How long, Lord,
must I call for help,
but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
but you do not save?
3 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.
4 Therefore the law is paralyzed,
and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
so that justice is perverted.
but you do not listen?
Or cry out to you, “Violence!”
but you do not save?
3 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.
4 Therefore the law is paralyzed,
and justice never prevails.
The wicked hem in the righteous,
so that justice is perverted.
(The Lord's Answer)
5 “Look at the nations and
watch—
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told."
and be utterly amazed.
For I am going to do something in your days
that you would not believe,
even if you were told."
Habakkuk 1:2-5
Have you ever reached the point where you cried out in
prayer to God, "How long do I have to call out to you? How many prayers must I pray? How many tears must I shed? How much pleading does it take?"
In the writings of most of the prophets, it's relatively
easy to determine God's message for the people, and the encouragement for them
to continue trusting and loving God.
When we come to the minor prophet, Habakkuk, we are given the picture of
a people who have been praying, crying out to God because of all the evil that
surrounded them. In spite of their pleas, it seemed as though God was not
willing to do anything to help. Had he
grown indifferent toward their prayers?
Was he condoning the wrongdoing and violence? The situation is summed up in the latter part
of verse 4, "The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is
perverted."
God's answer was there, and it was close. Some think God had not already answered their
prayers for help because they needed to learn to trust him, no matter what the
circumstances. That part is not clear to me, and I keep being reminded of the
scripture that lets me know about God's thoughts and ways are far above the
thoughts and ways of finite mankind. The
thing Habakkuk's audience needed to learn, and we need to learn, is that God is
still in control, just as he has always been and will be in control. Look again at verse 5. “Look at the nations and watch—and be
utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not
believe, even if you were told."
Hear the word of the Lord for you.....when you think God is
withholding the answers you seek and need. God wants us to know he is still in
control for us, too. God is saying he
has plans for us and he will be with us with unbelievable things, to bring
about his good will. Continue to love
and trust him. What he has in store for
you is amazing. It's true, God says, "You
will be utterly amazed."
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