Habakkuk's Story Still Speaks Today

Write From My Heart / January 8, 2021 / Habakkuk’s Story Still Speaks Today

Habakkuk 1:2-4 excerpts  (Habakkuk’s complaint) How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? … Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.

            The story of Habakkuk is an affirmation that the wicked will not prevail and a reminder that God is in control. Ironically, although Habakkuk’s situation was different from the one we face today, there are some remarkable similarities—the law is paralyzed and justice seldom prevails and justice does seem perverted in many cases. The wicked seem to abound in their schemes.  Habakkuk’s complaint is very similar to our own. We blame God and wonder why he isn’t listening to our plight. The simple truth is that we are not living in the good and perfect world God created. We are living in a corrupted world, tainted and marred by sin and its effects. The simple truth is that things will continue to degrade until Christ returns. We should not be at all surprised, but we should remain watchful.

Habakkuk 1:5-7, 11 excerpts (The LORD’s answer) “Look at the nations and watch—and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. I am raising up the Babylonians, that ruthless and impetuous people, who sweep across the whole earth to seize dwelling places not their own. They are a feared and dreaded people; they are a law to themselves and promote their own honor. … Then they sweep past like the wind and go on—guilty men, whose own strength is their god.”

            To place this story in the context of what was happening in the world during Habakkuk’s  time; Israel, the Northern Kingdom, had long since fallen to the Assyrians. Just a little over 100 years later, Nineveh, the capital of Assyria fell to the Babylonians and Medes. Habakkuk is now learning the news that Judah, the Southern Kingdom, is also about to fall to the Babylonians (Nebuchadnezzar II, 604-562). Not only this, but it will not be many more years after this event that the world will be infiltrated with the philosophies of Buddha (India, 550-480) and Confucius (China, 551-479). Not much of the world during Habakkuk’s days were focused upon the LORD God Almighty. I would maintain the same is true today—not much of our world, or even our nation, is focused upon the LORD God Almighty.

Habakkuk 1:12-13 (Habakkuk’s first response) O LORD, are you not from everlasting? My God, my Holy One, we will not die. O LORD, you have appointed them to execute judgment; O Rock, you have ordained them to punish. Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?

            As in Habakkuk’s day, the phrase we will not die is a reminder to us that God will always have a faithful people. We may die in earthly terms, but there is a blessed Day of Resurrection yet to come. We acknowledge with Habakkuk that God is pure and cannot tolerate wrong or sin of any kind or to any degree. Wrong is wrong. Sin is sin. As to the question of why God would allow wrong to continue, the answer is simply that he will NOT tolerate it. There WILL be an appointed time, as the LORD explains, and we must wait.

Habakkuk 2:2-3, 14, 20 (The LORD’s answer) Then the LORD replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it. For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay. … For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea. … But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.”

            When Habakkuk realizes the truth of God’s plan, he begins to understand. God’s timing is not our timing. The only thing we can do is wait patiently and pray for God’s mercy. Wrath, calamity, trials, troubles—those things will come. Those things are the consequence for focusing upon the greed of self instead of focusing upon the LORD God Almighty. Those things are the consequence for living in a corrupt world tainted by sin. Yet we can rejoice in the strength of God our Savior. Rejoice in the LORD, always!

Habakkuk 3:2, 16, 18-19 excerpts (Habakkuk’s prayer) LORD, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, O LORD. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy. … Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come …  yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength…

Gracious Heavenly Father,

            Forgive our disposition to complain about our situation or question your control. Thank you for Habakkuk’s reminder that you are in complete control and the wicked will not always prevail. Thank you for the promise of the Return of your Son, Christ Jesus. We rejoice in the daily measure of strength that only you can provide.

            In the name of Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior, Amen.