Habakkuk 1:1-3:19
Zephaniah 1:1-2:7
We observed messages from two of the minor prophets — Habakkuk and
Zephaniah. We call them minor prophets, not because they are any less important
than others, but because their letters or books were short compared to Isaiah or Jeremiah. Their prophecies
were similar in nature to the others we’ve been reading. They were predicting
the fall of Judah to Babylon.
For example, the Lord told Habakkuk, “Look and be amazed. Watch and be
astounded at what I will do! For I am doing something in your day, something
you wouldn’t believe even if someone told you about it. I am raising up the
Babylonians to be a new power on the world scene. They are a cruel and violent
nation who will march across the world and conquer it” (1:5, 6).
The Lord also told Zephaniah, “Stand in silence, in the presence of
the Sovereign Lord, for the awesome day of the Lord’s judgment has come. The
Lord has prepared His people for a great slaughter and has chosen their
executioners... I will crush Judah and Jerusalem for their Baal worship...
Because of their sins, I will make them as helpless as a blind man searching
for a path” (1:4, 7, 17).
Despite the terrible destruction that was headed his way, I love
Habakkuk’s response, “Even though the fig trees have no blossoms and there are
no grapes on the vine, even though the olive crop fails and the fields are
empty, even though the flocks die in the fields and the cattle barns are empty,
yet I will rejoice in the Lord! I will be joyful in the God of my
salvation. The Sovereign Lord is my strength! He will make me as sure-footed as
a deer and bring me safely over the mountains” (3:17-19). As God would punish the wicked of
Judah, the righteous would suffer too; yet Habakkuk did not fear or
complain, but, instead, he chose joy.
Daily Reflection
Habakkuk’s response reminds me of what Job said, “I came naked from my
mother’s womb and I will be stripped of everything when I die. The Lord gave me
everything I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord”
(1:21). When his wife
said to him, “Are you going to maintain your integrity? Curse God and die!” Job
replied, “Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never
anything bad?” (2:8-10).
Take a minute to rewrite Habakkuk’s response with personal experiences
that you face today.
Even though ______________________________________,
even though _______________________________________________,
and even though
________________________________________, yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
Is this your typical response when things don’t go your way?
Obviously, it is not natural for us to be content in the midst of chaos or to
trust the Lord in the midst of trials or tragedy. Joy is
a choice. You
are choosing to rely upon your faith in God instead of reacting to your fear of
the circumstances.
Though it is not easy, when you choose joy and trust the Lord, you
will be as “sure-footed as a deer.” He will help you navigate the obstacles and
“bring you safely over the mountain!” What mountains are you currently facing? Rejoice
in the Lord and He will help you climb them!
BiAY.org | Day 214 — 151 Days to Go
No comments:
Post a Comment