry me through times of dark adversity, personal as well as world-wide, like we are all facing now.

Brief background. The prophet Habakkuk warned God’s people living in Judah that judgement for their wickedness was coming. A time was coming when the Babylonians would take them captive. The first two chapters of Habakkuk are a dialogue between God and the prophet. Habakkuk did “not understand how God could use the Babylonians, who were even more wicked than the wicked Jews to bring judgement on God’s chosen people.”  (The 1984 New International Version of the Bible, p. 816.) The wicked Jews referred to were the Jewish leaders who were oppressing the poor.

Chapter Three is entitled “A prayer of Habakkuk.” It is a meditation with himself, an intercession for the church. In his commentary on Habakkuk 3, Matthew Henry says, “This prophet had found God ready to answer his requests and complaints before, and therefore now repeats his applications to Him. Because God has inclined his ear to us, we must resolve that therefore we will call upon him as long as we live.”  I can only say amen!

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Exploring Habakkuk 3:17-19 phrase by phrase. Notice that Habakkuk describes a circumstance where the figs, the fruit, the olive trees, the fields, the lambs and the cattle all fail.

^“17 Though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines,
[though] the product of the olive fails
and the fields yield no food,
though the flock is cut off from the fold
and there are no cattle in the stalls,. . . “

He is talking about a time of famine and great distress because these six sources were the food supply for people in that region at that time.

These words tell me that even when everything falls apart, I can choose to be glad in the Lord. Why? Because God has answered me before and God’s Word, as well as my own personal experiences, demonstrate that He answers prayer.

“Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord. I will exult in the [victorious] God of my salvation.”  Ponder that word “yet”.  “Yet” is a conjunction meaning “nevertheless, notwithstanding, however.” (Webster’s 1828 Dictionary). It also means still, even so, or despite all of that. That “yet” connects the rest of the verse with what came before.

It takes an immovable stance of faith to trust God in truly desperate circumstances, just as Job did when he said “Though he slay me, yet will I trust Him.” (Job 13:15, NKJ). Though the situations we face are not as desperate or tragic as those of Habakkuk and Job, the appropriate response to our troubles is the same:  trust in God and rejoice, or be glad, in Him.

Trusting in Him enables us to rejoice. We can trust God in truly desperate circumstances if we understand His nature, if we “know His name.” “Those who know Your name trust in you, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you. (Psalm 9:10, NIV).  Examine this verse in the AMPC.

¹⁰ And they who know Your name [who have experience and acquaintance with Your mercy] will lean on and confidently put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek (inquire of and for) You [on the authority of God’s Word and the right of their necessity] (emphasis added).

Think back over the times you have clearly seen God’s mercy in your life and in others.  Read Bible passages that speak of God’s mercy for His chosen people, like Psalm 18, 46, 68, 81, and 105, 106 and 107 and Acts 7:2-53. That exact same all-powerful, all-knowing God is at work in your life. Pause and carefully consider that.

“I will rejoice, I will exult in the [victorious] God of my salvation.”  To rejoice is “To experience joy and gladness in a high degree; to be exhilarated with lively and pleasurable sensations.” (Webster’s 1828 dictionary)

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But the prophet takes it a step further when he specifically says “I will exult.” Think about Christmas morning when you were a child. To exult is “to leap for joy; hence, to rejoice in triumph; to rejoice exceedingly, at success or victory; to be glad above measure; to triumph.” (Webster’s 1828 dictionary). That is to be beside yourself with joy, like when David danced before the Lord because finally the ark of the covenant was about to be brought to Jerusalem. David was exulting in triumph.

Habakkuk 3:8 in the AMPC includes the adjective victorious in brackets–“I will exult in the [victorious] God of my salvation.”  That is why, even in dire circumstances, we can be rejoice, we can exult, and we can be jubilant.  Our God is always, always, always victorious. Nothing is too hard for Him (Jeremiah 32:17).

Verse 19: “The Lord God is my strength, my personal bravery and my invincible army; . . . ”  One morning, a while ago now, Holy Spirit opened my heart to the light of truth in these words. He showed me that when I feel too weak for one more step, when I am afraid, or when I face something impossible, the loving God who lives within me (John 14:23, Galations 2:20) will be, or exist as, the strength I need.  My indwelling God will be, or exist as, the bravery I need. The One Who has made His home inside my heart will be, or exist as, my personal supernatural army that can never be defeated.

Words cannot express the peace and confidence in God I felt as these truths took root in my heart. I can only pray that you experience the same.

In Part Two, we will learn about the importance of that semicolon in Verse 19.