As mentioned in a series of earlier posts, Kyle Farran wrote an article entitled “10 Reasons Why God Entrusts Us with Trials”, Missionary Life, Vol. 67, Issue 1 (2019) [10 Reasons God Entrusts Us With Trials | ABWE]. Even though Kyle cites Job 1:21, Psalm 73:25-26, and Habakkuk 3:17-19, this Post No. 8 discussess Habakkuk 3:17-19 cited by Kyle in support of the seventh reason: Trials Show Us and Others that God is Infinitely Valuable .
Kyle writes:
As I go through trials or loss with peace and joy, others are watching. They are watching to see if I respond in joy. When I have joy in loss, it shows the world that Jesus is better. Unfortunately, joy in the midst of loss is not my default setting. My default is complaining, self-pity, and seeking sympathy. Before I respond in joy God has to teach me that Jesus is better than anything this world has to offer. He teaches through trials and loss that He alone is my treasure and great reward.
Steve’s comments now follow.
The relevant Scripture is Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NET), which reads:
17 When the fig tree does not bud, and there are no grapes on the vines; when the olive trees do not produce, and the fields yield no crops; when the sheep disappear from the pen, and there are no cattle in the stalls, 18 I will rejoice because of the Lord; I will be happy because of the God who delivers me! 19 The sovereign Lord is my source of strength. He gives me the agility of a deer; he enables me to negotiate the rugged terrain. (This prayer is for the song leader. It is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.)
In the NLT, Habakkuk 3:17–19 (NLT) reads:
17 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. (For the choir director: This prayer is to be accompanied by stringed instruments.)
In the ESV, Habakkuk 3:17–19 (ESV)
17 Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. 19 God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.
For the sake of completeness, the other two Scriptures read:
Job 1:21 (NET) – 21 He said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. May the name of the Lord be blessed!”
Psalm 73:25–26 (NET) – 25 Whom do I have in heaven but you? I desire no one but you on earth. 26 My flesh and my heart may grow weak, but God always protects my heart and gives me stability.
The context of the passage from Habakkuk is the pending invasion and destruction by the Babylonians. These verses show that Habakkuk trusted that God knows best. Habakkuk’s trust is in the midst of suffering and loss. His trust is in God and not in his circumstances. Yahweh has become Habakkuk’s strength! ESV Study Bible on p. 1727.
This passage is one of the strongest affirmations of faith in all of Scripture. NIV Study Bible on p. 1391. The texts from Job and Psalms are also strong affirmations of trust in God. Please note that the upcoming destruction is because of disobedience so as enact the covenant curses. See Deuteronomy 28:31-34, 49-51.
Habakkuk applies directly to financial matters, but the principle of trusting in God even during the most dire circumstances applies to all trials.
On a personal note my health trial is not as severe as the destruction facing Habakkuk. While I trust in God to see me through to the end, I wish that my level of trust was as profound as that of Habakkuk. Pity parties still happen in my life. Keeping Habakkuk in mind, I strive to increase my level of trust in God. The trust levels displayed in Job 1:21 and Psalm 73:25-26 are also very high.
I hope what I write is helpful to the reader.
IF YOU ARE UNSURE ABOUT YOUR SALVATION
If you are unsure about your salvation, you need to check out my book The Salvation Meter: Biblical Self-Diagnostic Tests to Examine Your Salvation and Spiritual Growth (book link at Xulon Press: https://www.xulonpress.com/bookstore/bookdetail.php?PB_ISBN=9781662828638 ). At Amazon the book link is https://www.amazon.com/Salavation-Meter-Biblical-Self-Diagnostic-Spiritual/dp/1662828632 . I also have a website in which I am updating the content in the book. The link to my website for the book is https://thesalvationmeter.com .
IF YOU ARE NOT A CHRISTIAN
… please (1) read through “God’s Plan of Salvation” so you can understand what God did for you through His only unique Son, Jesus Christ, and (2), from the bottom of your heart, pray the “Sinner’s Prayer” meaning every word. If you do, you will be reconciled to God – saved – through Jesus Christ.
God’s Plan of Salvation
In the beginning, God, who is holy, created the entire universe. As a part of His creative actions, He made humans (male and female) in His image to know Him. For a while, everything was right between God and our ancestors, Adam and Eve. But Adam and Eve sinned, whereby sin was passed down to all of humankind so that we became sinners separated from God. Nothing we could do on our own could bridge that separation so that without God’s intervention, hell would be our eternal destination.
Fortunately for us, in His great love and mercy God provided humankind with the only means of salvation, which is through Jesus Christ who is God’s only unique Son. While retaining His deity, God the Son became a man in Jesus, lived a perfect life, and died a substitutionary atoning death on the cross, thus fulfilling the law Himself and taking on Himself the punishment for the sins of all those who would ever repent and trust in Him for their salvation. Jesus rose from the dead, showing that God the Father accepted Christ’s sacrifice and exhausted God’s wrath against every believer. He now calls all unbelievers to repent of their sins and trust alone in what Christ did to save them.
If we repent of our sins and completely trust in Christ alone that He died for our sins and rose to life from the dead, we are born again into a new life, an eternal life with God.
Scripture References: Genesis 1:1, 26, 31; Habakkuk 1:13; Genesis 2:7-25; Genesis 3:1-7, 22-24; Isaiah 59:2; Romans 3:19-20, 23; 5:17-19; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 6:23; John 14:6; Acts 4:12; Colossians 1:15; 2:9; Matthew 1:18, 20, 24-25; Hebrews 4:15; 1 Peter 2:24; Hebrews 2:17; 9:25-26; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; 1 John 4:10; John 3:16-18; Mark 1:15; Acts 17:30; 26:20; Romans 1:4; 4:25; John 3:5-8; 1 Peter 1:3.
“Sinner’s Prayer”
Lord, Jesus Christ, the only unique Son of God, thank You for Your free gift of eternal life. I know I’m a sinner who cannot save myself no matter what I do, and I deserve to spend eternity in hell. But, I know that because You loved me so much, You voluntarily died on the cross for me taking my sins upon Yourself, and You physically bodily rose from the grave showing that Your sacrificial death was sufficient payment to give me eternal life in Heaven. I now repent of my sins and completely trust alone in what You did for my eternal salvation. Please take control of my life as I now receive You as my Lord and Savior. Thank You so much for saving me. I am now Yours forever!
(Scripture references: John 1:1-4, 11-14; John 3:16; Romans 6:23; Ephesians 2:8-9; Romans 3:21-26; Isaiah 53:4-6; Mark 1:15; Acts 16:31; Acts 4:12; Romans 10:9-10, 13; 1 Corinthians 15:3-4; John 10:27-29).
RESOURCES
NET Bible, Full Notes Edition (1996, 2019), Biblical Studies Press, LLC
NIV Cultural Background Study Bible, (2016), Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI
ESV Study Bible, (2008), Crossway Bibles, Wheaton, IL
The MacArthur Study Bible, (1997), Thomas Nelson, Nashville, TN
The NIV Study Bible, (1985), Zondervan, Grand Rapids, MI
ESV Thompson Chain Reference Bible, (2016), Zondervan, MI
Expositor’s Study Bible, Crossfire Edition, (2013), Jimmy Swaggert Ministries, Baton Rouge, LA
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