Happy June, Friends!

This year, we are journeying through the Bible, discovering God's Promises. You can read our introductory post about why I chose this topic HERE. If you started with us in January, we have already inscribed over 130 of God’s Promises. This month, we are set to discover thirty more promises of God in Scripture.

One of the verses we are inscribing this month comes from Habakkuk 3:19.
Let’s take a look at this promise of Jesus together.

“The LORD God is my strength,
and He will make my feet like hind’s feet,
and He will make me to walk upon mine high places.”
- Habakkuk 3:19

A UNIQUE PROPHET.

The Book of Habakkuk is unique among the prophetic books of the Old Testament, as is the prophet himself. Habakkuk never addresses God's people directly, and he doesn't call out their sin as the other prophets often do. Instead, Habakkuk speaks directly to God. He pours out his heart in a series of two prayers questioning God's goodness. With all the injustice and evil Habbakuk saw in the world, he asks the following. (I think we can all relate to his struggle):

“How long, LORD, must I call for help, but you do not listen? Or cry out to you, "Violence!" but you do not save? Why do you make me look at injustice? Why do you tolerate wrongdoing? Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict abounds.” - Habakkuk 1:2-3

The Prayers of the Prophet.

Habakkuk prayers two prayers/complaints to God in chapters 1 and 2 of the book, and God answers Habakkuk's prayers, but His answers aren't what you would think or even hope God would say.

In his first prayer, Habakkuk laments that Israel has neglected the Word of God, is ruled by corrupt leaders, and is filled with violence and injustice. God responds by saying that He is sending Babylon to bring down His justice on Israel. God will judge Israel by using evil Babylon to accomplish His will. (Hab. 1:1-11)

Habakkuk does NOT like this answer.

Have you ever gotten an answer from God that you didn't like? What did you do? Habbakuk gets back on his knees and prayers his second prayer.

He says that Babylon is worse than Israel. They worship their own power, treat humans like animals, and devour other nations! (Hab. 1:12-2:1) Habakkuk demands an explanation from God. He says, "I will stand at my watch and station myself on the ramparts; I will look to see what he will say to me, and what answer I am to give to this complaint." - Habakkuk 2:1

I love Habakkuk's tenacity. He wants God to explain something that he doesn't understand, so instead of giving up, or shrinking back, or turning from God, he stands like a watchman waiting for an answer. You get the feeling that Habakkuk will not rest until God answers his complaint. Oh, that in our day and age of evil and injustice, we would have the tenacity and determination to cry out to God like Habakkuk!

God responds to Habakkuk's second prayer in Hab. 2:2-5. He said that He will bring Babylon down. It may not be right away, it may not be in the time Habakkuk wants, but God will destroy Babylon. He tells Habakkuk, "See, the enemy [Babylon] is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous person will live by his faithfulness—" (Habakkuk 2:4) In other words, "Righteous Habakkuk, live by faith knowing that I've got this and I will act according to my plan and purpose."

Habakkuk listens to the Lord's answer and prayers a final prayer. You can see how his heart has changed from demanding a response to resting in a promise.

A Hopeful praise

The Book of Habakkuk closes on a hopeful note. We have been given a unique opportunity to glimpse into the prayer life of one of Israel's prophets. As Habakkuk closes the curtains, he says that no matter what happens, I will still trust in the Lord.

Whether famine, plague, Babylon, distress, or invasion, Habbakuk puts his hope and trust in the Lord. He takes what God says to him in Hab. 2:4, and puts it into practice . . . the righteous will live by faith. He knows that the Lord is the Lord of his salvation and he will rejoice!

A MEssage for us today.

We are living in "Babylon". Eventually, all nations become Babylon no matter the country, city, town, neighborhood, state, or province. How are we responding? Are we falling to our knees before God laying out our complaints, asking questions, and wrestling with answers? Maybe God isn't giving us the answer we want. What do we do then?

If you find that you are weary with the evil and injustice in the world, I am right there with you, Friend. But I get great encouragement from this short book. I know that I can run boldly to the throne of grace and find help there in my time of need. I know that I have a loving Father who listens to my complaints, laments, misunderstandings, and woes. He doesn't turn a deaf ear. He may not respond in my way or in my time, but I rest knowing that His ways are not my ways and His thoughts are so much higher than mine.

Remember, "the prophet had to traverse the deep places of poverty and famine, but he went down hill without slipping, for the LORD gave him standing. By and by he was called to the high places of the hills of conflict; and he was no more afraid to go up than to go down.

See! The LORD gave him strength. Jehovah Himself was his strength. Think of that: the almighty God Himself becomes our strength!

Note that the LORD also gave him sure-footedness. The hinds leap over rock and crag, never missing their footholds. Our LORD will give us grace to follow the most difficult paths of duty without a stumble. He can fit our foot for the crags so that we shall be at home where apart from God we should perish.

One of these days we shall be called to higher places still. Up yonder we shall climb, even to the mount of God, the high places where the shining ones are gathered. Oh, what feet are the feet of faith, by which, following the Hind of the Morning, we shall ascend into the hill of the LORD!" - Charles Spurgeon