Finding Joy and Trust Amid Life's Paradoxes

Devotional

Sermon Summary

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips


In a world where people have all kinds of responses to the circumstances that press upon us, we said that Habakkuk provided for us a wonderful picture of theological realism that in the face of difficulty, in the face of loss, he had learned to declare his trust and his confidence in God, not because he knew everything that was taking place or could explain it all, but because he trusted God. [00:59:21]

The writer has set out his stall to view life to try and make sense of life under the sun. He recognizes that it is filled with riddles and paradoxes and all of his considerations are set within the parameters of the fight of God as a sovereign creator and the reality of man in the eventuality of his death. [03:06:24]

This is a vanity that retribution and rewards are now reversed. Now of course this is not a novel observation on his part right up until the present time, people wrestle with this issue why is it that bad things happen to good people and why is it that good people have to endure bad things. [04:14:56]

God created Adam and Eve he created them for himself in the enjoyment of his presence, he made them in order that they might live with him and live for him, but when you read the early chapters of the Bible you discover that they doubted his goodness, they rejected his wisdom and they rebelled against his authority. [06:09:28]

The Bible recognizes these things, it doesn't shy from them it it acknowledges the fact that they're that the providence of God is worked out in life in ways that cause us to wonder at his purposes. So a straightforward observation and then in verse 15 we come to what I would say is a surprising recommendation. [07:42:32]

And I commend joy and I commend joy this I found greatly encouraging as well there's nothing better he says there's nothing better under the sun this is all taking place on earth you see there is a vanity that takes place on earth I'm making sense of the world he says under the sun. [08:18:00]

Instead of the difficulties turning a sour or making a summon the writer is recommending entering into the joys of simple pleasures simple pleasures and again notice that he's addressing these things under the sun for man is nothing better under the sun God has also said eternity in our hearts. [09:30:56]

The fact that there is no ultimate satisfaction in these things is not to say that there is no satisfaction in these things I am already looking forward to my lunch I'm already looking forward to the benefits of friendship I am already looking forward to listening to music all of these have been given to us the children of men as gifts. [10:30:56]

The ways of God cannot be fathomed by men and women because of our fallen state what the Bible says is that sin has pervaded every part of our existence it doesn't mean when we talk about the depravity of men and women that that we're as bad as we could possibly be what it means is that there is no part of our humanity that is unaffected by sin. [15:14:04]

The unfolding of your words gives light it imparts understanding to the simple oh so somebody well that's the problem you see because I I'm not simple I’m actually very clever well let me tell you that the pathway is reason humbled to the obedience of faith reason humbled to the obedience of faith. [16:31:12]

Genuine humility admits to being unable to figure out all that God is doing how could we know all that God is doing the the revelation of God it has to be has to be beyond us if we were to have the fullness of all of his revelation it would be as hard for us as looking up directly into a very very bright sun. [17:05:52]

God holds the key of all unknown and I am glad if other hand should hold the key or if he offered it to me I might be sad my favorite verse goes like this the very dimness of my sight makes me secure for groping in my misty way I feel his hand I hear him say my help is sure. [22:07:28]

Ask a question about this sermon