WORD @ WORK Supplement
A Handle on Habakkuk by Abraham Gan
“Habakkuk” probably means “to clasp.” A contemporary of the Prophet Jeremiah, Habakkuk lived around the end of the 7th Century BC during the uncertain days before the fall of Jerusalem to the Babylonians (Harper Study Bible).
TOUGH QUESTIONS 4 THE TIMID?
Basically, Habakkuk had pondered long and hard on three areas:
1. CRIME, VIOLENCE AND LAWLESSNESS (1:2)
Why is the law of the jungle still in operation? Why are the powerful bullying the weak unchecked?
2. JUSTICE IN THE MARKETPLACE (1:3-4)
Why do evil people enjoy success and the good guys are just surviving and suffering?
3. CRISIS OF FAITH (1:13-17)
Why is our God who is the Great Eternal God, the Holy One and the Rock (v.12) seemingly unwilling or uninterested in intervening in the terrible human mess we are in?
ASK and YOU WILL BE ANSWERED
God graciously revealed the basis of His apparent inaction to Habakkuk.
1. NO CRISIS OF FAITH
God is active and working behind the unfolding of global events. God says, “I AM going to DO…I AM raising up…” (1:5-6)
2. SEE THE BROAD PICTURE
You need to look further down the future and adopt a panoramic view of life. Record down what God is showing you as you ponder your questions. Digest it and place your observations alongside the current events unfolding in the world (see 2:2).
Time is of the essence. There is no room for impatience (see 2:3, 3:16). The God of time and space is working out His will and purpose not just for one individual or one nation here and now. But in His wisdom and mercy, God includes the well being of all peoples of all time. He is conscious of His covenant with the saints of old and yet is full of sunny promises for the generations to come.
3. THE RULES OF GOD STILL STAND
The proud will be demoted and the humble promoted (2:4-5). The greedy will be buried under the weight of their illegal fortune (2:6-7). Those who live by the sword will perish by the sword (2:8-13). The crafty will be caught in their own traps (2:15-16). Those who seek other gods will reside in blind alleys (2:18-19).
THE RIGHTEOUS SHALL LIVE BY FAITH (2:4)
It’s not enough to do right and live right. The song says, “I Am A Believer.” We need to keep faith in who God is. We should celebrate His fame and deeds, His mercy and glory, His praise and splendor, His power, His ways and His salvation!
We need to affirm our trust in His ability and creativity in handling the affairs of the human world. Habakkuk pictures God as the Warrior King in a royal battle against evil and evil doers. Bristling with divine anger & wrath, He delivers the people suffering under the senseless injustices of the world (3:3-15).
A BRIGHT NEW WORLD!
We face the bleak prospect of a world with no room, no food, no jobs, no money, and no law!
But the prophet Habakkuk has this calm assurance that with God, we can grow happier and stronger and go higher than ever! (see 3:16-19)
No comments:
Post a Comment