Habakkuk's Journey: Day 1

I started doing a new devotional plan on the Bible app and while I normally post the recap each week, the recap for the first day became much longer than a normal day that I've had recently. So I decided to just post this one daily. I don't know what's going to come tomorrow but today I got a LOT out of it. If tomorrow isn't quite as big then maybe I'll add a couple of days together. In any case, here's day one...

Habakkuk’s Journey: Day One
(Habakkuk 1)
It’s so easy for us to challenge someone else when we feel that they’re wrong in what they’re presenting us, but do we automatically get defensive when we’re challenged? Why do we think that the person across from us who’s challenging us is doing it for a different reason that we would challenge them for? Aren’t they doing it, also, because they feel that we’re wrong? And what about when God challenges us? There’s no chance that we’re right and God’s wrong, but how quick are we to get defensive when God challenges us, and how quick are we to challenge even God?

Personal Reflection Questions

1. What theme stood out the most when you read Habakkuk 1?

The theme seemed to be delayed judgment. Habakkuk was crying out, wondering how long Yahweh would wait before He judged the lawlessness and perversion.

      2. Why do you think this book made it into Canon? What do you think God’s purpose for this chapter is?

I see this book as speaking to holiness. Maybe this isn’t the main point but, to me, how great would it be to be so offended by the lawlessness around you that you cry out to God, wondering when He’ll send His judgment? God is truly Holy, and He can’t stand even thought of lawlessness; so what would it be like to have the roles reversed and be the one crying out to the Father because of the iniquity all around. That’s a great place to be because then you can learn something new. You can learn to start looking at things from His perspective, and think like God, and see His plans come to fruition.

3. What was the concern during the time of this writing?

When Habakkuk was writing the people around him were in rebellion to God, and their lawless deeds were obvious. But, in the distance, there was also the concern of invasion. Ninevah, the capital of Assyria, had just fallen to the Babylonians and there was the very real threat that Jerusalem could be besieged any day. So to Habakkuk, who had been shown the iniquity of the people, the question of how long would God put off judgment was very relevant, and very concerning.

4. How does it translate to where we are now?

I don’t have the enthusiasm of Habakkuk, but I’m learning it. We live in a time where lawlessness is all around us. We call ourselves God’s people but we promote sin at every turn. In the name of “love” we accept what the Bible tells us to separate ourselves from. While it is admirable to go into the den of sin to save the sinners from their final judgment, that is not an excuse to join them in their sin. We are to be an example to them; a shining light; a city on a hill. And yet, we embrace sin in our houses of worship in the name of making people feel loved. I don’t want to come off like a street preacher, yelling at everyone, telling them that they’re sinners and they’re going to hell but it’s something close to that. Shouldn’t we, in love, show people their sin so that they are able to turn from their wicked ways? Shouldn’t we be as offended by iniquity as God is? He came to us, in our lawlessness, and preached righteousness, in love. He lived among us and loved us, but He never sinned. He never embraced iniquity in order to make us feel better about our iniquity. When the woman caught in adultery was about to be stoned to death, he asked who her accusers were and said “he who is without sin cast the first stone.” But when her accusers had gone away He also told the woman to go and sin no more. He didn’t tell her that what she did was alright. He showed her acceptance, but He didn’t show acceptance of her behavior.

How long, O Lord, will you put up with us for putting up with iniquity in the Body of your Son? We can see the oncoming persecution all around us; when will You release it? When will You stop holding it off?
 

   Therefore the law is paralyzed, and the justice does not go forth perpetually. For the wicked surround the righteous; therefore justice goes forth perverted.

-Habakkuk 1:4