Aches and Praise Two Hundred & Ninety Eight

Posted on 2017-05-25 in English |

Dear friends,  

 

In reading the book of Habakkuk this morning, Karen and I were struck by the relevance of this short book to the world today. One of the questions addressed by Habakkuk to God is: “How can You let such evil run rampant in the land?” God did not answer all of Habakkuk’s questions, but He did assure him of His sovereignty. In light of the horrific bombing of children in Manchester on Monday, many people are asking the same question as Habakkuk did approximately 2,600 years ago.

The prophet begins his dialogue with God by complaining, which is how many Canadians (and others) react to adversity and difficulty. He tells God in the midst of his complaint that He doesn’t listen. Of course, he means that he is not getting the answer that he wants, but to accuse Almighty God of not listening is absurd. Which of us has not said or done something as ridiculous as this?

In the third verse of the first chapter of his book, Habakkuk states: “destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.” He goes on to say “the law is paralyzed, and justice never prevails.” His frustration leads him to exaggerate the extent of injustice. The Lord answered Habakkuk by saying “I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told” (1:5). The prophet continues his complaining by asking God: “Why then do you tolerate the treacherous? Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?” (1:13).

One question that is not often asked today is: “Who is righteous?” The prophet Habakkuk provides the answer to this question in the second chapter of his book, when he records the Lord’s answer to his questions: “… the righteous will live by his faith” (2:4). Saul was blinded by the light of the Lord after seeking to destroy Christians (please read Acts 8 & 9 for much more about this). After his conversion, the apostle Paul wrote about justification by faith in his epistle to the believers in Rome (1:17) and Galatia (3:11). Habakkuk 2:4 is also quoted in Hebrews 10:38.

There has been a lot of talk in the media in Canada about 2017 marking the 150th anniversary of this country’s confederation. Last week the Jacques-Cartier bridge over the St. Lawrence River was lit up in celebration of the 375th anniversary of the founding of Montreal. This year also marks the 500th anniversary of Martin Luther’s nailing of 95 theses (or complaints) on the church door in Wittenberg, Germany, which led to the Reformation. The doctrine of justification by faith was central to Luther’s convictions. May many people be “blinded” by the light of God shining in the lives of His children and come to faith in Christ!
 
Scripture for the weekend: “Lord, I have heard of Your fame; I stand in awe of Your deeds, O Lord. Renew them in our day, in our time make them known; in wrath remember mercy.”  Habakkuk 3:2 (NIV) 
 
Thought for the weekend: “If we are born again of the Holy Spirit and have the life of Jesus in us by means of His cross, we must show it in the way we walk and talk and transact all our business.” – Oswald Chambers (from his book “Studies in the Sermon on the Mount: God’s Character and the Believer’s Conduct”)
 

By His grace,

 

Steve

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