for whatever reason, today the Lord really pressed habakkuk on my heart. i know what you're thinking. i was thinking the same thing before i sat down to study it. "who on earth is habakkuk, and where is that in my bible?" (in case you're wondering, nobody really knows who habakkuk is, and the book can be found between nahum and zephaniah.) i had one verse underlined in the book - which, let me tell you, may seem tiny (only three chapters) but is filled with huge truths. i had no idea what to expect out of the passages i was staring at. i get a little nervous before i embark on a study i haven't attempted before. i always wonder if i'll be able to understand the text, glean from it, and apply it. i was really deliberate to talk to Jesus about this tonight before i got started. i need to be more faithful to do that each time i sit down with my Bible. alas, i am human. anyway. i prayed that he would speak to me through his word and absolutely tear my heart apart. i asked for encouragement and conviction. i also asked him to tie it so closely to my life now that how to apply it would be obvious. "ask and you shall receive."
here's a basic rundown of the book:
who - habakkuk (kind of a no-name prophet), judah, and the chaldeans
when - around 600 bc
where - judah (this is where jerusalem was located)
what - basically, the chaldeans had come through and crushed judah (God's people). habakkuk is surrounded by confusion, devestation, and chaos, and he asks God "why?" why is evil prevailing? why is the law corrupt? why is God allowing his people to suffer tyranny? godlessness is reigning. God replies in verse 5:
"look among the nations and watch - be utterly astounded! for i will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you."
God goes on to confirm that the chaldeans are indeed a terrible people, but he never gives a reason. he never explains why. he doesn't say, "well, habakkuk. the reason i'm allowing this is because...and it will be over on this day...and the fruits my people will develop during this season are..." doesn't happen.
*here's some info on the chaldeans: they were conquerers. it's what they did. they conquered babylon, but babylonian culture maintained. the people were marked by lawlessness and confusion linked to godlessness. they were a people driven by wealth, fame, pleasure, and power. under king nebuchadnezzar, the babylonians destroyed jerusalem (capital of judah), and the jews were taken into captivity for seventy years (as prophesied by jeremiah). ezekiel and daniel were captives in babylon during this time. babylonian religion was based on a system of gods, and every city had a temple for a particular god. they were driven by mythology and legends. their law was totally corrupt and centered on hammurabi's code of law (a system of trespasses and punishments).
application - how often do i see the news or something online and think, "God, why would you let that happen?" let's bring it a little closer to home. how often have i found myself in a situation that was unfair - where wrong prevailed, and i had to suck it up and deal with it? lately, quite often. how often do we see or experience suffering and ask "why?" and how often does God give us a thesis on his explanation? um, i'm gonna go with never. but what he does do is make us a promise: "look and watch - be utterly astounded, ashley! i will work a work in your days, and you wouldn't believe me even if i told you about it!" it's a promise, friends! he WILL work. and it WILL be utterly astounding. it makes me think of times in scripture when God did lay out his plan a little more clearly to his people. think about abraham. God promised to make him the father of many nations, and abraham kind of laughed at him. i think the same would be true of myself if God told me up front what he had in store for me. i wouldn't believe him; therefore, i wouldn't trust him. because i have no flippin idea the incredible things he has planned for my life, i am forced to trust him. it's hard in the moment, because i like to know what's going on. i don't do well with unknown. but it's another way God shows me kindness; he knows i need to be forced to trust him, because if i'm not, i simply won't. i'll trust in me, in my plan, in possessions, and in people. he can't give me the details of his ellaborate, master plan. i don't have to walk by faith if he does that. if you jump over to habakkuk 2:4 it says, "the just shall live by faith." that's kind of two-fold: an expectation and a promise. we can expect not to have answers and explanations. but we can trust the promise that he is at work, and he is faithful to complete that work (philippians 1:6).
so here's the challenge, sweet friends: look around you. watch, and be utterly astounded. seek Christ in the little things (like a dove dark chocolate wrapper!). expect his faithfulness. trust him when he promises that he is working. be an active participant in the work he is doing in your life. celebrate it!
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