[310]. A Message From A Poem - Though The Fig Tree Does Not Blossom

[310]. A MESSAGE FROM A POEM - THOUGH THE FIG TREE DOES NOT BLOSSOM

There is a poem called “I Will Still Praise God My Saviour” which is longer than this one. This one may have been the first part and got added to it just later. It is the same but the last stanza is added to the other one.

For that reason, I shall repeat the notations I had for the poem already done.

Some people find it hard to be joyous a lot of the time and get despondent over various setbacks and trying circumstances in life. In fact I do not know a Christian who at some time has not been through this. Honesty will admit this to be the case.

What if a major problem confronts us like losing your job or a fire partly damaging your house, or you run into financial problems. I know those things are very difficult and they certainly are a test of faith.

Israel was an agrarian economy so any setback for them was always in the land. Drought, floods, pestilences that meant a crop failure was a serious matter because it meant hardship for the following year.

This poem is based on a passage of scripture, which when I read it seriously, meant a lot to me. It was what I wanted; what I was needing then.

{{Habakkuk 3:17-19 “Though the fig tree should not blossom, and there be no fruit on the vines; though the yield of the olive should fail, and the fields produce no food; though the flock should be cut off from the fold, and there be no cattle in the stalls, YET I will exult in the LORD. I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord GOD is my strength, and He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, and makes me walk on my high places. For the choir director, on my stringed instruments.”}}

How many of us can praise in difficult circumstances? I ask that question knowing that I can struggle with that problem. At the same time, I have known the truth of this passage of scripture. It is then we must rely on the grace of God, and faith is the key – persevering, consistent faith.

{{1 Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man, and God is faithful who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.”}}

I know that verse says “temptation” and not “setbacks” but I am happy to substitute setbacks in that verse. The same principle applies. God is compassionate and allows us to endure.

==================================================================

THOUGH THE FIG TREE DOES NOT BLOSSOM

Though the fig tree does not blossom,

And no fruit is on the vine;

When the olive’s yield shall fail us,

And no produce can be mine,

I will still praise God my Saviour;

I will still exalt His Name.

========================

Though the fields produce no goodness,

And the flocks all be removed;

Though the cattle stalls be empty,

And my table lacks its food;

I will still praise God my Saviour,

I will still exalt His Name.

========================

He has made my feet like hind’s feet

So that I can leap and run,

He has made me walk up higher;

In His grace has that been done.

I will now praise God my Saviour,

I will now exalt His Name.

========================

And my strength in God rests fully;

It’s the Lord who comforts me.

Not in riches nor abundance,

But in Jesus rests my plea.

I’ll forever praise my Saviour,

I’ll forever raise His Name.

========================

28 January 2001 Ron Ferguson 8 7 8 7 8 7 (8 7) ABCBDE

*** At the end of each stanza can be added the following couplet as a type of refrain:-

“He’s the One who is exalted,

He remains always the same.”