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."
<ronbwriting@gmail.com>
No comments:
Post a Comment