Habakkuk--a Voice for Today

Habakkuk--a Voice for Today

By Rev. Lonnie C. Crowe

Although the prophet Habakkuk wrote more than 2,600 years ago, his message is pertinent today.  In that day, Israel faced the peril of the Babylonian empire which occupied much of the same area that the terrorist organizations occupy today.  Today, Israel, the United States, and the world face the peril of the terrorism.  Habakkuk’s message should resonate with us in this difficult time.

First, Habakkuk speaks out and questions God.  Habakkuk 1:3-4 (NKJV) “Why do You show me iniquity, And cause me to see trouble? For plundering and violence are before me; There is strife, and contention arises. Therefore the law is powerless, And justice never goes forth. For the wicked surround the righteous; Therefore perverse judgment proceeds.”

Habakkuk, like many today, asks why evil seems to be triumphing over good.

God answers.  Habakkuk 1:5 (NKJV) "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.”

God continues to outline His plan for the defeat of Israel’s enemies. All the powerful nations in that area of the world would fall. History records that Babylon later fell to the Greeks.  God allowed Babylon to rule for only a period of time.

Allow yourself to be encouraged.  The book of Revelation prophesies that in the end times, Babylon, the great harlot representing the worldly, humanistic, secular society will again fall through the intervention of God.

In chapter two, God encourages His people. Habakkuk 2:4 (NKJV) "Behold the proud, His soul is not upright in him; But the just shall live by his faith.”

The just shall live by faith, not by fear, whining and complaining.

In the last chapter of the book, Habakkuk describes his vision of the Lord and worships. Habakkuk 3:4-6 (NKJV) “His brightness was like the light; He had rays flashing from His hand, And there His power was hidden. Before Him went pestilence, And fever followed at His feet. He stood and measured the earth; He looked and startled the nations. And the everlasting mountains were scattered, The perpetual hills bowed. His ways are everlasting.”

Because he had come to realize the nature, the majesty, power, authority and faithfulness of God, the prophet declares, Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NKJV) “Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls-- Yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The LORD God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, And He will make me walk on my high hills.”

Is your faith in the One who is omnipotent, omniscient, omnipresent and omnibenevolent strong enough to do the same?