habakkuk

By Elizabeth Prata

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https://anchor.fm/elizabeth-prata/episodes/The-lightning-bolt-never-came-e1uupni

Yesterday I wrote a post and published a podcast about the things that God hates. It is important to mention these things since they are half of the Gospel.

People rebut. Many people unfortunately don’t believe that the unsaved are due wrath from God, or that God hates anything at all. I repeat what Paul Washer said, ‘OK, well, you’re saved. What did He save you FROM?’

His wrath.

Anyway, I decided to follow up the bad tasting medicine from yesterday with a focus on a tender moment in the Bible. I have been reading commentaries on Habakkuk. I love the Minor Prophets. It is prophet-able to read them. Ha ha see what I did there? Habakkuk’s story is that in three short chapters, he went from doubt and angst, to full and complete trust and joy in God, despite the dire circumstances that Prophet was told to announce. Part of his story is a tender moment in chapter 2:1.

The Prophet had agonized over the sins of the wicked tribes that God was (seemingly) doing nothing about. Habakkuk was indignant. Chapter 1 is his lengthy charge against God. Chapter 2 begins with the Prophet having concluded his complaint to God, and saying he will return to his place at the watchtower, curl up and wait to “see what He will speak to me And how I may respond when I am reproved.” He has spoken out against God and he knew he was in a position to be turned to a cinder.

It’s like he then curled up into a fetal position, all tired out from the constant sight of the wicked prospering, and then protesting to God about it, and collapsing in a heap in the corner of his tower to wait for the lightning bolt.

But God.

But God did not send any lightning. Almost like a parent who bemusedly and compassionately watches their terrible two year old toddler have a tantrum, trying to grapple with emotions that are beyond their ability to control or even understand, when Habakkuk calmed down, the LORD put His arms around the prophet, lifted up his chin and allowed him to gaze upon the LORD of Glory while He explained the future.

Wow.

The LORD did not harshly reprove Habakkuk, instead He gently explained to the perplexed prophet what He was doing in the world and in future history.

There are many such moments in the Old Testament. The Lord tenderly speaking with a heartbroken Hagar (twice)… God sending an angel to be with depressed and broken down Elijah after the 400 Prophets of Baal incident. In that one, Elijah woke up with an angel touching him and offering bread and drink. (1 Kings 19:5-8).

The Lord our God is loving and tender. He loves His own with a heart that’s perfect, a mind that’s holy, with wisdom and compassion. I am grateful to know a God like this.

Habakkuk 1
Habakkuk 2
Habakkuk 3

Habakkuk & Zephaniah- Everyman’s Bible Commentary (Everyman’s Bible Commentaries) Cyril Barber

From Worry to Worship: Studies in Habakkuk, Dr. Warren Wiersbe

Summary of the Book of Habakkuk

By Elizabeth Prata

But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, 4 traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God…(2 Timothy 3:1-4)

As you see the people all over the world wantonly killing, sinuously infiltrating societies only to choke them off, and the rest of the ungodly continuing unrighteous ways without ceasing, the righteous cry out, ‘Oh, God, why do the wicked prosper?’

Habakkuk asked the same thing. If you want a picture of a beleaguered prophet asking, and asking, why do things have to be this way, then you have Habakkuk in 620BC.

Habakkuk expresses the attitude that many righteous people have. He is outraged at the violence and injustice in his society. He lists six different problems. His list is repetitious, but it emphasizes just how bad things were. There was sin, wickedness, destruction and violence, no justice in the courts, and the wicked outnumbered the righteous. Sort of like today, eh?

Habakkuk puts his questions to God and in His grace they are answered. Habakkuk listens, is calmed, and ends with a Hymn of faith: Habakkuk 3:17-19,

Though the fig tree may not blossom,
Nor fruit be on the vines;
Though the labor of the olive may fail,
And the fields yield no food;
Though the flock may be cut off from the fold,
And there be no herd in the stalls—
Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,
I will joy in the God of my salvation.
The LORD God is my strength;
He will make my feet like deer’s feet,
And He will make me walk on my high hills.

God will judge all the wicked. We praise Him for that.

God will always love all His righteous (made righteous through Christ). And we praise Him for that.

He is worthy of praise. This temporary earthly time of pain and sin will end. And then…glory.

May your feet be like deer’s feet wherever you tread this week!

praise verse

Tag: habakkuk

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