Yet I Will Rejoice
When God Doesnt • Sermon • Submitted
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· 829 viewsEven among suffering and loss, Habakkuk has learned that he can trust God, and with that trust comes great joy—not in circumstances but in God himself.
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Introduction
Introduction
Charles Adams told a story that CNN featured about how a poor, black woman saved enough money to purchase herself a home in Silicon Valley.
She loved her new home. She kept the inside clean and the lawn mowed.
In an effort to get unwanted people out the neighborhood, the neighborhood association got together with the local bank and established a law that allowed a home to be foreclosed if the owner did not pay their association dues.
For some reason or another, the lady did not pay her $200 dues. As a result the bank foreclosed on her house and sold her house which was worth over $100,000 for $10,000 to two lawyers.
The new owners threw her stuff out the doors and windows into the yard. She became homeless and had no place to go.
Though she was homeless, CNN showed the woman in church that Sunday praising God.
She danced up a storm. She danced so until her dancing disturbed the minds of nine brilliant lawyers.
The lawyers took her cause to court and they got her property restored.
Whatever the situation, when you can’t do anything else, you praise the Lord. Heaven can decipher what you need and take it from there.
The book of Habakkuk follows the journey of the prophet through his earnest prayers, as he wrestles with God’s seeming silence and asks if God truly cares.
Yet the story ends with Habakkuk able to rest in the ways of God and trust God no matter what circumstances may transpire.
Chapter 3 Looks at God’s past action, His past faithfulness to Israel during the time of the exodus and giving of the Promised Land.
The ending of Habakkuk is beautiful.
Now that brings us to our text today,
“Habakkuk’s book begins with an interrogation of God but ends as an intercession to God.
The book begins with a prayer of despair and ends with a confession of hope and faith.
Worry is transformed into worship.
Fear turns to faith.
Terror becomes trust.
Hang-ups are resolved with hope.
Anguish melts into adoration.
What begins with a question mark ends in an exclamation point”
The book begins with a prayer of despair and ends with a confession of hope and faith.
Habakkuk no longer wonders when and what God will do. He knows it now!
The book ends with the prophet’s confidence placed in God no matter what happens.
Throughout this journey, we have seen the Prophet learn about God, wrestle with difficult ideas and circumstances.
Now we will conclude on a vastly different tone than when we began our study.
Habakkuk no longer wonders when and what God will do. He knows it now!
He knows how difficult it will be.
So Habakkuk has some inward distress in Vs. 16.
He remembers what God has stated, this wicked, violent, fierce, godless nation is on its way to destroy the nation for its sin.
Ever been there? You have a situation in your life and it affects you physically.
Habakkuk had some outward difficulties in Vs. 17.
Habakkuk outlines the worst possible scenario for anyone living in Israel during that time.
But in the midst of his inward distress and some outward difficulties Habakkuk was able to do three things in Vs. 18.
Firstly, He Had a Made Up Mind...
Firstly, He Had a Made Up Mind...
18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
YET. That little word has enormous meaning.
Habakkuk 3
Adverb - Up until the present or a specified time
YET. That little word has enormous meaning.
The prophet is to experience inward distress and outward difficulties.
The prophet is to experience inward distress and outward difficulties.
Though these things happen, YET!
Habakkuk comes to the place where his worship of God is not contingent upon his circumstances.
Habakkuk comes to the place where his worship of God is not contingent upon his circumstances.
Often, it is easier to worship God through good circumstances than when we face hardships and unpleasant situations.
The reality is that life can be brutal at times. Jesus spoke these words to his disciples.
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
However, Habakkuk has come to the place where, even if trials and distress continue, he will choose to rejoice in the Lord.
However, Habakkuk has come to the place where, even if trials and distress continue, he will choose to rejoice in the Lord.
Paul encourages us to come to that same place: “Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice” ().
Secondly, He Understands God was Worthy Long Before Any of Those Circumstances Ever Showed Up.
Secondly, He Understands God was Worthy Long Before Any of Those Circumstances Ever Showed Up.
18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
Habakkuk 3:18
The song “Even If” by MercyMe is a great illustration of this powerful principle.
Bart Millard (lead singer of MercyMe) comments, “‘Even If’ is a reminder to people in difficult situations that don’t seem to go away. God was worthy long before any of those circumstances even showed up.
This song is a declaration to God that even if He went silent and never said another word, He’s still worthy to be praised and that He’s our greatest hope in the midst of the trial”
Many people are devastated when their prayers are not answered.
Their grief turns into disappointment with God, bitterness, and anger.
We must always believe in God more than we believe for the miracles.
A great illustration of this is found in with the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and their refusal to bow down and worship King Nebuchadnezzar’s golden idol.
When threatened to be thrown in a fiery furnace, they stated, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. If this be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But if not, be it known to you, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up” ().
These three young Hebrew men were confident that God was able to deliver them from the fire.
hese three young Hebrew men were confident that God was able to deliver them from the fire. Yet they also declared that if God chose not to rescue them, they would not allow their circumstances to change their worship of him. “In the first part of their speech, we see that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego have faith for a miracle, and this is impressive. But then we see that they also have faith of a deeper kind altogether—faith to endure suffering should the miracle not happen”
Yet they also declared that if God chose not to rescue them, they would not allow their circumstances to change their worship of him.
“In the first part of their speech, we see that Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego have faith for a miracle, and this is impressive.
But then we see that they also have faith of a deeper kind altogether—faith to endure suffering should the miracle not happen”
1. As the church, we must be careful not to only tell the “glory stories” of how people experienced the miracles of God in their circumstances changing and successfully overcoming difficult times. We must also tell the stories of those who, although they had faith for the miraculous, lived out a deeper faith that allowed them to suffer well. We also need to hear and celebrate the testimonies of those who have endured the fiery seasons of darkness, pain, and hardships.
As the church, we must be careful not to only tell the “glory stories” of how people experienced the miracles of God in their circumstances changing and successfully overcoming difficult times. We must also tell the stories of those who, although they had faith for the miraculous, lived out a deeper faith that allowed them to suffer well. We also need to hear and celebrate the testimonies of those who have endured the fiery seasons of darkness, pain, and hardships.
Lastly, He He Renews and Confirms His Relationship with His Savior.
Lastly, He He Renews and Confirms His Relationship with His Savior.
He Calls God his own and promises to rejoice in Him, despite my circumstances.
He is still My Salvation in times of distress...
The Same God that Promises to Judge is the Same God That Promises to Save.
2 Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and not be afraid:
For the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song;
He also is become my salvation.
To be My Salvation implies:
Relationship
Help
Deliverance
Joy