The Joy of the Lord

Sometimes it appears that joy has been set on our spiritual back-burners, because we just don’t seem happy about being in Christ.  It especially shows in our singing from time to time.  We are in the book of Habakkuk this morning, and if you remember from last week, initially Habakkuk goes to God questioning why he is allowing the sins of Judah to run rampant.  It’s quite obvious the answer he received from God was not even close to what he expected to hear.  He was hoping for a remodel job, and found out God had a total teardown in the works.  The hard part of God’s plan was that he was raising up the evil people of Babylon to be his wrecking ball.  Initially, Habakkuk struggled with God’s choice until he came to realize (with the help of God) that God can do whatever he chooses, using whomever he chooses.  Once Habakkuk processed everything which is to happen and saw the wisdom of God, he wisely decided to step back and watch what is soon to take place.  What is particularly strange about this conversation with God is Habakkuk’s song in chapter 3.  Habakkuk goes from complaining to God (chpt 1), to mourning over God’s decision (chpt 2) to singing out with joy over the works of God.  Why the change?  What happened?  I could tell you now, but I’m going to wait until Sunday morning.  I will give you a hint.  One word changed everything for Habakkuk.
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This morning let us think about Habakkuk and what we have in Christ. And then let that thought uplift our hearts as we raise our voices and sing with joy; Come we that love the Lord and let our joys be known.  Join in a song with sweet accord and thus surrounds the throne.  Because we are marching to Zion beautiful beautiful Zion.  We’re marching upwards to Zion the beautiful city of God.  Blessings.

~Lamar