Year 9, Day 253: Habakkuk 2

Theological Commentary: Click Here

Habakkuk 2 gives us the Lord’s reply to Habakkuk’s second complaint.  How does God respond to the fact that sin and human treachery abound?  What is His reply to Habakkuk?

God reminds Habakkuk that His judgment is eternal.  He is watching over the people and weighing their actions.  He understands that action leads to consequence.  He understands that repeated actions lead to habits, customs, and traditions.  God is concerned not just with injustice, but patterns of injustice.

God understands the danger of extortion.  When people take what is not theirs, where will the pattern of behavior stop?  How many poor, defenseless, and unprotected people will someone who is accustomed to extortion overrun before they see the error of their ways?

God understands the danger of violence.  When those who oppress others through violence become accustomed to their ways, when will they stop?  When does the bully see the error of their ways?  When do the warring nations decide to put aside their differences and live in peace?

God understands idolatry.  When do the gods of our own making actually answer us?  When can the gods of our own making actually help?  On the other hand, when will we stop worship things that we ourselves have made?  When will we understand the fallacy of worshipping what has come out of our own creativity?

God knows the answers to all of this.  No matter what punishment He brings upon the world, the world will continue to be itself.  The only solution will come in the end, when humanity is judged for good, and as we hear elsewhere in the Bible, it is remade.  To that end, God sits upon His throne in the temple.  He is watching, waiting, and planning.  He knows who we are, He continues to see who among us are willing to recognize what we are as well.

<><