No Matter What

I have been reading through the Minor Prophets in the Bible. For those not familiar with the Scripture, the Minor Prophets are the last 12 books of the Old Testament. They are only called minor because they are short books, but they are full of powerful messages.If you want a descriptive, inspiring epic poem, read the book of Nahum. It is beautiful!

  

It also amazes me how often the sins of Israel remind me of the sins of America. I know each book in this section of the Old Testament is a direct message from God to a particular prophet to warn God’s people, Israel, about the upcoming destruction of their nation and yet, to give them hope that one day the nation will be unified again and provide the whole world with the hope of Salvation. But as I mourn for my own country, I can’t help but see characteristics in her that were shared by ancient Israel. It makes me wonder how long God will wait before He judges my nation as well.

Today, I read through the book of Habakkuk. The second through fourth verses of the first chapter echo exactly what my spirit cries out about my country. Habakkuk says,

“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?  Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrong?  Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds. Therefore the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails. The wicked hem in the righteous, so that justice is perverted.” (1:2-4)

And then the Lord answers him in verse 5 and following:

“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. I am raising up the Babylonians…”

I can see Habakkuk’s excited thankfulness that God is going to stop the injustice change instantaneously to an open-mouthed, jaw dropped – WHAT???  In fact that’s what Habakkuk says to God in verse 13 regarding the Babylonians:

“Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrong. Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?”

Habakkuk understood that his people were not on the right track. They had strayed so far from God that they were in need of judgement. But he could not accept that God would use a heathen, idol worshiping, beyond evil nation to bring His judgement on Israel. He believed that compared to the Babylonians, Israel was righteous.

And God answers Habakkuk again in the entirety of chapter 2. God tells Habakkuk that there will come a time when He also judges Babylon for its idol worship and debauchery. The violence it has done to other nations and other peoples will be inflicted on Babylon as well. But God will do this in His own time and it will be later rather than sooner. The destruction of Babylon will also be to God’s own glory and for those who worship idols to see that there is only One true God.

“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.” (2:14)

“But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.” (2:20)

I love Habakkuk’s response to God. He sings a song of praise to Him! He describes God as a mighty warrior, and his description is intense. He recognizes God as Creator and Conqueror and admits his own weak, frail humanness. Verse 17 and 18 read like this: 

“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.” (emphasis is mine)

What he’s saying is when there is nothing – no food, no money, no drink, no job – when all is lost, he will rejoice in the Lord. Not because he will be happy with this destruction, but he trusts God and God is all he needs.What a response!

Now the question is am I willing to respond the same way? I want my country to be purified; I want God’s people to be cleansed; I want justice and peace. I am so tired of the culture in which I live that serves money and pleasure and revels in sin, not only in the “world” but in the Church as well. But am I willing to say to God that He knows best and however He chooses to bring about change, I am willing to accept it so that the whole earth will be filled with the knowledge of His glory?

May my heart and spirit be so in tune with God’s heart that I can echo Habakkuk’s words when God reveals His judgement on my people. No matter what “I will rejoice in the Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.”

A New Season

It seems that all we have been doing this year is mourning.  Not only everything we lost by moving away from Vienna, but all that should have been had we stayed.  Combine that with moving back to my childhood home filled with all of the daily reminders of my dad and finally beginning to grieve his absence in our lives.  And finding along this journey that we have lost part of ourselves, who we thought we were and having to take time to redefine ourselves in a healthy, truthful way.

  

We also know that the pain is far from over.  We did cross a giant hurdle yesterday when we finally started back to school, but we have many significant barriers yet to cross.  And those little nuances that take you by surprise and drive you back into the depths of misery are always lurking in the shadows.  Sometimes it is comforting to know that mourning is a human condition that has occurred for centuries.

Several weeks ago, the speaker at our Church meeting discussed Daniel chapter 10.  In this chapter, Daniel is overcome with grief concerning the Jews who are still in captivity. He mourns, fasts and prays for three weeks.  We don’t really know what Daniel says in his prayers but his spirit was deeply moved for the well-being of his people.

And his answer comes in a most spectacular way.  A messenger is sent to Daniel from heaven and this is what he says “Do not be afraid, Daniel.  Since the first day that you set your mind to gain under-standing and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them….Now I have come to explain to you what will happen to your people in the future…” vs 12, 14.

Today, in my own Bible reading, I found this amazing chapter in Amos where God is rebuking the complacent people in Israel.  He pretty much says, in the Channon paraphrased version, you guys stop laying around like nothing bad is happening around you.  Stop lying on your expensive furniture, eating sumptuous food, listening to the loudest music, drinking the tastiest wine and using the best smelling lotions while you bring a reign of terror on your people. You are supposed to be the most notable of the nation.  (This is in Amos 6 – please check it out yourselves.)

And then God says that His problem with these complacent people is that they “do not grieve over the ruin of Joseph.” (Joseph refers to the Jewish tribes of Manasseh and Ephraim in this case.) Amos 6:6b

That took me completely by surprise.  God didn’t say, go sell everything you have, get up and do something.  He said grieve, mourn for your people.  Turn your heart to Me.  Stop looking to idols or humans for answers. I am the only One who can heal your people and I will do it in a way you don’t expect.

Daniel mourned for his people and God answered him.  This notable lot did not mourn and God said “you will be among the first to go into exile; your feasting and lounging will end.” Amos 6:7.

I think it is time to begin a new season of mourning. This season requires me to turn my eyes away from everything that I have lost, everything that causes me pain and to look with my spiritual eyes at what is causing Him pain.  Then I must seek Him for the answer because only God is sovereign enough to stop sin and thwart the plans of the evil one.  That also means listening to what He is saying.  It means getting out of my comfort zone by being still and by reaching out to those around me.

To be honest, the prospect of this new season terrifies me.  Those that mourn spiritually, like Jesus when he cried over Jerusalem in Luke 19:41 – 44 and Daniel in the aforementioned text, tend to see visions and get prophetic words from heaven. And as much as we say that we’d love to see Jesus face to face, I don’t think I would survive that kind of encounter. 

 

But I truly long to see others as Jesus sees them. I long to see the world changed. I long to encourage those who suffer for their faith.  And I am tired of feeling hopeless, helpless and self-absorbed. But I can’t do anything that matters eternally.  Only the Holy Spirit can do that.  So I have decided that I will mourn, I will grieve, and I will leave the answers to the One who composes the entire story from before time to time eternal.