Monday, September 9, 2019

Year 9, Day 252: Habakkuk 1


Theological Commentary: Click Here



Habakkuk is a most interesting book.  In its most basic premise, it is a conversation between a faithful man and his God.  Habakkuk has questions for God, so he takes the to God.  God does him the favor of answering.



Habakkuk’s first question is straightforward.  Habakkuk looks around him and sees people abusing one another.  There is physical violence.  There is plotting and scheming to take what someone else has.  Conflict is just about everywhere in society.  I can’t say that I disagree with him.



Habakkuk’s conclusion is also common.  When evil reigns, it flaunts itself in the presence of good.  When evil abounds, it makes righteousness seem impotent.  When everyone is doing evil and nobody seems to be suffering consequences, it spreads.  How can God tolerate this?



God’s reply is also classic God.  God’s perspective is not the present but the eternal.  God desires to let human beings show their heart.  He wants us to see ourselves for who we are.  He knows us, He wants us to know ourselves as well as He knows us.  He gives evil time to show its ugly head before He comes in with judgment.  He wants to see the root of the evil before He comes in and cuts the head off the snake.  God is going to bring in the Babylonians to execute His judgment once sin has come to its full head.



God’s ways are often hard to understand.  From our temporary perspective, God sometimes seems indifferent or uncaring.  He seems slow to move and even slower to judge.  From God’s perspective, though, He knows what He is doing.  The only way to get to the truth of humanity is to allow our sinfulness to fester and fully expose itself.  Then we can see who we truly are, not just who we let the world see in the light.



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