God with us - Week 45: Habakkuk 3:19
Habbakuk had had enough!
God, how long do I have to cry out for help
before you listen?
How many times do I have to yell, “Help! Murder! Police!”
before you come to the rescue?
Why do you force me to look at evil,
stare trouble in the face day after day?
Anarchy and violence break out,
quarrels and fights all over the place.
Law and order fall to pieces.
Justice is a joke.
The wicked have the righteous hamstrung
and stand justice on its head.
Habbakuk 1:1-4
Prophets usually brought God’s word to the people, but Habakkuk was different. He brought the frustrations of the people to God.
As you look at the news stories surrounding us, can you relate to how Habbakuk was feeling?
Why is it like this, Lord?
Why don’t you do something?
Habbakuk understood what it feels like to look at the world and not know what’s going on.
“He gives voice to our bewilderment, articulates our puzzled attempts to make sense of things, faces God with our disappointment. He insists that God pay attention to us, and he insists with a prophet’s characteristic no-nonsense bluntness.”
Eugene Peterson
Throughout this week, I’m going to keep reading through the book of Habakkuk as he’s a fascinating character. He has the same no-nonsense approach as the Psalmists and has no issue with bringing his complaints to God. Habakkuk understands that’s precisely where his complaints should be heard, by the one who can do something about it. I’ll let you discover the details of his story for yourself, but God’s reply isn’t what Habakkuk expected. Like many of us, he received an answer to prayer that didn’t fit with what he had in mind.
Woah, Lord! Slow down. I know I wanted you to do something, but not that!
We see Habakkuk move from frustration to prayer in these three short chapters, but all of this is done in God’s presence.
God is in the middle of Habakkuk’s struggle.
He’s in the thick of it.
It’s in God’s presence, through God’s revelation, that Habakkuk learns to trust and even to rejoice.
Though the cherry trees don’t blossom
and the strawberries don’t ripen,
Though the apples are worm-eaten
and the wheat fields stunted,
Though the sheep pens are sheepless
and the cattle barns empty,
I’m singing joyful praise to God.
I’m turning cartwheels of joy to my Savior God.
Habakkuk 3:17-18
Even though it feels like nothing is how I expected it to be, I’m attempting amateur gymnastics in praise to my Saviour God!
Does anyone fancy trying that?
Habakkuk chooses to praise amid uncertainty (I’ve written that phrase a lot this year). He knows that despite what it might look like, God is in control.
His frustration turns to trust.
Counting on God’s Rule to prevail,
I take heart and gain strength.
I run like a deer.
I feel like I’m king of the mountain!
Habakkuk 3:19
Just like Habakkuk, we can bring our complaints to God, reflect on His response and rejoice in His sovereignty. We can know that no matter what, God is with us and will always prevail.
Just like Habakkuk, we can take heart, gain strength and feel like we’re king of the mountain!
Kay Moorby
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