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Rest in the assurance of Jesus Christ
It is important for us to understand the difference between questioning God and asking God a question. The first of these situations is based upon human wisdom being used as a standard, attempting to determine if divine wisdom might be inferior. The second of these situations is the result of our going to God, while needing some answers to some pressing circumstance, and then allowing the divine answer to still our troubled soul. Even though the prophet, Habakkuk, gave not direct indication concerning the time of his ministry, it seems that the sin of the nation of Judah was about to come under the judgment of God. This prophet could not understand why God would use the brutal, pagan nation of the Chaldeans - Babylonians (Habakkuk 1:6) - as his instrument of judgment against the chosen nation. The mind of the prophet, Jeremiah, must have been filled with wonder when God referred to "Nebuchadrezzar the king of Babylon, my servant..." Jeremiah 43:10. Thus, "hard questions" seemed to have been the "order of the day." The prophet, Habakkuk, knew the care that God had - and continues to have - for the chosen nation. This godly man declared, "Art thou not from everlasting, O lord my God, mine holy one? we shall not die. O Lord, thou hast ordained them for judgment; and, O mighty God, thou hast established them for correction." Habakkuk 1:12. The prophet made a pledge, "I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved." Habakkuk 2:1. In this conversation between the prophet and God, the dialogue shows the human desiring answers from the divine, not attempting to persuade God to see the prophet's point of view. "And the Lord answered me, and said, write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it." Habakkuk 2:2. The prophet is assured, "For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, and will not tarry." Habakkuk 2:3. God showed the prophet that there is a vast difference between the heart of the invading king and that of the people of God. "Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him..." - the contrast is clear - "but the just shall live by his faith." Habakkuk 2:4. This thought is expressed in various ways throughout the New Testament. John 3:36; Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38. The Babylonian king is pictured as one who is ruthless, and cares for nothing except that which will increase his power and authority. "Yea also, because he transgresseth by wine, he is a proud man, neither keepeth at home, who enlargeth his desire as hell, and is as death, and cannot be satisfied, but gathereth unto him all nations, and heapeth unto him all people: Shall not all these take up a parable against him, and a taunting proverb against him, and say, woe to him that increaseth that which is not his! how long? and to him that ladeth himself with thick clay! Shall they not rise up suddenly that shall bite thee, and awake that shall vex thee, and thou shalt be for booties unto them?" Habakkuk 2:5- 7. Judgment would, eventually, be poured upon this wicked king. "Because thou hast spoiled many nations, all the remnant of the people shall spoil thee; because of man's blood, and for the violence of the land, of the city, and of all that dwell therein." Habakkuk 2:8. It is easy for the oppressed to see the conquerors as being without difficulty. Yet, the judgment of God is sure. "Woe to him that coveteth an evil covetousness to his house, that he may set his nest on high, that he may be delivered from the power of evil! Thou hast consulted shame to thy house by cutting off many people, and hast sinned against thy soul." Habakkuk 2:9,10. From the divine perspective, even the building materials will make an appeal to God. "For the stone shall cry out of the wall, and the beam out of the timber shall answer it." Habakkuk 2:11. As God continued to give some answers to the prophet, warnings were included. "Woe to him that buildeth a town with blood, and stablisheth a city by iniquity!" Habakkuk 2:12. God asked the prophet a question that would cause him to reassess his own attitude. "Behold, is it not of the Lord of hosts that the people shall labour in the very fire, and the people shall weary themselves for very vanity?" Habakkuk 2:13. The Babylonian king served many gods, and the people had been made aware of his praise to the structures of vanity. The prophet - and the people - needed to be reminded of the nature of the one whom they served, and who had delivered them, when they continued to follow him. From the perspective of the trembling nations, it would seem that the "presence" of this invading army had "filled" all of that region of the land. The Lord reminded them, "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." Habakkuk 2:14. Even with the threat of the invading army, the people who kept their trust in God could continue to know hope. Hope is not based upon what is seen. Romans 8:24,25. This fact must be coupled with faith. Hebrews 11:1. This is not whistling in the dark, but an assurance of divine care and concern for those who trust in Jesus Christ as lord of life.
Rev. Temples can be contacted at P.O. Box 1569, Auburndale, Fla. 33823; 863-965-0157. Email: jctjet@ aol.com
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