READ: Habakkuk 1-3
Verses
chosen for meditation: Habakkuk 2:4
4 “Behold, his soul is
puffed up; it is not upright within him,
but the righteous shall live by his faith.
REFLECT
This
book centers on a theme many struggle with: Why do the wicked prosper
while the righteous are oppressed? Why do bad things happen to good people? How
long will God remain silent?
Habakkuk
opened with these complaints, coming in two dialogues, with God responding for
both. In the 1st dialogue (Habakkuk 1:1-11), Habakkuk expressed the sinful
horrors from God’s own people, and complained about God’s apparent
indifference. The words “how long” (Habakkuk 1:2) implied he had prayed and
interceded many times, but it seemed like God didn’t care. He asked why God had made him look
upon such affliction, yet remained indifferent to his prayers for the oppressed.
God,
in his response to the 1st complaint, showed that He was not
indifferent. In fact, He was at work raising up the Chaldeans, whom He would
use to judge Judah for their sins. This response, however, caused Habakkuk further
agony, leading to his 2nd dialogue (Habakkuk 1:12-2:20).
He
understood God to be righteous and just, so why would God involve Himself in
such a compromising situation? The Chaldeans were far more wicked than Judah, hence
needed judgement more than Judah. How could God justify punishing Judah at the
hands of those who were more guilty?
God
answered again, and though it did not directly address
Habakkuk’s questions, God assured that He was not only concerned about the
situation, but also in control. The Chaldeans would eventually be judged, and
won’t get away prospering with their plundering. He encouraged the righteous, that
even when it’s tough and perplexing, persevere with faith. Faith in God’s
goodness and ways. Faith to continue in righteousness and not turn to
wickedness since they seem to prosper. For the righteous will prevail,
while the proud and puffed up will die.
As
it stands, Habakkuk’s view of God’s nature was right, but his perspective was
limited. He desired for punishment of the wicked, so that the prosperity of his
countrymen could be assured. But God, whose wisdom is way higher, looked for
punishment for Habakkuk’s countrymen, so that they could be restored to fellowship.
RELATE
Habakkuk
taking his complaints to God should encourage us to be honest in our conversations
with God, even if they are questions about His ways we are perplexed by.
However, few have the rare opportunity like Habakkuk, to question the way
God does things, and receive answers at that. For us who scream the same
questions, but do not get an answer, this book is where we can refer, to make
sense of how we can live in the wretchedness we observe around us. Will we be
satisfied with what the book offers?
Here,
we are shown the honesty of the Bible, in not sugar-coating or hiding life’s
tough questions. Prophets, faithful as they were, still struggle with God about
life’s harsh realities. We see that even the prophets feel the same things we
do. The problem does not lie with Habakkuk’s lack of knowledge of God, but in his
correct knowledge of God. He knew God to be holy, righteous and powerful, making
the realities he saw harder to stomach.
Habakkuk
does not lack faith in his line of questioning. Part of why the discrepancy
between God’s character and the world’s sufferings is so hard to stomach, is because
we very much want to defend the honour of God. We do not want the world to misunderstand the nature of our God. People who trust in God’s goodness
may lament, “God! How can we explain to people your love, when all these are happening?”
Their faith is steadfast, but perhaps their perspective, like Habakkuk’s, is
limited.
God
does not address directly these tough questions. If he were to fully explain, I
doubt we could understand, with our limited minds. Perhaps that’s why we never
seem to get satisfactory answers, because His perfect ways are just too confounding
for our flawed perspectives to comprehend. God is not obligated to justify His
ways to us also. He is God. Who are we to question? Yet, He allows us to question
and is gracious to give some form of reply, giving us strength to live with
hope.
His
replies to Habakkuk give comforting information:
- He
is at work. The world is not as He intended, and He is setting it right.
- He
is not taking His time at all, hastening to the end (Habakkuk 2:3).
- Perfect
justice will happen, and the proud will see their downfall.
- For
those who follow Him and are righteous, live with faith of the above, even if
surroundings tell you otherwise.
Like
Job and others who wrestle with God over similar issues, Habakkuk seemed
content with God’s non-direct answers. They draw assurance from their intimate
relationship with God, having peace with these answers. It led them to even
praise and worship God, reinforcing their faith which proclaims, “Though He
slay me, yet will I trust in Him”. Can we be contented with the answers from
this book? “The righteous shall live by his faith”. Can we do so?
REST
Dear Lord, may your spirit empower us to live by
faith, unwavering even when observations around us tell us otherwise. May we
uphold your teachings in tough times, not relent to evil ways to save our own
skin, if it means trampling on others. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.
Chris Chong
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