Listen up, little ones
Listen for the words my and I.
Reading
Habakkuk 3:16-19—Quietly Wait and Rejoice—No Matter What.
Keys for kids
- Difficulties are difficult.
- Sometimes our bodies painfully feel our difficulties.
- Yet, we can wait on God and rejoice in Him—always.
Questions
- What was Habakkuk’s physical response to God’s doings?
- Why is it so hard to wait on the Lord?
- How can we rejoice in the Lord, no matter what?
Notes
(See below for all authors. )
Knowing what God had done in the past, and knowing what was coming, brought physical turmoil to Habakkuk. Smith comments that first, his body trembled. Second, his lips quivered at the thunderous voice of God (cf. Ps 29:3–5, 7–9). Third, he felt that his bones were rotting away within him, i.e., his frame did not seem to be strong enough to hold him up. Fourth, his legs were trembling under him.
We might experience some sense of that inner, even physical, turmoil when facing difficulty. Yet Habakkuk not only tells of the effect of knowing what God will do—bringing Babylon to discipline His people—but also that he will wait quietly for that distress to come. Calvin notes that this exhortation is also very necessary for us in the present day. … except God’s judgment awakens us, yea, and reduces us almost to nothing. In the knowledge of God’s judgment and of God’s deliverance, the believer can rest.
Habakkuk not only waits, but he rejoices. He rejoices! Even when all is going horribly, even when it seems like there is no hope, God is my hope! God is my portion. God is my salvation!
Swedish Method questions
Praise
Psalm 40b, 57b
Prayer
- Rejoice in the Lord, no matter what is going on in your lives.
- Pray for the reading and preaching of God’s word tomorrow.
- Pray for a member of our church, for your family, and for a non-Christian friend/family member.