Text: “Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:18).
There were problems in the world when Habakkuk wrote these words. At the time, the Babylonians were very strong and Judah (the southern kingdom) would soon feel the pressure and destruction of the Babylonians.
Habakkuk was a man of God who had many questions concerning what was going on in the world and he was not afraid to go directly to God to seek answers. The world was as evil then as it is now. People were committing acts of violence that hurt innocent people. Many people were living ungodly lives, but seemed to be getting all the good-breaks in life.
The same thing is going on today. It seems as though people doing sinful acts are never punished. In fact, it appears that these people project a good image in the eyes of other people and tend to set worldly or socially acceptable standards. Why is this so?
The people who are cheating, stealing, mistreating and taking advantage of Godly people seem to be happy and joyful. They believe their deeds are good and that is why life is fine to them and therefore what they are doing is acceptable because they are in control.
These people do not seem to understand that God is still in control. He is the creator of all and He is all-powerful. He cannot tolerate sin and sooner or later the grand finale will occur, the curtain will close and their earthly play of living will come to a close.
Joy and happiness is only superficial and temporary for ungodly people. Real joy and happiness comes from knowing God, trusting Him, and living according to His Word.
All of us have problems and all of us face or have faced difficulties in our day. We are just like Habakkuk in that we do not fully understand why certain things happen. When trials and tribulations come our way and we feel the burden of heaviness upon our shoulders, what are we to do? When we feel as though we are at the lowest point in life, what are we to do? When we feel as though nobody cares, to whom do we turn?
We do just as Habakkuk did. We rejoice in the Lord. We call upon Him trusting Him to take care of our every need. We praise Him. We place our faith in the God of our salvation. He gives us peace within our being and joy and happiness within our heart. He provides the needs for His children and in turn we become the happy person He intends us to be.
“Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). Sheep need a shepherd. Do you know why? Sheep are not very intelligent animals. They need someone to care for them; someone to lead them to new pastures; someone to make sure they do not wander off and become prey for some wild animal; someone to protect them during the day and during the night; and, someone to make sure they are accounted for at the days end.
You and I are His sheep and He is our Shepherd. God has given us a mind to make choices, but sometimes we make the wrong choice. There are times when we wander off the straight and narrow path and end up in the ditch of worldly pleasure. When this happens to us, we lose the joy of life because we have chosen to be disobedient sheep of the heavenly Shepherd.
We have traded our relationship with our Lord and we have replaced it with the ways of the world. The Holy Spirit within our heart speaks to us, but we listen to the voice of the devil himself. Joy, which is the fruit of the Spirit, is pushed back by the lustful pleasures of the world. “The works of the flesh are evident….those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God, but the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” (Galatians 5:19, 22-23).
When we engage in the works of the flesh, we are like sheep who have wandered from the shepherd. We are stumbling around in the darkness and we are susceptible prey just waiting to be devoured by the devil himself. We become a victim and not a victor.
Our Shepherd said, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life” (John 8:12). Jesus encourages us follow Him and dedicate our life to Him and He will lead us out of the mess we have gotten ourselves in. He will straighten our confused mind which is worldly and give us a mind filled with peace and joy.
We acquire our greatest and lasting joy when we know our Shepherd. When we place our faith and trust in our Shepherd, He fills our being with “….inexpressible and glorious joy….” (1 Peter 1:8).
Joy does not come from money, education, profession, housing or any other worldly possession, but it does come from knowing Jesus who is our good Shepherd.
Listen to this little story:
Story: “No Money- No Learning – But Joy”
A prayer meeting was being held at a mission chapel. A poor worker came and kneeled at the altar. He could not understand even the simple Gospel message. While others were rejoicing, he kept on saying, “Jesus! Jesus! Jesus” which was all the prayer he knew.
Soon he rose, and with a happy face, he said: “I am only a poor worker; I have no money and no learning, but in my heart I have an unable-to-speak-it out joy.”
-------------------------Christian Herald
Joy comes from know and following the direction of the Good Shepherd. The sheep know the voice of their shepherd even though they are not very intelligent. Doesn’t it stand to reason that since God gave us intelligence, we should be willing to listen to His voice within in our heart and follow His directions which He has made known to us in His Word?
“He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters” (Psalm 23:2). God knows what is best for us. He wants us to lie down and rest instead of trying to live the fast life of the world. As we walk beside the still water of the stream, He wants us to remain walking beside Him because He is the Living Water we so dearly need. Joy comes in knowing Jesus our Shepherd.
“He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness for His name’s sake” (Psalm 23:3). Our Shepherd knows that we need to be physically, mentally and morally restored each day. We are human-beings with a sinful nature. We make wrong choices. We make mistakes. We tend to wander from the fold just like the sheep. We become prey and thus victims as do the sheep.
The people in Paul’s day had the same problems and issues that we face today. Paul, himself, faced many trials and tribulations. He wrote these words to the Corinthian people: “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day” (2 Corinthians 4:16).
We are not to give up when faced with difficult circumstances. We can get over any mountain and we can cross any river. We can conquer any enemy coming our way. Problems and issues are challenges which can be solved with the help of our Shepherd who looks after our well-being.
We may get tired and worn-out; we may hurt in our joints and our muscles; we may feel as low as a snake in the grass; we may be hurt because someone has criticized us; or, we may feel like we don’t have a friend in the world, but be assured that Jesus restores us physically, mentally and morally.
Our souls are refreshed through the power of the Holy Spirit. We are in good hands because they are the hands of Almighty God as He leads us down the path of righteousness. Our souls are refueled with peace and joy which is pumped in to our being because the Shepherd is concerned about our well-being.
“Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; for you are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalm 23:4). There is joy in our heart when we know there is nothing for us to fear. There is evil in the world, but Jesus has overcome the world. As the shepherd leads his sheep from pasture to pasture they do not fear anything, even if the terrain or the landscape is rugged and there is a chance they might fall into a crevice.
When we are struggling with some disease causing us great pain and agony and the end of our earthly life is near, we have nothing to fear because He comforts us with His presence. Life as we know it is uncertain. Although the uncertainty is there, we are assured the Shepherd is there with us and will walk us to the other side.
“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over” (Psalm 23:5). The shepherd provides safety for his sheep and will protect them at all cost. In times past, some cultures anointed their guests with perfumed oil. This was an outward sign indicating a good deed or an act of kindness that the host would provide safety for his guests. It was also a means of showing kindness and generosity.
Whatever or whomever our enemy may be, our Shepherd will protect us. He wants us to be safe and secure. He protects us with His favor. He makes all preparation for our well-being. He wants us to be secure and safe. He wants us to be filled with joy. Jesus said, “These thing I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full” (John 15:11). Our joy comes from knowing the Shepherd.
“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever” (Psalm 23:6). Goodness and mercy are from God. Goodness and mercy are incorporated in the love He has for each one of His sheep.
The shepherd who is out in the pasture with his sheep cares and loves each one of them. He does not want anything to happen to not even a single sheep. His desire for them is to remain in the fold as one big happy family.
Our Shepherd’s love for His sheep is demonstrated in His life, death and resurrection. This is unconditional love that none of us deserves. This love came about because it was the will of God the Father. This love is greater than any other love.
“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). This love was given to save His sheep.
The shepherd does not want to lose any of his sheep, so he does everything he can to make sure they remain with him. God does not want to lose any of us, so He gave His Son that we might be saved from the darkness of the world.
Who likes to be in the dark? When the power at our house in interrupted and the lights go out, we are not happy and joyful about it. We moan and groan and try to find a flashlight or oil lantern so that we can see.
Sin brought darkness into the world, but God did not want His children to live in darkness. He sent the Light into the world, but not all people accept the Light, because they wish to live in darkness and carry on their evil deeds.
Jesus said, “Everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God” (John 3:20-21).
Our joy does not come in darkness, but our joy comes in knowing our Shepherd and following his still small voice as He speaks to us from our heart. The sheep know their shepherd’s voice and follow the shepherd. We, too, should follow our Shepherd as He leads us along the straight and narrow path. As we travel with Him, He will provide us with peace, happiness, kindness, goodness and joy.
Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:11). Jesus is concerned about each of us just as the shepherd is concerned about his sheep. The shepherd does not hire someone else to look after his sheep because he knows they will not get the tender-loving care they deserve.
A hired hand considers the task as just a job. He will not go out of his way to do an exceptional job. If one sheep is lost, that is really no big concern for him. The hired hand does not care because the sheep do not belong to him.
The hired hand will not put himself in danger just to protect or save the sheep that may be in danger. On the other hand, Jesus gave His life for us that we might be reconciled with God the Father and spend eternity with Him in his mansion of many rooms. He does not want us to live a life of fear or suffering. Jesus wants us to have an abundant life.
He said, “I have come that they (you) may have life and that they (you) may have it more abundantly” (John 10:10). The life Jesus gives is eternal, but it begins immediately. No one else can give us the kind of life Jesus offers because the life He offers is at a much higher level or plane. The life He gives us is a life of love, kindness, comfort, peace, understanding and forgiveness. In order for us to have joy in our life, we must have Jesus present as our Lord and Savior.
Jesus went on to say, “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep, and am known by My own” (John 10:14). The shepherd in the pasture knows his sheep and his sheep knows his voice. There is mutual respect.
For us, this is like being in mixed company. What am I saying? Have you ever been in the company of people who do not want to hear about Jesus or who use His name in vain? I believe we all have been exposed to people like this.
Do you know people who do not believe the words written in red? Do you know people who don’t believe that Jesus ever existed or that He was just another prophet?
These people are not in the same fold as we are. It is up to us as the sheep of the Good Shepherd to try and bring these people into our fold. Our Shepherd does not want to lose any of His sheep.
Jesus said, “And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:16). The other sheep are those outside the Shepherd’s fold. These are the unsaved who are not interested or do not believe they have need of the Savior.
These are the people who think they are in control of their life. These are the people who think this earthly life is all there is. These people are thinking worldly instead of heavenly. Little do they realize how much Jesus really loves them and how much he cares for them?
They don’t understand that Jesus gave His life for all the sheep and not just a select few. These people do not comprehend the words, “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
The people outside the fold count on material things, worldly accomplishments, self-pleasures, egotistical views and whatever else that makes them feel good and gives them a feeling of superiority. If they don’t destroy themselves by drugs, alcohol, stress or pills, there is a chance they will finally see the Light. Sooner or later, they may realize that true joy and happiness comes from knowing Jesus, the Good Shepherd.
Conclusion:
Who is the Good Shepherd?
Jesus said, “I am the Good Shepherd” (John 10:11).
What has the Good Shepherd done for each of His sheep?
“The Good Shepherd gives His life for the sheep” (John 10:11).
Does the Good Shepherd know His sheep?
“Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd; and I know My sheep” (John 10:14).
Do His sheep know Him?
Jesus said, “I am known by My own” (John 10:14).
Why does the Father love the Good Shepherd?
“I lay down My life that I may take it again” (John 10:17).
Where does our joy come from?
“Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory” (1 Peter 1:8). Our joy comes from knowing Jesus.
Story: “Why so Cheerful?”
On a train to Liverpool a Christian worker found himself in a crowded compartment seated near two soldiers, one a private, and the other a sergeant in his middle thirties. The private was a young lad, ruddy and open of countenance. The Christian worker’s heart went out to the boy, and he engaged both of the soldiers in conversation.
To his surprise he discovered that they had been through the ordeal of Dunkirk. The younger man appeared particularly happy and joyful; appeared to look on life as though it were to him to be rosy.
The civilian said to him, “You went through that terrible experience of Dunkirk, yet you seem to be happy and cheerful.”
“Oh, sir,” the boy said, “but Dunkirk did a lot for me.”
“A lot for you? What did it do?”
“It brought me to Christ. While I was right in the midst of that conflict, I trusted Him as I had been taught. I was saved, and have been rejoicing in Him ever since.”
------------------Home Evangel
That soldier knew where his joy comes from. His joy, just like our joy, comes from knowing Jesus as our own personal Lord and Savior.
Our relationship with the Good Shepherd should be so close that people around us will witness the joy that overflows from our heart and shows on our face.
“Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation” (Habakkuk 3:18).
Amen.
