Reading
- Hab. 1:1-3:19
Devotional
The book of Habakkuk is only three chapters, but it contains a number of important lessons for us to remember. Habakkuk was a prophet who lived at the same time as Jeremiah. He knew what the LORD was in the process of doing, using foreign nations to punish His children Israel for their sins. Habakkuk asks questions of GOD that we all wonder, even today:
- How long do we have to wait for GOD to save us from the present distress?
- Why do the righteous suffer while the wicked prosper?
- How can a righteous GOD use evil people or nations to accomplish His purpose, when those evil people have no intention or awareness of aiding GOD's cause?
Although GOD doesn't provide all the answers that we would like, He does answer Habakkuk's questions in some form. Sometimes the plan GOD is working on is beyond our understanding or belief.
5 “ Look among the nations and watch—Be utterly astounded! For I will work a work in your days Which you would not believe, though it were told you.
(Hab. 1:5 NKJV)
GOD pronounces woes to the evil man. Though a man or nation be unrighteous and prosper temporarily, in the end they will be destroyed.
- Woe to the man who accumulates stolen goods.
- Woe to him who uses unjust gains to build his own house.
- Woe to him who builds a town with bloodshed.
- Woe to him who establishes a city by sinning.
- Woe to the man who gets his neighbor drunk to take advantage of him.
- Woe to him who makes an idol and worships it.
All of these woes will be returned upon that man's head. Let all the earth rest assured that GOD is in control.
20 The LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.
(Hab. 2:20 NIV)
Upon hearing this response from GOD, Habakkuk is moved to pray the words of Hab. 3, which he then commands to be put to music along with instruments.
17 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, 18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. 19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to tread on the heights.
(Hab. 3:17-19 NIV)
Our attitude should be the same as Habakkuk's. We might not understand what GOD is doing in our life or the nations of the world, but we need to rest assured that He is in control, and that those who trust in Him will be established and protected, in this life or the next.
