Don’t Just Stand There, Walk!

Habakkuk. I love this guy.  He lived near the end of the seventh century and may have witnessed the fall of the Assyrian empire and the rise of the Babylonian kingdom.  He book is divided into three short chapters, but boy does he pack a punch.  First of all, he questions God.  I love this because I wrestle with God on occasion.  Secondly, though what God tells him is grim about the fate of the Jewish nation, and Habakkuk trembles at what is to come, he says, “Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord.” Such a small word overflowing with so much hope, steadfastness and courage!

Though, for the most part, these three chapters are indeed grim and even terrifying, Habakkuk begins chapter three, his prayer or psalm, by saying it should be set to “wild, enthusiastic, and triumphal music.”  Can you imagine?  He then proceeds with describing how frightfully terrifying God is in His judgment, glory, and righteousness.  Can you imagine this psalm being sung?  The idea of God’s terrifying judgment and righteousness set to wild, enthusiastic and triumphal music?

Habakkuk wraps up his prayer with three thoughts:  Chapter 3, verse 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 yields no food, though the flock is cut off from the fold and there are no cattle in the stalls…”

Read:  Though your heart fails you and you’re ready to sink, though your strength leaves you and there is no hope; though the mountains of trouble and suffering seem insurmountable…

Each one of us suffers and experience trials or afflictions that affect either our natural or spiritual strength or both. Habakkuk knew judgment was coming to his people.  He acknowledges and accepts this, though he didn’t know how long they would suffer or to what degree. He prepared himself for the worst as described above in verse 17.  But, now read the first word in verse 18.  Yet…

What a glorious word! 

“Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the victorious God of my salvation!”

I WILL rejoice.  I WILL exult.

What a lesson here.  Though my strength fails me.  Though life’s challenges overwhelm me.  Though I am in distress and pressed with sorrow.  Though it seems like there’s no hope.  You can write your own “though” here. 

Yet, I will rejoice.  I will exult the God of my salvation.  What a challenge for us.

But wait!  There’s more.  Verse 19 gives us the hope we’re looking for and the strength to carry on.

“The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army.” 

Waozah!

And, here’s the clincher…read on, dear one, read on:

“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!”

Hinds are a type of deer that are known for their swiftness and the strength and firmness of their feet.  They can go upon rocks and mountains securely, and tread and walk, and even run upon them with safety. 

According to John Gill’s commentary, the word used in this verse signifies to "make", or "set", fix, place, order, and settle.  The feet of hinds, and our feet, are firm.  God makes me swift and sure-footed, like a deer that does not stumble.  He will make me to walk upon my high places of trouble, suffering and responsibility.

When the Old Testament talks about “high places,” it is referring to the enemies’ fortresses, strong holds or temples built high on a hill or eminence.

God will make us to walk upon the high places of the enemy.  Okay, what?  Trying to wrap my head around this one.  It’s kind of like the story of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego.  God chose not to keep them out of the fire.  He chose to go in with them. 

Here, in verse 19, we see that God is there with us on these mountains of trouble, suffering and responsibility giving us His Strength, His bravery and His invincible army.  And, He tells us, “Don’t stand in terror, walk!”  Make spiritual progress upon these high places.

We will be made perfect in our weakness, and we will be upheld by Him under it all and be brought out of it.

Amen, sister.  Amen.

By CindyQG