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Habakkuk – Judgment or Mercy
Habakkuk – Judgment or Mercy
This is a different book! Instead of the prophet directly addressing the people, he talks with God. He seems to be a contemporary of Jeremiah and thus was living in the last days of Judah. As we have just finished reading the account of these days in Kings and Chronicles, we remember how ungodly these days were. Habakkuk believed both in the character of God and the sovereignty of God.
Habakkuk begins his dialogue wondering WHEN (not if) God would act in judgment. God's answer: I am bringing Babylon to punish Judah for all of their sins! (5-11). Immediately the prophet questions how God can use Babylon, as they are in fact more ungodly and wicked than Judah, or at least that is his view of things! (1:12-2:1). God responds
These men of God prayed about life! They prayed about the evil amongst them. They prayed about their questions of God's providence and activity. They prayed, not out of doubt but out of their lack of understanding. How and when God acts can be known WHEN God reveals that He did it. We know God raised up Assyria because He told us. We know that God raised up the Babylonians because He told us. We know that God raised up Cyrus to restore Israel to their land because He told us. Apart from this, we too can only guess, ponder, and pray.
Several thoughts come as we read this little book:
· God DOES Act
· God DOES rule over ALL peoples and nations
· God DOES see, know, acknowledge, and judge
· When God judges a NATION, the godly that live there end up suffering but THEY are not being punished.
· God's word 'will not fail' (2:2-3)
We see that trusting God includes trusting Him when WE don't understand! Note the end of Habakkuk's prayer: "Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. The Lord GOD is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, And makes me walk on my high places. For the choir director, on my stringed instruments." (Habakkuk 3:17–19).
Habakkuk responded with prayer. He prayed: "In the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy" (3:2). God has always done this. For those who turn to Him in repentance, they can find mercy, those who persist in doing evil face the wrath of God's judgment. God provided Jesus to save us from His wrath!1 God does not desire the condemnation of men, but desires instead that they would repent and He could show mercy. 2
What will it be for you, mercy or judgment?
Hugh DeLong
1) Romans 1:18; 2:5-8, 5:8
2) 2 Peter 3:9; 1 Tim 2:4; Rev 2:21; Ezek. 18:23, 32.; 33:11.
