Not too many people are still around who have strong memories of the 1929 crash of Wall Street and the Great Depression that followed for many years throughout the 1930’s. Most of us, though, have heard the stories of hardship and deprivation from our parents and grandparents. There have been several big stock market crashes since then, and other periods of economic hardship. Many of us know what it is like to go through difficult times, sometimes for many years. Sometimes the hardships are caused by natural disasters or even war ravaging the country. During these times, when we fear for how we will pay our bills, or where our next meal will come from, how do we respond? Is it with trust in the Lord or in fear? Our Scripture today shows us how the prophet Habakkuk responded in catastrophic circumstances.
Habakkuk was an Old Testament prophet in Judah, possibly sometime around 612 - 597 BC. Throughout the history of the nation, the people had known times of hardship, with famines, droughts, and enemy invasion. Many of these had been brought on themselves because of their forsaking Yahweh and turning to pagan gods. Yet still the people suffered, including the righteous.
The prophet Habakkuk wrote of the Lord having revealed to him some of the punishments that He was going to bring upon the people because of their disobedience to Him, including the coming destruction of Jerusalem and the nation, and captivity in Babylon. Such tragedies would also bring about famine, sicknesses, and death for many. The knowledge of what had been happening to the people, and what was yet to come, horrified Habakkuk, and he brought his feelings to the Lord. Yet, in spite of what tragedies and devastation he faced, Habakkuk never lost faith in the Lord, as we see in our Scripture verses today, which close out the prophet’s brief book.
As we look at verse 19, we see economic tragedies coming to the nation, something similar to some of the days of the Great Depression during the 1930’s. All of the crops have failed. In a country, and at a time when most of the people were rural and depended upon an agrarian economy, such a thing would be devastating. It meant a loss of income for people, and if this continued for more than one season, it would bring starvation and sickness to everyone. A loss of crops would also mean that the livestock would not have much to eat, and they would soon get sick and also die. What could the people eat? Where would they get money with which they could buy the items they needed?
Many people crack when faced with a catastrophe. How do we respond when we lose our job, when the bank account is empty, when any government assistance gets cut? How about when we lose our homes, or even an enemy army stands at the border and the bombs and missiles come flying and exploding in our streets? This is what the people of Habakkuk’s day faced. Did Habakkuk shake his fist towards heaven? Did he accuse God of not keeping His Biblical promises? Our answer is in the next verse, verse 18. Habakkuk’s response was to rejoice and continue to praise the Lord! He may be facing the worst possible of times, but he would not lose faith in God. He would not curl up in a heap and go to pieces. Habakkuk would stand up and praise the Lord. No matter how bad things got, he would trust in the Lord. His trust in God was not controlled by the events around him, but by his faith in the Savior.
Even though Habakkuk did not like the thought of God’s judgment, he knew God’s ways are best. He knew God was at work, and would bring good out of what seemed like terrible circumstances (Romans 8:28). Habakkuk’s security and hope were not based on temporal blessings, but on the Lord Himself. Just as the sure-footed deer could climb to dangerous mountain heights without falling, so Habakkuk’s faith in the Lord would enable him to go through the terrible hardships he would face (vs. 19).
It is easy to sing when things are going well in the daylight. But what about when times are bad in the night? Habakkuk knew that God can give us songs in the night (Job 35:10). Real faith trusts God in the darkest hours and worst trials. It awaits His vindication, and looks forward to His promised day of glory. God is in control. He can be completely trusted by those who have faith and hope in Him.
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