The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my heart and mind in Habakkuk 1:2-4,
"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.
Therefore the law is paralyzed,
and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
so that justice is perverted."
Habakkuk voices his complaint to the Lord. As a contemporary of Jeremiah, he voices his concern, his frustration, the anxiety he feels as he observes the wickedness that dominates Judah. He is a man of faith and is vexed by what he sees taking place in the land.
This very remarkable short book of prophecy follows a pattern many of the other books of prophecy follow. Issues of the day are expressed, and often the Lord's response is given as to what he is going to do in a contemporary sense. Yet, at the same time, the Lord addresses what is to come in the future, even beyond our day. Where these events documented in Habakkuk were in play around 605 BC, they point to events we struggle with today and the resolution of these events in actions God has yet to take.
As a person of God today, who is not vexed by the rise of things like homosexuality, the embrace and defense of it in our culture? As Habakkuk expresses his impatience ("Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?"), we can certainly identify with Habakkuk's complaint.
As a believer, who is not vexed by the practice of abortion today in our land? Again, we can empathize with Habakkuk's complaint, "How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, 'Violence!' but you do not save?"
The Lord will provide his answer to Habakkuk regarding his contemporary frustration. Likewise, as prophecy of coming things at the end of the age, the Lord provides us with answers to our current frustration. And, beyond that, we can also learn from the Scriptures as to why the long wait!
In Habakkuk's day, the Lord lets him know the Babylonians will come and bring an end to the current state of affairs in Judah. This happened in three Babylonian campaigns against Judah in 606, 597 and 586 BC. The result was a remnant of Jews carried off into a Babylonian captivity. This brought an end to the wickedness Habakkuk witnessed in Judah.
Peter, in like manner with Habakkuk, tells us about the judgment coming at the end of this age regarding the evil we see today. We read, "Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, 'Where is this "coming" he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.'" 2 Peter 3:3-4. The Lord's judgment is foretold, as it was in Habakkuk's prophecy, "the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly... the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare." 2 Peter 3:7-10.
The Lord, through Peter's prophecy, tells us why he is delaying this judgment of the evil that vexes us so, "With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:8-9.
"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.
Therefore the law is paralyzed,
and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
so that justice is perverted."
Habakkuk voices his complaint to the Lord. As a contemporary of Jeremiah, he voices his concern, his frustration, the anxiety he feels as he observes the wickedness that dominates Judah. He is a man of faith and is vexed by what he sees taking place in the land.
This very remarkable short book of prophecy follows a pattern many of the other books of prophecy follow. Issues of the day are expressed, and often the Lord's response is given as to what he is going to do in a contemporary sense. Yet, at the same time, the Lord addresses what is to come in the future, even beyond our day. Where these events documented in Habakkuk were in play around 605 BC, they point to events we struggle with today and the resolution of these events in actions God has yet to take.
As a person of God today, who is not vexed by the rise of things like homosexuality, the embrace and defense of it in our culture? As Habakkuk expresses his impatience ("Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing?"), we can certainly identify with Habakkuk's complaint.
As a believer, who is not vexed by the practice of abortion today in our land? Again, we can empathize with Habakkuk's complaint, "How long, Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, 'Violence!' but you do not save?"
The Lord will provide his answer to Habakkuk regarding his contemporary frustration. Likewise, as prophecy of coming things at the end of the age, the Lord provides us with answers to our current frustration. And, beyond that, we can also learn from the Scriptures as to why the long wait!
In Habakkuk's day, the Lord lets him know the Babylonians will come and bring an end to the current state of affairs in Judah. This happened in three Babylonian campaigns against Judah in 606, 597 and 586 BC. The result was a remnant of Jews carried off into a Babylonian captivity. This brought an end to the wickedness Habakkuk witnessed in Judah.
Peter, in like manner with Habakkuk, tells us about the judgment coming at the end of this age regarding the evil we see today. We read, "Above all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. They will say, 'Where is this "coming" he promised? Ever since our ancestors died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation.'" 2 Peter 3:3-4. The Lord's judgment is foretold, as it was in Habakkuk's prophecy, "the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly... the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare." 2 Peter 3:7-10.
The Lord, through Peter's prophecy, tells us why he is delaying this judgment of the evil that vexes us so, "With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." 2 Peter 3:8-9.
The Lord always has his purposes. And, while we may be filled with anxiety and even rage at the wickedness we see all about us, the Lord's judgment is on the way. Just as in Habakkuk's day, the evil-doers will find their end in a frightful judgment by God. Like Habakkuk, we grow impatient for that time, but the Lord reminds us he is being patient, filling his family with those who will embrace him in faith.
As we await the judgment of this wicked and evil world, the Lord is building his family. In his certain justice, when that last soul arrives, who represents what the Lord considers a complete family, the invitation of the gospel will come to an end and the judgment will come, bringing an end to the wickedness we see all about us.
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment