Fig Tree, Vines, Olive, and Fields Habakkuk 3:17 - Equipped for Battle

When we read the Bible, there are sometimes when verses lead to another verse, and to keep things in context we must read both of them together. Habakkuk has written many verses in this third chapter which are lines in a song that remind us of the power and might of Almighty God. He has given us his reaction to his thoughts of God's power, and in chapter three and verse seventeen, Habakkuk begins to share his resolve concerning what he has learned about God. He wrote:

Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither [shall] fruit [be] 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:

When we are expecting a fruit tree to produce fruit, there is much disappointment when we find none on it. Even Jesus cursed a fig tree for not having fruit upon it, so we too can associate with His disappointment. Yet, Habakkuk has learned something about God: God is always with him. He wrote, “Although the fig tree shall not blossom,” which denotes there may be a change in our lives which brings about a normal place of disappointment and discouragement, yet we realize that Habakkuk is beginning to make his resolve known.

He continues, “neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labor of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat” In other words there is nothing producing as it should. No figs, no vine fruit, no olives, and no meat or wheat from the field, yet there will still be this resolve within Habakkuk.

Habakkuk moves from fruits and vegetables to flocks by writing, “the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls,” As with Job in the Old Testament, everything is gone. There is no substance being afforded for Habakkuk in his imagine state. We find Habakkuk counting the loss of all his possible resources, and his reckoning of the loss of anything valuable demonstrates the full account of his purpose.

Habakkuk places himself in a position that is enviable for none of us: He imagines himself as if he has lost it all. What would we be like if suddenly all our resources vanished, and the hope for their replacement was nil? Would we be anxious? Would we panic? Would we wonder if God has abandoned us? In addition, what do we think Habakkuk's reaction will be?

We'll have to wait till tomorrow to find out.

Next time we will discover Habakkuk's new resolve when he imagines that everything is gone, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow...there is more...

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