Habakkuk is a man of prayer, and this book reflects the conversation between Habakkuk and God. It would appear that it is Habakkuk who takes the initiative, who comes to God in prayer, with those fateful words - How long, O Lord?
These are not unusual words in the Bible, and the sentiment behind them is reflected in many stories, even if the words themselves are not used. How long with the Israelites walk in the desert, how long will they be exiles, how long before the Temple is restored?
The very sentiment behind the phrase ‘How long, O Lord?’ can perhaps be summed up best for us in the phrase children throughout the ages have shared - ‘are we nearly there yet?’
Psalm 13:1
How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever?
How long will you hide your face from me?
Habakkuk wants to know how long God is going to allow the Jews to continue living in sin. The Jews had sunk deeper into disobedience towards God and his requirements, so much so that the ten commandments were not just broken, but smashed to pieces. Habakkuk knows this and he is moved to prayer, not for himself but for God. How can God continue to gaze upon the actions of his people and do nothing. God had been silent, and Habakkuk prays. And this isn’t his first prayer. The text suggests that Habakkuk has been praying for some time, and his heart is broken for the people and by the people. How long, o Lord, must I call for you help?
Habakkuk is determined to get an answer and get God to respond to his prayer. He prays constantly, consistently, never doubting God’s ability to answer his prayer. However, when God does finally answer, the response is not quite what he expected.
God is aware of the sins of his people. God misses nothing, not the cruel twists of our hearts when silently judge another, the selfish actions that make us blind and deaf to another’s needs or the blatant breaking of his commandments - particularly to love God, and love each other and ourselves. Habakkuk wasn’t sharing with God something he didn’t know. Yet he was sharing with God that the actions of his people was hurting him, because he knew the actions were hurting God. Habakkuk must have truly loved God for he could not sit back and say nothing. He wanted to know why God was not getting involved.
And then God responds, and Habakkuk is blown away by the response. God takes another group of people - the Babylonians - and they will bring God’s judgement on the his people. The Babylonians will trigger the faith of the Jews again, through exile, strife and suffering. In what seems a never-ending cycle of war, exile and return the Israelites once again will be restored to God. The Babylonians are a powerful race and the imagery in the text helps us to build a picture of a violent, powerful, arrogant army.
But Habakkuk can’t get his head around the Lord’s plan.
Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?
God, who is holy, who cannot bear to look upon evil, is willing to use a tribe of people who are more evil than the Jews themselves. To fix a problem rather than send an army of angels, God appears to be sending an army of devils. Habakkuk is genuinely concerned for his people, because he knows that the Babylonians are not people you want to encounter. And if you want to find out more explore the book of Jeremiah. (Jeremiah 6:22-23).
Sometimes, when we hit troubled times, people are heard to say that God can bring good out of evil, and that no times are wasted. That concept comes from Genesis, and is reflected in stories like Joseph or Esther, amongst others. Even the death of Christ shows God using evil to bring about good.
Every cloud has a silver lining, and the phrase we hear but isn’t in the Bible - God moves in mysterious ways, his wonders to perform. You might not find that in the Bible but certainly you could be forgiven it for thinking it as you reflect on this first chapter of Habakkuk.
Is it possible that hidden in the darkest of times, there are lessons from God himself?
Something I would like us to contemplate in the week ahead - the concept of the fact that we worship a Holy God, and therefore are holy people. The events of recent weeks have brought home to many of us in the church, and indeed, outwith the Church the concept of holiness. For many, who wouldn’t necessarily associate with a Church, felt that what happened was inappropriate because this is a holy place, indeed holy ground.
If, therefore, that is true, then how much more, should we as holy people, then feel the burden of desecration? I think, that as a holy people, in a holy place, we have been offered an opportunity to reflect on that which is really important. We worship a holy God, and recent events, have hit the core of our spiritual selves in a way that no other single event possibly could. The question is how do we deal with that?
We could simply put the event behind us and pretend it never happened. Or we could embrace it and move forward wiser and more aware of God himself. Nothing, no matter, how bleak, needs to define us in a negative way, because God can turn all things for good. It doesn’t make them easy, or stop the pain, or make us angelic. But we can be drawn closer into God through the events. And God can take something awful and bring something good from it.
God is holy, and he cannot bear to look upon evil. And yet, he used the Babylonians to judge the Jews. Could it be, might it be, that the one thing we needed shook free from was our very complacency, our apathy, our lost focus? That this very event that broke our hearts and reminded us that we are holy people because of our holy God might transform us?
One way of considering this - If we were to be asked where we put most of our effort and energy as a church, what might be our answer?
Are we like Habakkuk seeing the injustice, the cruelty, the selfishness of people and calling it out before the Lord? Are we following the great commission to go and make disciples? Are we nurturing our children and developing our faith as God’s holy in High Blantyre and surrounding? Or are we looking inward and protecting our own? I invite you to answer these questions prayerfully and honestly.
In 1 Peter 2 we read:
9-10 But you are the ones chosen by God, chosen for the high calling of priestly work, chosen to be a holy people, God’s instruments to do his work and speak out for him, to tell others of the night-and-day difference he made for you—from nothing to something, from rejected to accepted. (the message)
We worship a Holy God, and this is the work he has called us to - and perhaps, he has given a way to re-engage with our community and parish, if we are willing to accept his guidance, teaching and vision. Even the darkest day of crucifixion couldn’t defeat our Holy God - so let’s trust him, and like Habakkuk pray for understanding.
How deep are the wealth and the wisdom
and the knowledge of God!
How inscrutable his judgements,
how unsearchable his ways!
From God and through God and for God
all things exist -
to him be the glory for ever! Amen
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