"The LORD God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments." (Hab 3:19)
One of the most eloquent, most poetic, and most prophetic psalms in the Bible can be found in the third chapter of the book of Habakkuk. Heralded as one of the most perfect chapters in the Bible, it is such a pleasure to read over and over again; yet, often we forget that this is the Holy Word of God. Not just another book to read and enjoy but that "All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness" (I Tim. 3:16). Even those beautiful psalms!
There has been many messages preached on the verse in our text today and it is true, God is our strength, and He will make us to stand strong and firm, but we cannot forget the reason Habakkuk is saying this. Why he is so sure that the Lord God is his strength. It is not because he had never faced a situation were all seemed lost. It is not because he had never seen a time when he didn't need to be picked up, stood up, and his feet made like unto hinds' feet. The key to the victorious knowledge that the prophet possessed is found in the proceeding verses: "Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation." (Vs. 17-18). You see, Habakkuk was not talking of praising God when the times were good, when the fields were yielding their finest, when the stalls could hold no more. No, this is in the times of sorrow, in the times of despair, and in the times of famine. That is really when we show ourselves to be the children of God, the promised seed of the most High.
Job too, had this revelation! For though Satan was the minister of death and disaster, Job knew that God was the only Creator, the only one in absolute control. Am I saying that God killed Job's children . . . no, Adam did that long before Job was conceived. The recompense of sin is the slayer of man, for as it is written: "Thy first father hath sinned, and . . . the wages of sin is death" (Isa. 43:27a, Rom. 6:23a). However, Job knew that God himself declared from the foundations of the world that "I form the light, and create darkness: I make peace, and create evil: I the LORD do all these things." (Isa. 45:7). Therefore, Job could stand and proclaim with all assurance that, "Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD." (Job. 1:21).
Oh, if we could learn the faith, if we could hear the word. If we are to never face trials in this life or if we are to be taken away before the times of trouble then why must we "put on the whole amour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil?" (Eph. 6:11). We must stop thinking that as a Christian life will be good and easy. The fact remains that God is not found of those that have everything and want for nothing. If you want for nothing, then you do not want God. "Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you." (I Pet. 4:12) This is mearly a cleansing of the sacrifice, a burning away of the covering of sin. Behold and wonder, take it to heart, for God hath spoken that varily "Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction." (Isa. 48:10). |
