Day 1
Day 2
Habakkuk’s Journey –
Day 3
(Habakkuk 2)
We need to constantly remind ourselves that God’s ways are better than our ways, and if He’s withholding judgment for the time being, there’s probably a good reason. Our job is to seek out His will and discern what our next action should be.
Personal Reflection Questions
1. Focus on verse 1 for a moment and think about the importance of this verse. Explain your thoughts on this.
When we’re not sure of what it is God wants us to do, it is important that we not just listen for God’s reply but also position ourselves in a good place to see God’s response. Habakkuk says that he will station himself at the rampart to keep watch. This can be taken two ways. He is either stationing himself as a watchman on the wall in anticipation of hearing the Word of God, or he is being a watchman in anticipation of the oncoming attack from the Babylonians so that he will be ready when Yahweh’s judgment comes down. Personally, I think that both of these meaning apply hear. He will not only position himself in a place where he’ll be able to hear God’s answer but he will also be able to act as the watchman on the wall and inform his brethren of invasion.
2. How did God choose to answer Habakkuk and what does it say about how we should listen?
Habakkuk is told to wait patiently. He’s told to not grow impatient because the message is surely coming, even if the timing is not known. In verse 4 we reach a key verse which was not only Martin Luther’s life’s verse, but also, probably, the impetus of the books of Romans, Galatians and Hebrews (Paul sure liked to expound on this one). The just shall live by faith. We often overlook the beginning of this verse, though. We are to live in contrast to the prideful. We are to stand on our faith. In our society pride has become a badge of honor. In the distant past pride was one of the “7 Deadly Sins”, not that I know of any reason to separate these sins as being any more deadly than any of the others (or, frankly, I’m not sure that any on the list are actual sins, when you use 1 John 3:4 as your definition of “sin” is), but the takeaway is that pride was considered to be a bad thing. Today pride is looked upon as a good thing. We’re to take pride in our work. We’re to take pride in our family. We even currently have a community (based upon a sin) that embraces the word “pride” as their definition. As I’m writing this in June, we are in “Pride Month”. As Christians, we need to step away from this mindset of pride being a good thing and embrace our faith in Jesus Christ so that we can be found righteous when God sends His word to us. It is our faith which will keep us ready to listen.
3. Why do you think God used the word “woe” while speaking to Habakkuk instead of another word such as “cursed”?
The word used here (הוֹי– “hoy” H1945) implies waiting. Where just saying “cursed” could have the same general meaning, saying “woe” implies delayed judgment. Throughout this entire passage God was telling Habakkuk that the judgment was coming, even if it was tarrying. So by using this word He was just reiterating that Habakkuk should wait for it.
4. How can we take this into our daily lives?
While God’s timing is perfect, we are not. When we’re waiting for an answer from God (hopefully we’re not waiting for judgment) on whatever it is we’re anticipating, we need to remind ourselves that God is going to provide the answer when it is going to be best for us and for His plans. But, we should also be seeking to position ourselves to be in the right place to hear God’s response. And, quite probably, it will be us putting ourselves in the right position which will trigger the response anyway.
(Habakkuk 2)
We need to constantly remind ourselves that God’s ways are better than our ways, and if He’s withholding judgment for the time being, there’s probably a good reason. Our job is to seek out His will and discern what our next action should be.
Personal Reflection Questions
1. Focus on verse 1 for a moment and think about the importance of this verse. Explain your thoughts on this.
When we’re not sure of what it is God wants us to do, it is important that we not just listen for God’s reply but also position ourselves in a good place to see God’s response. Habakkuk says that he will station himself at the rampart to keep watch. This can be taken two ways. He is either stationing himself as a watchman on the wall in anticipation of hearing the Word of God, or he is being a watchman in anticipation of the oncoming attack from the Babylonians so that he will be ready when Yahweh’s judgment comes down. Personally, I think that both of these meaning apply hear. He will not only position himself in a place where he’ll be able to hear God’s answer but he will also be able to act as the watchman on the wall and inform his brethren of invasion.
2. How did God choose to answer Habakkuk and what does it say about how we should listen?
Habakkuk is told to wait patiently. He’s told to not grow impatient because the message is surely coming, even if the timing is not known. In verse 4 we reach a key verse which was not only Martin Luther’s life’s verse, but also, probably, the impetus of the books of Romans, Galatians and Hebrews (Paul sure liked to expound on this one). The just shall live by faith. We often overlook the beginning of this verse, though. We are to live in contrast to the prideful. We are to stand on our faith. In our society pride has become a badge of honor. In the distant past pride was one of the “7 Deadly Sins”, not that I know of any reason to separate these sins as being any more deadly than any of the others (or, frankly, I’m not sure that any on the list are actual sins, when you use 1 John 3:4 as your definition of “sin” is), but the takeaway is that pride was considered to be a bad thing. Today pride is looked upon as a good thing. We’re to take pride in our work. We’re to take pride in our family. We even currently have a community (based upon a sin) that embraces the word “pride” as their definition. As I’m writing this in June, we are in “Pride Month”. As Christians, we need to step away from this mindset of pride being a good thing and embrace our faith in Jesus Christ so that we can be found righteous when God sends His word to us. It is our faith which will keep us ready to listen.
3. Why do you think God used the word “woe” while speaking to Habakkuk instead of another word such as “cursed”?
The word used here (הוֹי– “hoy” H1945) implies waiting. Where just saying “cursed” could have the same general meaning, saying “woe” implies delayed judgment. Throughout this entire passage God was telling Habakkuk that the judgment was coming, even if it was tarrying. So by using this word He was just reiterating that Habakkuk should wait for it.
4. How can we take this into our daily lives?
While God’s timing is perfect, we are not. When we’re waiting for an answer from God (hopefully we’re not waiting for judgment) on whatever it is we’re anticipating, we need to remind ourselves that God is going to provide the answer when it is going to be best for us and for His plans. But, we should also be seeking to position ourselves to be in the right place to hear God’s response. And, quite probably, it will be us putting ourselves in the right position which will trigger the response anyway.
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