For some reason yesterday during church I felt like I was supposed to read Habakkuk. It was mentioned briefly in the sermon.. Habakkuk 2...
Pastor Geoff was talking on 'don't allow frustration to push you out of the will of God'
Romans 8.28 and Psalm 105 were also mentioned, and the basis of the sermon was 'Where God sends you, What is Gods vision.."
So I felt like I should read Habakkuk in it's entirety, and do so sort of immediately. I was suprised to find that in my mothers copy of her NIV study bible, she had almost half of the book highlighted.
Habakkuk's Complaint 1.2
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?
The notes say that the Hebrew word 'oracle' possibly means burden or pronouncement.' Often refering to revelations of impending doom =.
Habakkuk's Second Complaint
1.13..."Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?"
The Lords response.. 2.14 "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."
2.17"the violence you have done to Lebanon will overwhelm you, and your destruction of animals will terrify you. "
The notes say that the Assyrian inscriptions record hunting expeditions in the Lebanon range, and such sport may have been nindulged in by the invading Babylonians as well. Babylonian violence was destructive of all forms of life, not only of lands and cities.
2.18 "Of what value is an idol, since a man has carved it? Or an image that teaches lies? For he who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak. Woe to him who says to wood, 'Come to life!' Or to a lifeless stone 'wake up! Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver. There is no breah in it. But the Lord is in his holy temple' let all the earth be silent before Him."
Habakkuk's Prayer
3.2 ?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."
3.16
"I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound, decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud, and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails, and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord,
I will be joyful in God my Savior.."
Study notes Habakkuk has learned the lesson of faith. To trust in God's providence regardless of circumstances. He declares that even if God should send suffering and loss, he would still rejoice in his Savior - God. One of the strongest affirmations of faith in all Scripture.
3.19 "The Sovereign Lord is my strength. He makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights for the director of music. On my stringed instruments."
Notes.. Gives sure footed confidence, / director = probably the conductor of temple musicians. Harp and Lyre being commonly used at the time.
- Habbakuk is certainly a small book as one of the minor prophets. But still a significant message. I usually look to Job when I need an encouragement of faith, but I think a lot of this speaks of impending doom and having faith that abounds above that.
IT's interesting that Habakkuk questions everything to do with why bad things are happening, and God unswers Him, that in a time, justice will be served, but not at this moment.
A further study notes are available at http://bible.org/seriespage/habakkuk
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