Perspective, it is really one of the main ingredients to understanding scripture well.  That being said, one of the best ways to get a little perspective, and what too many of us don’t do often enough as we are reading through scripture, is to read AROUND the verses we grab hold of, or that we hear quoted.

Today we see a great example of that, and it comes right back around to that beautiful and poetic section I honed in on during my read through of this book- verses 17-19.

But, now I really have the context for these couple of verses.  It also demonstrates a key element to prayer.  If you have ever heard anyone Talking about “praying through the Bible” or “praying through the scriptures”, I think this is a great example of that.  You find something that resonates with you, and then you weave your own life into it and thereby associate yourself with the life of someone in scripture.

For me, it kind of sounds like this on this, if I were re-writing the first 16 verses to reflect my own life and reflection on God’s provision in my life:

God, I am thinking back on my life, and what I know about your history with my family, and I am seeing that you ARE faithful.  You have truly blessed us as it relates to our son by giving us amazing doctors and nurses, and you have opened up new friendships were we can have a lasting impact on peoples’ lives,  people that we would otherwise never have met.  You have provided a school for my daughter and the resources to attend that school, which specializes in handling dyslexia.  It has been amazing to see how much better her life has been since we could do that.  You answered my financial prayers last year, and it was a great business year for our team, and it think it was a really a special time for my business partner especially.  During this virus, to get even closer to the now, you have blessed us by keeping us safe and you have provided the necessary resources to support ourselves in a time when many people are really hurting.  You have been faithful in more ways that I can even really list or recall.

And, in light of that truth and declaration, ...

Habakkuk 3:17–19 (ESV):

17  Though the fig tree should not blossom,

nor fruit be on the vines,

the produce of the olive fail

and the fields yield no food,

the flock be cut off from the fold

and there be no herd in the stalls,

(In other words, though it is hard right now...and knowing what I know from what I have already said...)

18  yet I will rejoice in the Lord;

I will take joy in the God of my salvation.

19  God, the Lord, is my strength;

he makes my feet like the deer’s;

he makes me tread on my high places.

(Or, God, you are God, and I am not.  You have always been faithful to me...and I am trusting that will continue while knowing exactly what that looks like.)

Now, that is a great prayer that Habakkuk demonstrates for us.  That is something to repeat on a frequent basis!