Corporate worship is a longed for and prioritized desire among the godly – it always has been. The Lord is building His church and it is comprised of true worshipers who worship in spirit and in truth. In the face of adversity the people of God have been able to sing the songs of others and at times, write their own expressions of praise, confession, adoration, and petition.
VI. The Prophet’s Song of Worship (3:17-19) – Habakkuk knew the songs of Israel; however, a new song, his song, his personal expression of God’s faithfulness and his response was in order.
IN RESPONSE TO GOD’S WORD, WE MUST ALL, LIKE HABAKKUK, COME TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT GOD ALONE IS WORTHY OF…
A. My Release (v.17) – “LORD, HELP ME TO YEILD MY WILL TO YOUR SOVEREIGN WILL.” For Habakkuk, he finally reached the place where Israel’s economy, freedom, and prosperity became secondary/submitted to God’s sovereignty. This was international dilemma, this was a national crises, and this was a personal problem for the man of God.
B. My Resolve (v.18) – “LORD, HELP ME TO CHOOSE TO REJOICE IN YOU AT ALL TIMES.” - When we choose to sing praises to God in the middle of trials we are choosing to see trials in the light of the greatness and goodness of God rather than losing sight of God because of great trials.
C. My Reliance (v.19) – Whatever may come, I will trust in the LORD! The song reaches it’s apex in magnifying the person and work of Yahweh – Habakkuk declares that Yahweh’s certain victory is his own certain victory! Because the LORD reigns we also will reign! HE IS OUR ETERNAL REWARD and so we can REST in Him and fully RELY upon the Lord our God to keep every promise! The Prophet’s Song of Worship is set within the framework of Scripture and the covenant history of the God who saves. The language looks back to the covenant promises of a nation, land and throne without end (Exodus 15 – Moses’ song; Deut 33 – Moses’ blessing; and Psalm 18 – written when God delivered the kingdom out of Saul’s domain into the family of David forever) AND the prophet is looking FORWARD to God’s ultimate reign in the DAVIDIC KING, when the curse is reversed.
Conclusion: although Habakkuk was shaken to his core, he came to the place where he was able to accept and to trust, not in his own desires and preferences, but in the sovereign word of the LORD who faithfully reigns over everything.
A right response to seeing God revealed in Scripture is to come by way of the cross before Him humbly with CONFESSION, ADORATION, PETITION and THANKSGIVING. This worship involving prayer and singing to God privately and corporately is how we are transformed in the process of trials into the very image God desires for us – “TRUST THE PROCESS” – better than that, TRUST THE PERSON AND WORK OF THE LIVING GOD!