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Though the Fig Tree Does Not Bud

           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, yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights. (Habakkuk 3:17-19)

          There’s always someone who is worse off than you, but for a member of an agrarian society, what Habakkuk is describing is about as bad as it can get. He’s saying, in effect, that when there is nothing to support the economy, nothing to eat and no hope of there being something to eat for who-knows-how-long, he will still rejoice in the Lord. And to make it more certain, he repeats the concept. He will be joyful in God his Savior. Because it’s not the figs, the grapes, the olives, the food, the sheep or the cattle that are his strength. It’s the Sovereign Lord.

          Of course, this was right after he whined at God about the situation. God had dealt harshly with his nation. Things were looking bad. God had done miraculous things to rescue and protect His people before, but this time, things did not look good at all, no sir-ee. And yet, Habakkuk would praise.

          I’ve been trying a little of this. My bad habit is to whine at God. Things aren’t the way I want them. Whimper. Sniffle. And sometimes I manage to insert a chorus of “but I bow the knee,” or “not my will but Thine.” Those aren’t bad. Yesterday, my chorus was “but You are God.” That’s better. Habakkuk goes further. God is our strength. We don’t need any of what we’re whining about. God is more than enough.

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