1:2ff - Habakkuk cries out to God as he looks around at the terrible things that are going on in the world around him. I think we can all relate to this. He says,"Why are you not doing something? Why are you not acting on behalf of your people to save them?" He like many of us wants to know why God allows bad things to happen to His people. How many times have you been there? Let's see how God responds...
1:5ff - God answers back by instructing Habakkuk to really look around at the world. God is working His plans throughout all the nations of the world, and He tells Habakkuk, "Even if I told you the whole plan...showed you the big picture...you would not believe." It is impossible for us to fully understand God's intricate and eternal thinking plan as it is being worked out in the world. God is using even the pagan nations of the world to bring about His justice and will. I think all of us have some experience seeing how God was at work in difficult times in our lives...now just remind yourself that He is doing that with every human being that exists. When we are able to step away from the hard things we go through (That often blind us to the work God is doing), we often get a clearer picture of the amazing things that God is doing in the world.
1:13 - Habakkuk decides to reword his question to God, because he was apparently not satisfied with the first response. This time he says, "Well, why do you allow the evil people in the world to be so successful God?" This is another question that we have probably all asked ourselves at one time or another in our lives. Why does it seem like the powerful, corrupt people of the world win out in the end?
Chapter 2 - The entire chapter is really God's answer to Habakkuk's second question. He gives a vision of 5 woes to the prophet...the five woes represent the weaknesses and ultimate destruction of the evil strong. They may think they have it all because of wealth and power, but God assures Habakkuk that the oppressors will be humbled before God. There will be justice in the end...it just doesn't always come on our timetable.
2:4 - The pagan nations are bloated on their own arrogance...they are "puffed up" on their strength, intelligence, victories - but there is no good in them. They may have some small victories and success int his fallen world, but ultimately their legacy is one of true weakness, failure and destruction. God reminds Habakkuk (and us) that the righteous will live faithfully. What does that mean? Living faithfully is about trusting God and placing our hope in Him, and then living accordingly. There is no debate on faith versus works because in reality, those who are faithfully are actively living out their faith. You will know the faith of the truly righteous by the way they live their lives.
The 5 woes - 1.) Woe to those who take what is not theirs. 2.) Woe to those who do evil things to be successful. 3.) Woe to those who serve themselves through violence. 4.) Woe to those who pour out anger and hatred on others. 5.) Woe to those who worship things created by man. You can see these anti-God behaviors at work in every corner of our society every day (Often even in churches). Probably wouldn't hurt to honestly hold your own life up to this list and hold yourself accountable.
2:18 - We do this all the time and I don't understand it at all (even though I often get caught up in it). How could we ever be so absurd as to worship something that we made? To put our hope in things that human beings have created? To allow our joy to be centered around the possessions that we own? That is worship...and that is vile.
3:6 - I love the phrase used here - "His were the everlasting ways." Habakkuk sees a vision of God walking the earth and ca tell immediately that there is this eternal quality to the way of God. The path of God is the way to everlasting life...it is the way into eternity. He is the beginning and the end...He is the Ancient of Days...probably wouldn't hurt to follow Him!
3:8, 9, 12, 13, 14 and 15 - All of these verses describe God in the terms of military might. Habakkuk sees God in his vision as the Creator/Warrior...bringing redemption and creative energy through His judgment. I was wondering, do we ever think about God in these terms? Do we think about what it means to run smack dab into out Creator/Warrior God? I believe we like to think mostly about Jesus...to think about the mercy and love and "let all the little children come to me" and dying for our sins...but we forget about awe-inspiring power of Jesus. We don't focus as much on the Revelation Jesus who shows up riding a war horse with a sword coming out of his mouth...we don't focus on the Jesus who when confronted by armed enemies in the garden, causes them to cower through the power of his presence. Jesus came not just to die for your sins, but to crucify the sin and corruption within you. He will always be the warrior as well as the Creator.
3:17-18 - Through his interaction with God, Habakkuk has grown in faith and come to see the truth of the situation. After questioning the way that God runs the world, Habakkuk now ends this book confidently and says that no matter what happens...he will rejoice in the Lord and trust Him always. I think this book teaches us alot about our relationship with God. When you have questions and doubts...bring them to God. He is big enough to handle your toughest questions and if you are willing to listen to Him, you can walk away confidently knowing that God is in control and He is worthy of our faith.
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