Habakkuk's Words of Faith

 Today I read from Habakkuk.  It's only 3 chapters long.  I found something that I can apply to this present age, and all those who place their trust in the God of Israel may apply it as well.

The prophet Habakkuk spoke these words concerning the coming day of judgment and the confidence he had that it will be followed by God's blessing:

    I heard and my [whole inner self] trembled; my lips quivered at the sound. Rottenness enters into my bones and under me [down to my feet]; I tremble. I will wait quietly for the day of trouble and distress when there shall come up against [my] people him who is about to invade and oppress them.  

Though the fig tree does not blossom and there is no fruit on the vines, [though] the product of the olive fails and the fields yield no food, though the flock is cut off from the fold and there are no cattle in the stalls,  Yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will exult in the [victorious] God of my salvation!  The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds' feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]!   Habakkuk 3:16-19

May you be blessed with the same unshakable faith in God's salvation!

Shalom

Sharing Micah's Words from Adonai

Today I read from the prophet Micah.  I would like to share a few of the verses. 

Micah 6:8 tells us that man has been shown what the Lord requires of us: 

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, and to love kindness and mercy, and to humble yourself and walk humbly with your God? *

To walk humbly signifies we walk with Adonai in modesty, decency, chastity, and purity. 

The next passage in Micah 7:7-9 acknowledges Israel's readiness to bear God's punishment until such time as he will have paid for his guilt and again deserve God's favor **:

But as for me, I will look to the Lord and confident in Him I will keep watch; I will wait with hope and expectancy for the God of my salvation; my God will hear me. Rejoice not against me, O my enemy! When I fall, I shall arise; when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light to me. I will bear the indignation of the Lord because I have sinned against Him, until He pleads my cause and executes judgment for me. He will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold His righteous deliverance. **

When we sin individually, forgiveness comes with confession and repentance, but stiff-neckedness and unrepentance brings forth punishment, just as a parent corrects a beloved child, so HaShem corrects those whom He loves. 

The third passage in Micah 7:18-20 extols upon some of Adonai's Attributes:

Who is a God like You, Who forgives iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He retains not His anger forever, because He delights in mercy and loving-kindness. He will again have compassion on us; He will subdue and tread underfoot our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea. You will show Your faithfulness and perform the sure promise to Jacob and loving-kindness and mercy to Abraham, as You have sworn to our fathers from the days of old.  *

Just as HaShem casts our sins into the depths, so ought we be willing to cast the sins of those that have sinned against us into the depths. 

May we all walk humbly with our God.

*Amplified Bible

*Soncino Books of the Bible, in the book of The Twelve Prophets

Sharing an Acrostic My Cousin Set This Morning

My cousin Wanda passed this on to me this morning and it's good enough to post here.

Although things are not perfect
Because of trial or pain
Continue in thanksgiving
Do not begin to blame
Even when the times are hard
Fierce winds are bound to blow
God is forever able
Hold on to what you know
Imagine life without His love
J oy would cease to be
Keep thanking Him for all the things
Love imparts to thee
Move out of 'Camp Complaining'
No weapon that is known
On earth can yield the power
Praise can do alone
Quit looking at the future
Redeem the time at hand
Start every day with worship
To 'thank' is a command
Until we see Him coming
Victorious in the sky
We'll run the race with gratitude
Xaulting God most high
Y es, there'll be good times and yes some will be bad, but...
Z ion waits in glory...where none are ever sad!

The Practice of Blessing Others

Psalm 129:8 - Neither do they that go by say: 'The blessing of the LORD be upon you; We bless you in the name of the LORD.'

Ruth 2:4 - And, behold, Boaz came from Beth-lehem, and said unto the reapers: 'The LORD be with you.'  And they answered him: 'The LORD bless thee.'

We learn from Ruth 2:4 that it was customary for a passer-by to address a blessing to the reapers, such as, the LORD be with you.  In ordinary circumstances the prayer would imply, 'May God prosper your work.'*

In Psalm 129:8 we find that no blessing of God can be invoked upon men engaged in the work of oppressing Israel with extreme brutality and oppression, and no one could utter such a hope in connection with those whose work was so malicious in character.*

When I read this Psalm this morning, I found myself wishing that the LORD's children could return again to this custom of greeting others with a blessing.  Wouldn't that make our walk on this earth a more pleasant one?  Which greeting would you prefer to receive:  'Hello.', or: 'The blessing of the LORD be upon you; We bless you in the name of the LORD.'  The first greeting does not mention the name of the LORD and the second one does.  The second greeting acknowledges the LORD and draws me into His presence. 

In closing, just let me say to all of you who love the LORD: 'The blessing of the LORD be upon you; I bless you in the name of the LORD.'

*Commentary taken from The Psalms book from The Soncino Books Of The Bible.