I WILL REJOICE IN THE LORD
I WILL REJOICE IN THE LORD
I will joy in the God of my salvation
BY EVANGELINE UNITY ESAABA FOLSON
Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit in the vines, the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls: Yet I will rejoice in the lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
To rejoice is to feel or show great joy, while, to have joy is to have great pleasure. In the passage above, the Prophet Habakkuk points a very sand and hopeless situation where all efforts fail and all hardwork yields no positive results. It is very difficult to rejoice in the lord and joy in the God of your salvation in such a situation. However, the prophet says through it would be very difficult to rejoice and have joy in such a situation, he still will, in spite of the discouraging circumstances because the lord is:
His strength
Habakkuk 3:19
Psalm 28:7
Philippians4:13
The lifter of his countenance and head
Psalm 3:3
Numbers 6:26
Romans 8:28
Faithful
Lamentations 3:22-23
1 Thessalonians 5:24
The rewarder of them that diligently seek him
Galatians 6:9
Hebrews 11:16
THE LORD IS HIS STRENGTH
Habakkuk 3:19
The lord is my strength, and the will make my feet like hinds feet, and he will make me to walk upon high places
In the verse above, the Prophet Habakkuk says in spite of his discouraging and frustrating circumstances, he knows God will make his feet like hindle feet and make him walk upon his high places
This is a figurative statement which means he has put his trust in God, who is able to turn things around for his good
Psalm 28:7
The lord is my strength and my shield, my heart trusted in him and I am helped, therefore my heart my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.
Recording to the psalmist In the verse above, if he puts his trust in God believing is able to turn his situation around, then he will be helped. God will make it easier for him to overcome his problems
Phillipians 4:13
I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.
This implies that by the grace of God , or with God’s help and ability, he will be able to succeed in whatever he is doing. The discouraging and frustrating circumstances are temporary because God would eventually turn everything to good for him.
The lord is the lifter up of all counternance and head
Numbers 6:26
The lord lift up his counternance and head means the lord will remove his shame or disregard and give him peace.
Psalm 3:3 says
But thou o lord art a shield for me, my glory and the lifter up of my head.
When you feel ashamed or disregard, it is difficult to keep your head lifted up but the psalmist in the verse above say, the lord is like a shield or protector covering around us. He helps remove the shame by vindicating or proving your innocence in the most amazing way, then you can lift your head confidently once more and have peace.
Romans 8:28
And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to this purpose.
This verse implies that, we do not have to fret or worry when we face discouraging frustration circumstances because God is able to put the good and bad things together in such a way that it works for our good and confirms the proverb that ‘’There is silver lining behind every cloud ‘’
The lord is faithful
Lamentations 3:22-23
It is of the lord’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions that fail not. They are new every morning, great is thy faithfulness.
The passage above assures us that the lord’s miracle or lendness is always available. Every morning it is renewed and refreshed without fail to meet our needs and requirements God is faithful, he will never allow us to be destroyed. He always guides and directs us, keeping us away from dangers we cannot even imagine. He is faithful
1 Thessalonians 5:24
Faithful is he that calleth you, who will also do it. God has called each of us to live a life dedicated to his service, so that we can fulfill our ministry as Christians God will do whatever it takes faithfully in order for us to succeed in all we do. He cannot lie and he will keep His promise of being faithful and deliver us from discouraging and frustrating circumstance.
The Lord is a rewarder of them who diligently seek Him
Galatians 6:9
And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.
The verse above is encouraging us not to be tired of doing good even when our efforts are not appreciated because at the appointed time God will reward us or we will reap the benefit of being good.
Hebrews 11:6
But without faith it is impossible to please Him: for He that cometh to God must believe that He is and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seeks Him.
Another translation says, its impossible to please God apart from faith. And why? Because anyone who wants to approach God must believe both that He exits and that He cares enough to respond to those who seek Him (The message Bible)
I believe the translation above brings about all the important issues we need to note on Hebrews 11:16.
No matter our circumstances, bad, frustrating, disappointing, unsuccessful, hopeless etc.
Let remember to rejoice in the lord and joy in the God of our salvation
REFERENCES
2. Other translations of the bible
3. Oxford English Mini Dictionary
4. Google.com
