Tag: Habakkuk 1-3
Questions for God!
Scripture reading for September 24th: Habakkuk 1-3
“How long, O 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 wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.” Habakkuk 1:2-3
Habakkuk was called to speak to God’s people on behalf of God but his words went unheeded by the people. He began to question God and He was silent. God always hears His people but sometimes is slower to respond than we would like. Sometimes, His response brings more questions!
God had told Habakkuk how He was going to raise up the Babylonians and use them to sweep over the land and destroy it. (Habakkuk 1:6-11) The Babylonians were a law unto themselves and bent on violence. They were ruthless and impetuous and cruel. Habakkuk was perplexed that a God who was holy could use something as vile and lawless as the Babylonians. Why would God even think of such a thing?
God answered Habakkuk’s complaint and told him to write it down. His answer spoke of the time of the end and would prove true. (Habakkuk 2:2-3) Babylon was full of pride and evil desires, but God would use them to chastise His people for a season. In the end, Babylon would be punished.
God’s people were to deal with these revelations by a simple truth: “the righteous will live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4. God’s ways are always righteous and just. His people must learn to trust Him and live by faith in who He is! We please God only when we live by faith! (Hebrews 11:6) God promised Habakkuk that He would judge the wicked and bring woe to those who live for themselves. He also promised to fill the earth with His glory! (Habakkuk 2:14)
Habakkuk ended his book with a prayer and a psalm. The prayer was for God to renew His deeds in their day and time. (Habakkuk 3:2) The psalm told of the splendor of the Lord as He would come to judge the earth and deliver His people. He was prepared to wait on God, no matter what! Living by faith is how the righteous are victorious!
Are you listening?
Scripture reading for September 22nd: Habakkuk 1-3
“How long, O 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 wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.” Habakkuk 1:2-3
Have you asked God for answers, but wondered if He was listening or ignoring your cry? Habakkuk found himself in such a position. He was called to speak to God’s people on behalf of God but his words went unheeded by the people. He began to question God and He was silent. God always hears His people but sometimes is slower to respond than we would like. Sometimes, His response brings more questions!
In this case, God told Habakkuk how He was going to raise up the Babylonians and use them to sweep over the land and destroy it. (Habakkuk 1:6-11) These people were a law unto themselves and they were bent on violence. They were guilty men whose strength was their god. They were ruthless and impetuous and cruel. Habakkuk was perplexed that a God who was holy could use something as vile and lawless as the Babylonians.
God answered Habakkuk’s complaint. His answer spoke of the time of the end and would prove true. (Habakkuk 2:2-3) Babylon was full of pride and evil desires, but God used them to chastise His people for a season. In the end, Babylon would be punished. God’s people were to deal with these revelations with a simple truth: “the righteous will live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4
God’s ways are always righteous and just. His people must learn to trust Him and live by faith in who He is! We please God only when we live by faith! (Hebrews 11:6) God promised Habakkuk that He would judge the wicked and bring woe to those who live for themselves. He also promised to fill the earth with His glory! (Habakkuk 2:14)
Habakkuk ended his book with a prayer and a psalm. It’s a great short prayer for revival, asking God to renew His works. (Habakkuk 3:2) The psalm tells of the splendor of the Lord as He comes to judge the earth and deliver His people. Habakkuk was prepared to wait on God in faith, no matter what would happen! Are you living by faith today?
Prayer for Revival
Scripture reading for September 24th: Habakkuk 1-3
God places a hunger in His people for more of His presence! Sin has caused us to be separated from God and darkens our knowledge of Him. As God draws us and reveals Himself to us, we have the entrance of His light into our consciousness. We begin to see the world and try to understand how God is working in the mess we see. We struggle at times to make sense out of what we observe. The world is full of violence and wickedness and God seems absent. Habakkuk struggled to make sense of his times and cried to the Lord for understanding!
“How long, O Lord, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out “Violence!” but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? 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 1:2-4) As he looked at his world, Habakkuk felt that things were out of control. He wondered if God were absent or did not notice all the trouble.
God answered Habakkuk by telling him that He was going to act soon by raising up the Babylonians to bring judgment on God’s unruly people. Things were really not out of control! (Habakkuk 1:6-11) This revelation brought another question. He asked how a holy God could use wicked men to punish His people. ( Habakkuk 1:12-17) God told him that all evil would be punished, “but the righteous will live by his faith.” (Habakkuk 2:4b) This verse is quoted three times in the New Testament. (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11, Hebrews 10:38)
In faith, Habakkuk cried out to the Lord for revival! “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.” (Habakkuk 3:2) Oh how we need this prayer from God’s people today! It is a prayer of faith for God’s grace to be poured out on His people. We need it today, in our time! We need mercy as God’s wrath is being poured out on the wicked! God is indeed in control and will answer the cry of His people for renewal!
Are You Listening, God?
Scripture reading for September 24th: Habakkuk 1-3
“How long, O 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 wrong? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.” Habakkuk 1:2-3
Have you ever had questions for God? Have you asked God for answers, but wondered if He was listening or ignoring your cry? Habakkuk found himself in such a position. He was called to speak to God’s people on behalf of God but his words went unheeded by the people. He began to question God and He was silent. God always hears His people but sometimes is slower to respond than we would like. Sometimes, His response brings more questions!
In this case, God told Habakkuk how He was going to raise up the Babylonians and use them to sweep over the land and destroy it. (Habakkuk 1:6-11) These people were a law unto themselves and they were bent on violence. They were guilty men whose strength was their god. They were ruthless and impetuous and cruel. Habakkuk was perplexed that a God who was holy could use something as vile and lawless as the Babylonians. Why would God even think of such a thing?
We can read God’s answer to Habakkuk’s complaint because God told him to write it down. His answer spoke of the time of the end and would prove true. (Habakkuk 2:2-3) Babylon was full of pride and evil desires, but God used them to chastise His people for a season. In the end, Babylon would be punished because sin always brings punishment and death. God’s people were to deal with these revelations by a simple fact: “the righteous will live by his faith.” Habakkuk 2:4.
It really doesn’t matter if we have questions and God doesn’t answer. It doesn’t matter if, when He does answer, the answer causes more questions. God’s ways are always righteous and just. His people must learn to trust Him and live by faith in who He is! We please God only when we live by faith! (Hebrews 11:6) God promised Habakkuk that He would judge the wicked and bring woe to those who live for themselves. He also promised to fill the earth with His glory! (Habakkuk 2:14)
Habakkuk ends his book with a prayer and a psalm. The prayer is for God to renew His deeds in their day and time. It’s a great short prayer for revival. (Habakkuk 3:2) The psalm tells of the splendor of the Lord as He comes to judge the earth and deliver His people. It ends with a strong statement of faith! Habakkuk had his focus on the Lord and His just and holy character and nothing else matters! He is prepared to wait on God, no matter what! Living by faith is the way of the righteous!