
Quote for the Day
“For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord…”
Today's Prayer
This week pray for those who are at home without their loved one who is traveling. Pray that God will answer the tough questions they have. Pray that God will reach out with answers that are real and alive, showing His power and His glory.
Habakkuk 2:2-20
Habakkuk 2:2-20 (NIV)2 Then the LORD replied: “Write down the revelation and make it plain on tablets so that a herald may run with it.3 For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it; it will certainly come and will not delay.4 “See, he is puffed up; his desires are not upright— but the righteous will live by his faith -5 indeed, wine betrays him; he is arrogant and never at rest. Because he is as greedy as the grave and like death is never satisfied, he gathers to himself all the nations and takes captive all the peoples.6 “Will not all of them taunt him with ridicule and scorn, saying, ” ‘Woe to him who piles up stolen goods and makes himself wealthy by extortion! How long must this go on?’7 Will not your debtors suddenly arise? Will they not wake up and make you tremble? Then you will become their victim.8 Because you have plundered many nations, the peoples who are left will plunder you. For you have shed man’s blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.9 “Woe to him who builds his realm by unjust gain to set his nest on high, to escape the clutches of ruin!10 You have plotted the ruin of many peoples, shaming your own house and forfeiting your life.11 The stones of the wall will cry out, and the beams of the woodwork will echo it.12 “Woe to him who builds a city with bloodshed and establishes a town by crime!13 Has not the LORD Almighty determined that the people’s labor is only fuel for the fire, that the nations exhaust themselves for nothing?14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.15 “Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbors, pouring it from the wineskin till they are drunk, so that he can gaze on their naked bodies.16 You will be filled with shame instead of glory. Now it is your turn! Drink and be exposed ! The cup from the LORD’s right hand is coming around to you, and disgrace will cover your glory.17 The violence you have done to will overwhelm you, and your destruction of animals will terrify you. For you have shed man’s blood; you have destroyed lands and cities and everyone in them.18 “Of what value is an idol, since a man has carved it? Or an image that teaches lies? For he who makes it trusts in his own creation; he makes idols that cannot speak.19 Woe to him who says to wood, ‘Come to life!’ Or to lifeless stone, ‘Wake up!’ Can it give guidance? It is covered with gold and silver; there is no breath in it.20 But the LORD is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before him.”
Message
The answer from God comes in poetry and verse with which we are unaccustomed. God has an answer for Habakkuk as well as for us. His answer is found within the questions and answers posed by God in chapter 2. Throughout the chapter, God describes the ultimate condemnation of all those who are without righteousness. Verse after verse tells of those who use all things at their disposal for THEIR own benefit and pleasure. They are all guilty, some are not more righteous than others; ALL are guilty of sin before God. God’s final answer to all is in verse 16 when He says “The cup from the Lord’s right hand is coming around to you…,” a reminder that God alone is in full control, bringing about the final judgment, and He WILL bring about that final judgment. God goes on to say that the idols of their false religion offer nothing to depend on. He ends the chapter with the power of His throne, verse 20, “But the Lord is in his holy temple; let all the earth be silent before Him.”We can question God, but as Job also saw, we have to accept His final answer, even if we are unsure or unable to fully comprehend. God has said to Habakkuk (and to us) that His methods are His and all mankind will face the final justice of God and God alone. His methods are not ours to know at all times, but they are supremely righteous. Not an easy answer, but our response to it determines our faith and reliance on Him. Next week we see Habakkuk’s response.