The circumstances of this life should not alter my view of God's goodness.
Habakkuk 3:1-2 This prayer was sung by the prophet Habakkuk: 2 I have heard all about you, LORD. I am filled with awe by your amazing works. In this time of our deep need, help us again as you did in years gone by. And in your anger, remember your mercy.
Habakkuk 3:17-19 Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD!
I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! 19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.
Habakkuk has been struggling with God in the first two chapters of his short book. He has shown us that we should wait on the Lord and decide that we will trust him to take care of us for this life and for eternity no matter what the circumstances look like. When we come to know God in this way our natural response to God is to worship him.
As God answered his prayers, Habakkuk grew in his awareness of the glory of the Lord and his knowledge and control of every detail, his view of God grew so much that he compared it to the waters that fill the seas.
God's glory is also known because people have been talking about it and writing books about it for thousands of years. Habakkuk is amazed at the great deeds that God has done for his people because he has read the books that Moses wrote and he has heard a lot of stories that have been passed down about God's power and glory.
Exodus 7:5 When I raise my powerful hand and bring out the Israelites, the Egyptians will know that I am the LORD.”
In spite of God's superiority over the man made gods of Egypt they still didn't acknowledge him as the one true God. It is incredible that God's glory was denied even in the grandest display of his power in sending the plagues to Egypt.
We tend to blame the Pharaoh for Egypt's troubles but it has occurred to me that the people of Egypt didn't show any signs that they were willing to turn from their little gods any more than Pharaoh was.
We tend to blame the Pharaoh for Egypt's troubles but it has occurred to me that the people of Egypt didn't show any signs that they were willing to turn from their little gods any more than Pharaoh was.
Habakkuk knows that God has used his power to benefit his chosen people in the past and he hopes that he will do it again. He knows that the only power that is sufficient to save is the same power that has been proven in the past. But he also knows that God won't always use his power to end our suffering.
We say that God is good when things are going our way but sometimes his blessings come to us in disguise. We usually pray for the difficult times to go away, none of us like for anything to be tough, but what if those difficulties are the very thing that God is using to send blessings your way?
When God judges his people it is for their benefit even if it doesn't feel or look like it is.
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Bridgeway Bible Commentary by Missionary Don Fleming
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Because God always deserves praise and glory, Habakkuk will rejoice in these circumstances, he knows that his joy doesn't come from the abundance of things that he has or how easy his life is, he will rejoice because the God of his salvation is his delight. (Psalm 34:1)
Hard times can push you to new heights or they will destroy you. Your suffering will make you far better or far worse that you were before. Will you be better or bitter? Will suffering make you humble or arrogant?
I need to rejoice because God is using everything for his glory which ultimately leads to me spending eternity with him singing his praises for my undeserved salvation. I should not allow the circumstances of this life to alter my view of the glory of God and his unrelenting goodness to his people.
