Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Habakkuk 1-3
Habakkuk was a prophet, and lived somewhere around 600 years before Jesus. In the book of Habakkuk, he starts off by asking some tough questions to God, and God answers him.
At the beginning of our reading, Habakkuk starts off by asking God for help but feels he isn't being answered,
Habakkuk 1:2-3
How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.
Do we feel like the world around us is getting worse and worse? How often don't we think back and think things were better years ago? (This type of questioning makes me feel old!)
He goes on in chapter 1 verse 13 B:
... Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
Habakkuk asks some tough questions, but God answers him and puts into perspective how simple man's ways are, compared to God's...
Habakkuk 2:18-19,
18 “Of what value is an idol carved by a craftsman? Or an image that teaches lies? For the one who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. [19] Woe to him who says to wood, 'Come to life!' Or to lifeless stone, 'Wake up!' Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it.”
Habakkuk responds with a prayer that shows respect and honour to God....
Habakkuk 3:2
Lord, I have heard of your fame; I stand in awe of your deeds, Lord. Repeat them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy
Israel wasn't doing good at this time - they had sinned for a long time against God, who had done so much for the nation of Israel. It is tough to stand up and do what God wants, and live how He wants. This was true then and is also true now. Habakkuk ends off with a verse of thankfulness and encouragement,
Habakkuk 3:18
yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Zephaniah 1-3
1 comment:
I thought it was important to note that when Habakkuk had doubts, he brought them to God. God can handle our doubts. Asking questions and reasoning things out when we doubt truly can strengthen our faith - if we are willing to humble ourselves before God and listen to His answer, which may or may not be the answer we're hoping to get.
Habakkuk was crying out for justice and God promised that it would come, but in His timing.
I love the ending of Habukkuk. No matter how bad the circumstances were or would be (crop failure and the death of animals would be devastating to Judah and bring about starvation and loss - this was not a minor situation!), Habakkuk determined that he would rejoice in the Lord. Are we determined to do the same?
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