Praising God On Empty
"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 pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
The Sovereign LORD is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to tread on the heights."
Habakkuk 3:17-19
The Sovereign LORD is my strength; He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, He enables me to tread on the heights."
Habakkuk 3:17-19
The prophet Habakkuk had many questions for God. He cried out in prayer: "How long, LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? . . . Why do you make me look at injustice? . . . the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted." (1:2-4) Habakkuk desperately needed answers from God. He said, "I will stand at my watch . . . I will look to see what He (God) will say to me . . . " (2:1). God started speaking to Habakkuk. The Bible says, "God came down from Teman . . . His splendor was like the sunrise . . . " (3:3-4)
Habakkuk did not understand the nature of divine workings until God appeared and "His glory covered the heavens and His praise filled the earth." (3:3) He then understood that a divine "delay" is neither a denial nor a reneging on the promises of God. Though the promise might tarry, it will surely come to pass. For the vision is for an appointed time!
Habakkuk's faith was rekindled and so he cried out: "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 . . . yet I will rejoice in God my Savior." In other words, I have learned to praise God on empty. I will praise and rejoice in God no matter the circumstances.
This passage reminds me of a letter I received from my wife while I was in seminary. It is one of my most cherished possessions. It was a time in our life when we had "risked" everything to respond to the call of God on our lives. It was truly a time when there seemed to be "no grapes on the vines, no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls." She concluded her letter with this passage from Habakkuk and mentioned how she had learned to rejoice in the LORD.
When we truly come to understand the workings of divinity even with our very limited minds, we will learn to praise God on empty. We will praise Him because He is still able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can think according to His power that is at work in us.
Praising God on empty releases His glory and His miraculous provision.
Habakkuk did not understand the nature of divine workings until God appeared and "His glory covered the heavens and His praise filled the earth." (3:3) He then understood that a divine "delay" is neither a denial nor a reneging on the promises of God. Though the promise might tarry, it will surely come to pass. For the vision is for an appointed time!
Habakkuk's faith was rekindled and so he cried out: "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 . . . yet I will rejoice in God my Savior." In other words, I have learned to praise God on empty. I will praise and rejoice in God no matter the circumstances.
This passage reminds me of a letter I received from my wife while I was in seminary. It is one of my most cherished possessions. It was a time in our life when we had "risked" everything to respond to the call of God on our lives. It was truly a time when there seemed to be "no grapes on the vines, no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls." She concluded her letter with this passage from Habakkuk and mentioned how she had learned to rejoice in the LORD.
When we truly come to understand the workings of divinity even with our very limited minds, we will learn to praise God on empty. We will praise Him because He is still able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we can think according to His power that is at work in us.
Praising God on empty releases His glory and His miraculous provision.
Prayer: Father, I thank you that our walk is by faith and not by sight. Please help me to learn to praise you even when everything is empty. Amen.