The Bumps Are What You Climb On

March 24, 2019                         Notes Not Edited

The Bumps Are What You Climb On

Habakkuk 3:16-19

SIS—Faith in God allows us to turn our obstacles into opportunities, and our troubled times into triumph.

Charles Dickens penned some of the most famous words in literature describing the troubled times of leading up to the French Revolution.  In His book “The Tale of Two Cities” Dickens wrote:

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was the age of wisdom, it was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, it was the spring of hope, it was the winter of despair, we had everything before us, we had nothing before us.

Certainly, these words apply today as much as they did to the tumultuous days leading to the Bloody French Revolution.  By almost any measure, we are living in what may be described as the “worst of times” in our world—especially in America.

If not the “worst” of the “worst,” these are certainly very bad, very troubled times in our world.  We are engaged in a decade long world war on terror that has no end in sight.  The entire world is teetering on the brink of financial collapse.  America no longer discusses our economic debt in terms of millions, or even billions, but in double-digit trillions.

A few weeks ago, President Trump met a second time with the N. Korean dictator, Kim Jung “Rocket-Man” Un.  Kim Jung Un, like his father and grandfather before him is a terrible person—evil incarnate.  He lives in luxury while his people starve.  If you make him mad, he shoots you on the spot.  Now, he has nuclear weapons and is developing more.  Trump has met with him twice, now, to try to talk some sense into this madman.  The last talks broke down when Trump realized Kim Jung Un had little desire to join the world community.  The Korea War continues going into its 70th year now.  N. Korea poses a real nuclear threat to the world.

I’ve only been around about a decade over a half century, but I’ve never seen life this difficult or our nation in such disarray.  Sure, there have always been challenges, but not on such a global scale with black clouds continuing to amass.  Perhaps only the periods of the Great War and WWII may have been as ominous times.

What about “personal struggles.”  I’ll bet there are more than a few people in this room today that are facing foreboding challenges.  I’ll bet there are more than a few of us who have some degree of anxiety about some obstacle standing between us and our “pursuit of happiness.”  That’s what this sermon is really all about—finding a path through the “bumpy” parts of life.

This reminds me of a story I read a while ago about a family vacationing in the mountains.  On one particular day the mom, dad, and two young kids were hiking up a steep, and rather arduous trail.  The incline became steeper and the pace had slowed to almost a crawl.  After a while the little girl began to complain to her slightly older, but much more adventurous brother, “This isn’t a trail at all.  It’s all rocky and bumpy.”  Not to be deterred in his great outdoor adventure the little boy spoke up full of enthusiasm and hope, “Sure, Sis, it’s bumpy!  But, the bumps are what you climb on.”

Life’s trail is full of bumps and it is often an uphill climb.  We need the kind of faith that little boy had: “We need to learn to turn our bumps into blessings.”

The “worst of times” can become the “best of times” when we place our complete trust in God.  That’s my encouragement to you this morning, “With faith in God we can turn our obstacles into opportunities and our troubled times into triumph.”  We just need to learn how to take hold of the bumps in life and keep climbing.

This morning we are going to look at a text from the prophet, Habakkuk.  Habakkuk preached during some very challenging times for Israel.  One of the greatest Kings in Israel’s history, Josiah, had died and Israel plunged into one the darkest periods of her history.  The religious reforms that Josiah had instituted died with him.  Israel feel into a time of chaos and violence.  At the same time, Babylonia had become one of the strongest empires in history, finally defeating the Assyrian Empire.  Now, they were amassing their forces for an assault on Israel.  Habakkuk saw this amassing like the forming of dark clouds before a violent storm.  These were indeed, “the worst of times for Israel.  The road ahead was steep and full of bumps.

Let’s read how Habakkuk teaches us to “turn our obstacles into opportunities” by learning to climb on the bumps of life.

16 I heard, and I trembled within; my lips quivered at the sound.

Rottenness entered my bones; I trembled where I stood. Now I must quietly wait for the day of distress to come against the people invading us.  17 Though the fig tree does not bud and there is no fruit 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,18 yet I will triumph in Yahweh; I will rejoice in the God of my salvation! 19 Yahweh my Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights!

For the choir director: on  stringed instruments.

For those of us who are much older than we like to admit, our education revolved around three “R’s”—Reading, ‘Rwriting, ‘rithmatic.”

Faith also involves three “R’s”:  “Rejoicing, Relaxing, and Responding.”  These three concepts help us put our faith into practice which will turn obstacles into opportunities and troubled times into times of triumph.

1.  REJOICE:  Because of Who God Is (v18a)

I listen to a song by my friends the “Down East Boys” and it goes something like this:  “I don’t know the size of your problem, but I do know the size of your God.”

The most incredible fact of history—the fact that makes all other facts make sense—is that God Almighty sent His Only Son, Jesus Christ to earth to be born in a manger.  He lived a sinless life.  He died on a cross in our place.  And then God raised Him from the dead to show that our sins had been forgiven, and death had been conquered on our behalf. THAT IS SO IMPORTANT I WANT TO REPEAT IT!

Now, if that doesn’t make your heart nearly explode with joy, you don’t know nuthin’ about Christianity! 

We can rejoice regardless of what our difficulties, obstacles, or challenges are in life, not because of who we are, but because of Who God is!  The first line of defense against discouragement in life is “rejoicing.”

Look at verse 19.  “For the choir director: on stringed instruments.”  This entire portion of Scripture, indeed the entire book of Habakkuk was a “song to be sung!”  Oh, may God give you a song in your heart.  Don’t let dark clouds or deep valleys rob you of your song in life.

SING!  SING! SING!  Habakkuk declared, “Yet, I will rejoice in the Lord.”  Paul the Apostle said, “Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say rejoice.” Phil 4:4

Verse 18 begins with a one-letter word in Hebrew, “wa,” which connects what follows with what he just said.  What he just said was, “things are really, really bad.”  Then in verse 18, he says what he is determined to do in these troubled times.

Two times in verse 18 Habakkuk refers to “Rejoicing.”  First, the word, rejoicing in verse 18 means “to be exuberant, to celebrate, or in common usage, to shout for joy”.  In this verse, Habakkuk goes a step further by using a particular form called a “cohortative.”  When used with the first person, “I,” it refers to a “strong intention.” 

He follows up the decision to “rejoice” with the phrase, “I will take joy.”  The HCSB, “I will triumph,” is not my preferred translation of this passage.  This is classical Hebrew poetic parallelism.   “I will rejoice.  I will take joy.”

The word for joy literally means to “go in a circle.”  It came to mean dance exuberantly.

So, what we have in this passage is the first line of defense against despairing in life over the obstacles that come our way:  We must REJOICE.  Verse 18 can be expanded by paraphrase to say this:

“Regardless of any difficult circumstances in life, I absolutely decide to rejoice in the Lord and continue with singing, shouting, dancing, and praising His Name.”

Nothing will set the Devil running in defeat more than for you to sing praises to God and dance exuberantly before Him.  

First step in turning your obstacles into opportunities:  REJOICE.  Second:

2.  RELAX:  because of what God has done.

I’ve read that over 95% of the things people worry about never happen.  I don’t know if that is the right percentage or not, but I do know this:  “worrying about anything whether it happens or not does little—no, does no good whatsoever.”  In fact, worrying will be counterproductive.  So, rather than worry about the future, Habakkuk teaches us to RELAX about the future.  Look at verse 16:

Now I must quietly wait for the day of distress

to come against the people invading us.

But, what was the source of Habakkuk’s peace in the face of the coming storm?  Look at verse 18:

I will triumph in Yahweh;

I will rejoice in the God of my salvation!

Habakkuk ties together two of the most significant words in the Bible.  First, he uses the covenant name for God, Yahweh.  Second, he also uses the general term “El” which refers to a supernatural being of great power, but Yahweh is the special name of God given to Moses at the time God was delivering Israel from bondage in Egypt.

Yaweh is the special “covenant” name of God which reminds us of God’s sovereign choice to save mankind.  Then Habakkuk ties that covenant name to the word, “yesha,” which in its various forms refers to “salvation.”  So, we have a covenant, or contractual arrangement with God to provide our eternal salvation.

Therefore, we can RELAX.  God has taken care of everything.  Jesus was called the Savior when He was born.  That identity was backed up by the entire Old Testament going all the way back to the Garden of Eden when God promised a coming Savior to Adam and Eve, who would “crush the head of the Devil” (Gen. 3:15).

Because of Who God is and What He has done we can relax in the face of even the gravest dangers or most trying obstacles in life.  Even in the midst of a raging storm and troubled waters we can RELAX and be at peace.

A few years ago a man painted a picture entitled, “Peace in the Midst of the Storm.”  There are several hidden images in the painting, including a cross and the face of Christ over-looking the tumultuous waters.

SHOW SLIDE OF PICTURE (Nest In a Storm)

The background is dark and ominous.  Lightning crackles amidst the gathering storm clouds.  Flood waters are crashing in tumultuous falls over the jagged cliffs.  But, right in the midst of the flashing light and fury of the storm is a seabird quietly siting upon her nest, caring for her young.  She is absolutely at “peace in the midst of the storm.”

God saved Noah from the great flood.  God saved Israel from the harsh life of slavery in Egypt.  God again and again saved Israel from her enemies, even to this day.  God, in Christ, died on the cross to save us from our sins.  God will save you from whatever trouble you face today.

So, RELAX.  Trust in what God has done.  This will be the absolute hardest part of climbing the obstacles in your life, but it is absolutely necessary.

REJOICE.  RELAX. And most of ALL

3.  RESPOND.  Hope in what God is Yet to do (19)

The great philosopher, Yogi Berra, once said (or at least they say he said), “it ain’t over ‘til it’s over.”  He also said, “When in life you come to a fork in the road . . . take it!”

That’s sage advice from someone who spent his life catching 100 mph fast balls.  The most important ingredient to living successfully is making right choices.  It is always right to choose to trust God.

Because of Who God is we SHOULD REJOICE.  He deserves all our worship and all our praise.  Because of what God has done, we CAN RELAX.  He has proven Himself to be an All-sufficient Savior.  But, most of all—this is the most important part of the strategy to turn obstacles into opportunities—we MUST RESPOND.  Look at v. 19:

Yahweh my Lord is my strength; He makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights!

The Hebrew in this case conjures up to related but distinct word pictures, depending upon how you translate “mountain heights, or high places.”  The first image is that of a “sure-footed mountain gazelle” skipping across the high plateaus of the mountains.  The Lord gives us the skills necessary to navigate the most dangerous terrain and to get by the most serious obstacles.  The second image it that of conquering a fortress.  One renown OT scholar points out:  “The expression is used to denote the victorious possession and government of a country.”  It is even used to describe God leaving His throne to establish His kingdom on earth

Micah1:3 Look, the LORD is leaving His place and coming down

to trample the heights of the earth.

The image in either case gives us the promise of absolute victory over any obstacle in our lives through faith in God through Jesus Christ.  All we need to do is RESPOND to God’s promise to make His covenant with us based upon the substitutionary sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

The question for a believer is never “can” there be victory over our trials but “will” there be.  God has promised us victory and His character and past performance are assurances of that victory.  We just need to REPSOND. 

A few weeks ago my Scripture Memory verse for the week came from Titus 1:1-2.  Paul declares:  “I am a slave of God and an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ to build up the faith of God’s elect through the knowledge that leads to godliness AND HERE IS THE THE REALLY KEY PART in the hope of eternal life that a God who cannot lie promised before time began.”

God made a promise and He has both the character and the power to keep that promise; but, each person must RESPOND to that promise and receive that power individually.

Charles Dickens’ words apply to our situation today as much as they did during any other time in history:  these are the best of times and the worst of times!  The future is filled with obstacles:  financial obstacles, health obstacles, or obstacles on a global scale.  There are obstacles for our nation, obstacles for our church, and obstacles for our families.  Faith in God will turn any obstacle into an opportunity for blessing.  We must REJOICE in who God is; RELAX based upon what God has already done; and RESPOND in faith to what God wants to do, today.

Maybe your life is full of bumps.  You may feel like you are in what Charles Dickens called, “the worst of times,” and you desperately want to get to what he called, “the best of times.”

The “worst of times” can become the “best of times” when we place our complete trust in God.  That’s my encouragement to you this morning, “With faith in God we can turn our obstacles into opportunities and our troubled times into triumph.”  We just need to learn how to take hold of the bumps in life and keep climbing.

A few weeks ago, Shari and I watched a documentary on T.V. called, “Free Solo.”  We had seen advertisements for this documentary when it came out in theaters, but we thought it was about Hans Solo of Star Wars, and we aren’t big Star Wars fans.  In fact, it is about a very unique young man named Alex Honnold who accomplished something no one else on earth has ever done, and may never do again—he climbed up the 3200 feet, sheer vertical granite wall in Yosemite called, “El Capitan,”—without ropes.  All he had to climb on were the cracks in the granite and little “bumps” barely big enough to get a fingerhold on.  He climbed those “bumps” straight up, 3200 feet.  I want to play a clip that will show you just what you can do when you learn that the “bumps in life are what you climb on.”

[clip:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=urRVZ4SW7WU]  Free Solo Trailer

Be sure about this, you will experience “bumps” along the way as you move through this life.  Hardships abound.  Remember the words of Habakkuk, [Yahweh] makes my feet like those of a deer and enables me to walk on mountain heights!