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.”
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