A Conversation with God

“How long, O LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, “Violence!” but you do I 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.” - Habakkuk 1:2-4

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Have you ever felt as if there were no justice in the world? As if the entire society in which you lived was so corrupted by sin that there was no comprehensible reason why God would continue to allow it? I have — and so did Habakkuk. Habakkuk was the last Pre-Exilic Prophet (before the exile of Judah to Babylon) writing to Judah between 612-605 BC. Habakkuk is a witness to the rise of the Babylonian Empire and the depravity of this world power. He sees that the Babylonians will soon destroy Judah and cries out to the Lord, desiring to find some answers and get to the heart of the seemingly biggest issue of his lifetime.

Now: what if, in the midst of crying out your complaints to the Lord, He answered? Then, when you have the chance to ask the Lord the questions which plague your heart, He answers them again? Habakkuk finds himself in this exact predicament: not only does the Lord respond to his cries, but the Lord answers his questions. When Habakkuk desires to gain insight into the Lord’s justice and mercy, the Lord gives it — and tells him to break out a pen and start taking notes (i.e. a tablet / BC stylus). Thus, while Habakkuk’s name may mean “One Who Embraces,” the Lord embraces him first with the truth of His Word and promises (as He does to us all).

The book of Habakkuk can be broken down in three parts (according to the three chapters in this book: 1) Habakkuk questions; 2) Habakkuk listens; 3) Habakkuk prays. Habakkuk’s primary qualm with the Lord is that He sees an unrighteous people rising up who will eventually destroy Judah. The Lord answers Habakkuk’s cries and his questions over the perceived lack / delay of the Lord’s justice, telling him: that the Lord is sovereign and His plan will come to fruition on His own terms; and, that the events that will transpire will absolutely blow Habakkuk’s mind (His power is so beyond our imagination). The Lord also reminds Habakkuk to be assured of this fact: “the Lord is in His holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him“ (Habakkuk 2:20). After being privy to a conversation with the Lord, Habakkuk responds with a prayer in which he recognizes the coming judgement of the Lord yet asks: “in wrath remember mercy” (Habakkuk 3:2).

The book of Habakkuk also points to the figure of Christ in several key ways. First, the Lord states: “Look at the nations and watch — and be truly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told” (Habakkuk 1:5). This statement of the Lord most certainly came true in Habakkuk’s lifetime — Judah was crushed by the Babylonians and brought into exile (along with a multitude of other historical events) — but it has also come true after his lifetime through the person of Jesus. The events which transpire before our eyes are all according to the Lord’s plan and the central figure of this plan is Jesus Christ — His birth, death, resurrection and return in the future. Next, when the Lord answers Habakkuk he states: “For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay” (Habakkuk 2:3). This statement of the Lord can be interpreted as not only pointing to the coming judgement of the Israelites and Judah, but also to the eventual return of Christ and judgement / defeat of sin. Finally, the book of Habakkuk ends with a prayer that states: “yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior” (Habakkuk 3:18). We, ourselves, must rejoice as Jesus — the Savior of whom Habakkuk speaks — has come into the world and died for the forgiveness of our sins so that we may experience eternal life with Him!

Studying the book of Habakkuk has had a profound impact on my own walk with Christ in the present, as it has helped me to realize more than ever that God is on His throne. Even when the world is filled to the brim with injustice, sin and absolute depravity, God is still on His throne and His plan will come to completion. God’s mercy and justice are far beyond the grasp of our tenuous mortal understanding; yet, when we call to God and ask for wisdom — He gives it freely (James 1:5). Let us expectantly ask of the Lord for that which is in His will, knowing that when we believe He shall grant these things to us according to His promises. How great a God that He would answer a sinner like me — thanks be to God!!

In other news: thankful first and foremost for God’s unfailing and new mercies each and every day! Thankful for the amazing community He has provided me at the Kanakuk Institute as well!