Prayer Meeting May 2022

Habakkuk 3:17–18 NIV (Anglicised, 2011)

Though the fig-tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the sheepfold and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.

Habakkuk writes after Assiria has invaded and carried off much of Israel

and he anticipates the uprising of Babylon against Assiria and then Judah.

But there is a continuous question or theme in the book.

How can God use one evil nation to overthrow another.

How is it ‘just’ for sinful Assiria to invade Israel in judgement, - when Assiria is sinful too.

and so if Babylon is Assiria’s judgment, where is Babylon’s judgement.

Where’s it all going to end?

Sometimes our lives might feel like that too.

Where’s our hope and where’s it going to end.

Around every corner we’re faced with another problem to overcome.

Another enemy that tempts us,

another disease to test us,

another worldly attraction to lead us away.

Habakkuk 3:17 NIV (Anglicised, 2011)

Though the fig-tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the sheepfold and no cattle in the stalls,

That’s a pretty conclusive problem.

No figs, grapes, olives, crops, sheep or cattle!

Nothing to eat, and nothing to sell or trade.

As far as problems go - the next corner for these guys is death.

Perhaps we can in a small way empathise - whether mentally or physically or economically.

For there guys it’s all of those things.

And so v18 is either really foolish - or brilliant.

Habakkuk 3:18 NIV (Anglicised, 2011)

yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Saviour.

The lesson in Habakkuk is one of patiently waiting and trusting in the Lord.

Babylon will be brought to justice,

just as Israel, Assria and Judah have been.

But there is a hope for the faithful

- even amongst the famine, the cancer, the bereavement, the depression, the heartache and the pain of this life.

There is a hope for the faithful even when caught up among the sin of the world and our own.

It is to patiently trust in the Lord.

Habakkuk 2:4 NIV (Anglicised, 2011)

‘See, the enemy is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness—

The NT picks us those words repeatdly.

Romans 1:17 NIV (Anglicised, 2011)

For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.’

Galatians 3:11 NIV (Anglicised, 2011)

Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because ‘the righteous will live by faith.’

Hebrews 10:38 NIV (Anglicised, 2011)

And, ‘But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back.’

Keep going God reminds his people - even in the worst of circumstances,

Your hope relies on Him,

as we patiently wait and trust - not in the daily circumstances of our lives.

but in God and his promises.

Philippians 3:7–8 NIV (Anglicised, 2011)

But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ

Tonight as we pray - may we have that patient trust in the Lord.

Pray