The book of Habakkuk starts with Habakkuk questioning God’s silence and questioning why He hasn't saved Israel out of there situation (Hab. 1:2 NLT) “How long, O LORD, must I call for help? But you do not listen! "Violence!" I cry, but you do not come to save.” Habakkuk saw evil surround him (Hab. 1:4 NLT) “The law has become paralyzed and useless, and there is no justice given in the courts. The wicked far outnumber the righteous, and justice is perverted with bribes and trickery.” We can understand Habakkuk’s position. Why does the Lord let this continue? But God is preparing to show His ability so that the people would know it that there salvation could only be from God (Hab. 1:5 NLT) “The LORD replied, "Look at the nations and be amazed! Watch and be astounded at what I will do! For I am doing something in your own day, something you wouldn't believe even if someone told you about it.”
God advised two things to Habakkuk that He will execute His plan (Hab. 2:3b NLT) “If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.” And the righteous will live by faith (Hab. 2:4b) “the righteous will live by their faith.” God states that the day of Judgment on the proud and arrogant would come (Hab. 2:6 NLT) “At last justice has caught up with you! Now you will get what you deserve for your oppression and extortion!”
Habakkuk sees that God is in control and through a sung prayer, he remembers what God has done in the past and reflects on His attributes (Hab. 3:2 NLT) “I have heard all about you, LORD, and I am filled with awe by the amazing things you have done.” and (Hab. 3:3b-6 NLT) “His brilliant splendor fills the heavens, and the earth is filled with his praise! What a wonderful God he is! Rays of brilliant light flash from his hands. He rejoices in his awesome power. Pestilence marches before him; plague follows close behind. When he stops, the earth shakes. When he looks, the nations tremble. He shatters the everlasting mountains and levels the eternal hills. But his power is not diminished in the least!” Habakkuk gained a new perspective of himself and God (Hab. 3:16 NLT) “I trembled inside when I heard all this; my lips quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath me, and I shook in terror. I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade us.” The dire circumstances still existed (Hab. 3:17 NLT) “the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty”, but with even with this he has the correct perspective (Hab. 3:18 NLT) “yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation.”
The book of Habakkuk reminds us that with evil surrounding us and seemly God being uninvolved and silent, He is still executing His will. God is patient toward us, and thankfully He is and we count that as a blessing, He will also be patient on those who aren’t in His family. We know that God is patient toward the unsaved (2. Pet. 3:9) “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” So we must be patient as well because (Hab. 2:4b NLT) “the righteous will live by his faith”.
God advised two things to Habakkuk that He will execute His plan (Hab. 2:3b NLT) “If it seems slow, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.” And the righteous will live by faith (Hab. 2:4b) “the righteous will live by their faith.” God states that the day of Judgment on the proud and arrogant would come (Hab. 2:6 NLT) “At last justice has caught up with you! Now you will get what you deserve for your oppression and extortion!”
Habakkuk sees that God is in control and through a sung prayer, he remembers what God has done in the past and reflects on His attributes (Hab. 3:2 NLT) “I have heard all about you, LORD, and I am filled with awe by the amazing things you have done.” and (Hab. 3:3b-6 NLT) “His brilliant splendor fills the heavens, and the earth is filled with his praise! What a wonderful God he is! Rays of brilliant light flash from his hands. He rejoices in his awesome power. Pestilence marches before him; plague follows close behind. When he stops, the earth shakes. When he looks, the nations tremble. He shatters the everlasting mountains and levels the eternal hills. But his power is not diminished in the least!” Habakkuk gained a new perspective of himself and God (Hab. 3:16 NLT) “I trembled inside when I heard all this; my lips quivered with fear. My legs gave way beneath me, and I shook in terror. I will wait quietly for the coming day when disaster will strike the people who invade us.” The dire circumstances still existed (Hab. 3:17 NLT) “the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vine; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty”, but with even with this he has the correct perspective (Hab. 3:18 NLT) “yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation.”
The book of Habakkuk reminds us that with evil surrounding us and seemly God being uninvolved and silent, He is still executing His will. God is patient toward us, and thankfully He is and we count that as a blessing, He will also be patient on those who aren’t in His family. We know that God is patient toward the unsaved (2. Pet. 3:9) “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.” So we must be patient as well because (Hab. 2:4b NLT) “the righteous will live by his faith”.
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