GOD’S WORD FOR JANUARY 6 ~ ~ Habakkuk 3:17-18 ~ ~ “Though the fig tree may not blossom,

Nor fruit be on the vines;  Though the labor of the olive may fail,  And the fields yield no food;

Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,  And there be no herd in the stalls—

 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,  I will joy in the God of my salvation.”

Continuing with the chapter on the minor prophets in the book “How to Read the Bible” by Dr. Michael Youssef, we’re looking at Habakkuk and Zephaniah ~ two very prophetic and at the same time, historic books, containing beautiful promises in the midst of evil times and judgment.

HABAKKUK:  THE JUST SHALL LIVE BY FAITH

Habakkuk has played a profound role in Christian theology.  It open with these age-old questions:

“How long, Lord, must I call for help, but You do not listen?  Or cry out to You, “Violence!”  but You do not save?  Why do You make me look at injustice?  Why do You tolerate wrongdoing?”  Habakkuk 1:2-3

In two of his great letters, Romans and Galatians, the Apostle Paul cites Habakkuk 2:4:  “the just shall live by His faith.”  This statement is also a foundational concept in Hebrews and  helped spark the Protestant Reformation by igniting a holy fire in the mind of Martin Luther.

The message of Habakkuk is further evidence of the unity of God’s Word.  Salvation by faith, not works, is a key theme throughout both the Old and New Testaments.  Though our works demonstrate our faith in and gratitude to God, we are justified not by works of the Law, but by faith.  If we persevere in faith, God will eventually answer all of our troubling “why?” questions.

ZEPHANIAH: THE REMNANT OF ISRAEL

The book of Zephaniah is God’s response to Judah’s stubborn and idolatrous rejection of Him.  Judah has already seen how God judged the northern kingdom of  Israel by sending the Assyrians to conquer it and take the Israelites captive.  Yet the wayward leaders and the people persist in their worship of Baal and Molek.

Zephaniah follows the Lord’s thunderings against Judah with equally harsh pronouncements against the pagan nations that surround and threaten the nation.

Yet the book closes on a note of hope and the promise of a brighter future.  God will preserve a faithful remnant who love and serve the Lord:

I will leave in your midst

A meek and humble people,

And they shall trust in the name of the Lord.

The remnant of Israel shall do no unrighteousness

And speak no lies,

Nor shall a deceitful tongue be found in their mouth;

For they shall feed their flocks and lie down,

And no one shall make them afraid.” Zephaniah 3:12-13

Zephaniah speaks of God’s  wrath and unfailing love, God is not willing to share His people with false gods.

The aforementioned books of the “minor” prophets were all written before Judah was conquered and the Jews were led into Babylonian captivity.  The next three books of the “minor” prophets – Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi – were written after the Jews returned from exile.

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Habakkuk 2:14

For the earth will be filled  with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord,

As the waters cover the sea.

Habakkuk 2:3

For the vision is yet for an appointed time;

But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie.

Though it tarries, wait for it;

Because it will surely come,

It will not tarry.

Habakkuk 2:4

“Behold the proud,

His soul is not upright in him;

But the just shall live by his faith.

Habakkuk 3:17-18

Though the fig tree may not blossom,

Nor fruit be on the vines;

Though the labor of the olive may fail,

And the fields yield no food;

Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,

And there be no herd in the stalls—

Yet I will rejoice in the Lord,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.

Zephaniah 3:17

The Lord your God in your midst,

The Mighty One, will save;

He will rejoice over you with gladness,

He will quiet you with His love,

He will rejoice over you with singing.”

Zephaniah 2:3

Seek the Lord, all you meek of the earth,

Who have upheld His justice.

Seek righteousness, seek humility.

It may be that you will be hidden

In the day of the Lord’s anger.

Zephaniah 3:5

The Lord is righteous in her midst,

He will do no unrighteousness.

Every morning He brings His justice to light;

He never fails,

But the unjust knows no shame.

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