Friday Oct 1 Devotion
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Pastor Joelle
Oct 1, 2010, 12:23:22 PM10/1/10
to Daily Devotion
Though the fig tree does not blossom,
and no fruit is on the vines;
though the produce of the olive fails,
and the fields yield no food;
though the flock is cut off from the fold,
and there is no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will exult in the God of my salvation.
Habakkuk 3:17-18
Habakkuk lives during a bleak time in Israel. They are not only
threatened by invaders from the outside, but they are suffering
corruption and decay from the inside. The book of Habakkuk is a
lament. And yet after all his laments, he comes to the conclusion
that he will still rejoice in the Lord.
How can that be? How can we rejoice when the fig tree does not
blossom and there is no fruit on the vine? How can we praise God when
things are not the way they should be? How can we rejoice when all is
not well with us?
Earlier Habakkuk answers that with these words “The righteous shall
live by faith” (2:4). There are many ways to define faith. One of my
definitions is that faith is the trust and confidence that God means
us well—that despite everything we see and everything the world would
try to tell us, God’s will for us is good and that God’s plan for
good will be accomplished. St. Paul in Romans 8:28 writes “We know
that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those
whom he has called according to his purpose”
There are many scripture passages dealing with injustice and human
suffering. None of them explain why God works the way God does. The
only answer we have to evil is Jesus death on the cross and
Resurrection. It is on the cross that we see God entering into the
pain and suffering of humanity. It is at the empty tomb that we see
God’s victory over suffering and evil.
Lord Christ, you came into the world as one of us, and suffered as we
do. As we go through the trials of life, help us to realize that you
are with us at all time sand in all things; that we have no secrets
from you and that your loving grace enfolds us for eternity. In the
security of your embrace we pray. Amen.
and no fruit is on the vines;
though the produce of the olive fails,
and the fields yield no food;
though the flock is cut off from the fold,
and there is no herd in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will exult in the God of my salvation.
Habakkuk 3:17-18
Habakkuk lives during a bleak time in Israel. They are not only
threatened by invaders from the outside, but they are suffering
corruption and decay from the inside. The book of Habakkuk is a
lament. And yet after all his laments, he comes to the conclusion
that he will still rejoice in the Lord.
How can that be? How can we rejoice when the fig tree does not
blossom and there is no fruit on the vine? How can we praise God when
things are not the way they should be? How can we rejoice when all is
not well with us?
Earlier Habakkuk answers that with these words “The righteous shall
live by faith” (2:4). There are many ways to define faith. One of my
definitions is that faith is the trust and confidence that God means
us well—that despite everything we see and everything the world would
try to tell us, God’s will for us is good and that God’s plan for
good will be accomplished. St. Paul in Romans 8:28 writes “We know
that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those
whom he has called according to his purpose”
There are many scripture passages dealing with injustice and human
suffering. None of them explain why God works the way God does. The
only answer we have to evil is Jesus death on the cross and
Resurrection. It is on the cross that we see God entering into the
pain and suffering of humanity. It is at the empty tomb that we see
God’s victory over suffering and evil.
Lord Christ, you came into the world as one of us, and suffered as we
do. As we go through the trials of life, help us to realize that you
are with us at all time sand in all things; that we have no secrets
from you and that your loving grace enfolds us for eternity. In the
security of your embrace we pray. Amen.
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