Blog: Fountain of Joy

Habakkuk says that adverse circumstances need not threaten our faith in the Lord, as God is a unique type of sovereign.
Our God inspires reverential trust and deep faith in us as we commune with Him.
We can have confidence in God's wisdom and providence even when we do not understand some of life's tough problems.
We can rejoice in the Lord regardless of how dark the day may seem.
Habakkuk 3:17-19 says that we can find strength and joy in God even in the face of adversity.

What meaning do the final words of Habakkuk have for us today? Can Habakkuk help us know how to be joyful?

Commentary: Habakkuk 2:2-4; 3:1-2, 17-19

2 ² Then the Lord replied:

"Write down the revelation
   and make it plain on tablets
   so that a herald may run with it.
³ For the revelation awaits an appointed time;
   it speaks of the end
   and will not prove false.
Though it linger, wait for it;
   it will certainly come
   and will not delay.

⁴ "See, the enemy is puffed up;
   his desires are not upright --
   but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness."

==========

3 ¹ A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet. . . .

² Lord, I have heard of your fame;
   I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord.
Repeat them in our day,
   in our time make them known;
   in wrath remember mercy.

==========

¹⁷ 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,
¹⁸ yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
   I will be joyful in God my Savior.

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.

Week 32 (August)

Some years ago, I rode with a truck driver from the Italian port of Leghorn inland to Florence. A native of Livorno ("Leghorn" is what English speakers call that city), the truck driver had been part of the anti-Nazi underground resistance during the last months of World War 2.

During our hour-and-a-half trip together, the truck driver began talking about Mussolini. He talked about how absurd it was of Mussolini to think he could win a war against the whole world. In the late 1930s, this truck driver said, Italy was neither militarily nor economically prepared for war. Mussolini did not know that because he was a sovereign who wouldn't listen.

When the Italians were defeated rather quickly in North Africa and then in Sicily, whatever faith the Italian public had in their dictatorial leader rapidly dissipated. These defeats confirmed the rumor that Mussolini listened only to himself. [ Missionary stories from Italy ]

The message of the prophet Habakkuk is that our Creator is a very different type of sovereign. The Lord answered me, he tells us.

Adverse circumstances need not threaten our faith in the Lord. In fact, the more we commune with Him, the more reverential trust and deep faith we have in him.

That's different from the way it was with Mussolini. The more the Italians came to know him, the less they trusted him. Yet, almost to the very end, Mussolini kept telling his listeners that German scientists were secretly developing super weapons that would turn the tide of the war.

Our God has no need to frantically develop super weapons. We can confidently say with Habakkuk: "Although [the worst imaginable may happen], yet I will rejoice in the Lord" (3:17-18). No matter how dark the day, we are assured of the Kingdom's final victory.

Habakkuk 3:17-19 was among the first texts I used as a teenage preacher. Over the years, it has become the basis for one of my "sugar sticks" (that's what preachers have sometimes called the sermons they turn to frequently).

I used it first in several senior citizen home services, discovering quickly that senior adults make supportive audiences for struggling young preachers. Then, during the summer after my freshman year at college, I was asked to speak in the large college church. To help overcome my stage fright, I turned to this now-familiar passage from Habakkuk. About five years later, I used it as a text for a sermon in a seminary preaching class under the late James McGraw.

My sermons on Habakkuk 3:17-19 have never seemed to have stirred people. I doubt if anyone today would recall having heard me preach on the "Fountain of Joy." However, the message are always valid for our daily lives. Interestingly enough, Dr. McGraw wrote on his evaluation sheet of my sermon in class that one of the strong points was the "relevancy of theme to this audience today."

Habakkuk's word to us is that we can have total confidence in God's wisdom and providence even when we cannot understand life's toughest problems.

I will rejoice in the Lord; I will Joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength.

Reflection Questions

How can Habakkuk's message about joy in the Lord during difficult times be applied to today's challenges and struggles?
What can Habakkuk teach us about communing with God to increase our trust and faith?
How does Habakkuk's portrayal of God as a unique type of sovereign differ from how strong human leaders are often portrayed?
Can Habakkuk's message help us overcome feelings of doubt or uncertainty? If so, how?
What steps can believers take to have joy and show gratitude even the midst of challenging circumstances?

-- Howard Culbertson,

I wrote this devotional blog while Barbara and I were serving as missionaries in Italy. It originally appeared in Standard, a weekly Faith Connections take-home curriculum piece for adult Sunday school classes published by The Foundry.

Afterword: Four lessons for us today

Habakkuk 3:17-19 is a message of faith, resilience, and trust in God even amid difficult circumstances. Here are some lessons that we can learn from the three verses:

Despite facing adversity and scarcity, the prophet Habakkuk expresses confidence in God's provision, He remains steadfast in his faith. The passage tells us to trust in God's plan even when things seem bleak.
The passage calls us to choose joy and rejoicing in the Lord regardless of external circumstances. It suggests that our joy should not depend on material blessings. Instead, it should spring from our relationship with God.
The prophet acknowledges God as his source of strength and resilience. His words remind us that when we rely on God, we can find the strength to endure challenges and overcome obstacles.
The imagery of God giving someone the agility of a deer so that they could safely walk on rugged terrain symbolizes God's guidance and support in handling life's difficulties. It tells us that, with God's help, we can rise above our circumstances and reach new heights.

Briefly put: Habakkuk 3:17-19 is a powerful reminder of the importance of faith, joy, and trust in God, even in the face of adversity. That should cause us to remain steadfast in our faith. We can find strength in God's provision and guidance.

Memorable Quotes About the Prophet Habakkuk

"Habakkuk is 'a philosopher, earnest and candid...sensitive, speculative; the suppliant among the prophets.' As was Thomas among the Apostles, so was Habakkuk among the prophets." — George Robinson, in the Old & New Testament Restoration Commentary, Source: StudyLight.org
"[Habakkuk] represents pessimism or despair as it never was represented before, and on the other hand he rises to heights of faith which even Daniel did not attain." — Joseph Parker, in The People's Bible Source: BibleHub
"When Habakkuk looked at his circumstances he was perplexed (Habakkuk 1:3), but when he waited for God and listened to Him, he sang one of the greatest praise songs in the Bible (Habakkuk 3:17–19)." — G. Campbell Morgan, as cited on Precept Austin Source: Precept Austin
"Habakkuk is a big WHY? Why God permits evil is a question that every thoughtful mind has faced. The book is the answer to the question: Will God straighten out the injustice of the world?" — J. Vernon McGee, as cited on Precept Austin Source: Precept Austin
"Habakkuk is the prophet of faith. His name means 'Embrace,' or 'one who strongly enfolds.' Through all the mystery of sin and its apparent success... he lays hold of God’s promises, and clings to Him with faith triumphant." — A. M. Hodgkin, as cited on Precept Austin Source: Precept Austin
"Habakkuk lived out his name by wrestling with God in prayer in the midst of a national and international situation resembling our own in many respects." — Walter J. Chantry, in Habakkuk Source: Banner of Truth
"Habakkuk was someone prepared to explore the challenging aspects of faith, striving to understand how Yahweh’s justice could be seen in the lived experience of his people." — David G. Firth, in his commentary on Habakkuk Source: The Gospel Coalition

Memorable Quotes About Other Bible Verses

What was the Context of the Period in which Habadkkuk Lived?

Habakkuk is one of the twelve minor prophets in the Hebrew Bible, He wrote his book during a time of political and social turmoil in the ancient Near East. Knowing the cultural and historical context of his writings can provide insights into his message and themes. Here are some key aspects of that context:

Historical Context

Period of Writing: Habakkuk is believed to have written his book in the late 7th century BCE, likely between 609 and 598 BCE. This was a tumultuous period marked by the decline of the Assyrian Empire and the rise of the Babylonian Empire.
Political Turmoil:
- Decline of Assyria: The Assyrian Empire had dominated the region for centuries, but it was collapsing. In 612 BCE, the capital, Nineveh, fell to a coalition of Babylonian and Median forces.
- Rise of Babylon: The Babylonians under King Nebuchadnezzar II were emerging as the new superpower in the region. They would conquer Jerusalem in 586 BCE. That led to the Babylonian Exile of the Jews.
- Judah's Political Instability: The Kingdom of Judah, where Habakkuk lived, was experiencing political instability. Josiah, one of Judah's few reformist kings, had been killed in 609 BCE (around the time when Habakkuk wrote his book). Josiah's death led to a series of weaker Israelite kings and the eventual domination of Judah by Egypt and then by Babylon.

Cultural Context

Religious Decline: There was widespread idolatry and moral decay in Judah. Despite Josiah's earlier reforms, the people had largely reverted to pagan practices and injustices.
Prophetic Tradition: Habakkuk stood in the tradition of Hebrew prophets who often called attention to issues of social justice, faithfulness to God, and the consequences of national sin. His contemporaries included prophets like Jeremiah and Nahum. They also spoke against the moral and spiritual decay of their times.