Bleak Picture

We've been working on a new memory verse during our family worship. (I think we've been at it off and on for about three weeks.)

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,
Habakkuk 3:17

The first night we went over this, I explained to the Crew that this is a pretty bleak picture. A fig tree was a source of fruit (fiber and sweetness). The vines yield grapes, another fruit, but also wine. The olive could be eaten raw, but was also pressed to make oil. The fields would be the grain for flour. The flock (sheep) would give you fibers to make cloth, as well as meat. And the herds (cows and goats) would be another source of meat, as well as milk. So Habakkuk is painting a very bleak picture. But if you noticed, the end of the verse is NOT the end of the sentence...

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, yet I will rejoice in the LORD; I will take joy in the God of my salvation.
Habakkuk 3:17-18

Habakkuk realizes that even when the physical side of things here looks really bad, we still can AND SHOULD rejoice in the Lord.

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
Philippians 4:4
(This last verse is courtesy of my little helper this morning. She started singing this after reading that last line over my shoulder! =))