Though It Tarry, Wait For It

Ever feel like you are an onlooker among many other onlookers seeing and hearing the same things as others, yet while they are being entertained, you are inwardly sorrowful at the spectacle of it all?

Do you ever become perplexed by unpunished evil -- the kind of evil that ensnares the innocents of a society? Do you find that wherever you look, to the left hand or to the right hand, evil is parading itself in all of its debauchery?  Do you ever meekly ask the all-powerful God, "Why is this permitted, Lord?"

If yes, then please know that you are not alone.  The Lord in His vast knowledge that transcends space and time used a relatively unknown prophet who lamented the sights and sounds of his time period's world stage to speak to His people thousands of years later as we are forced to be onlookers on this world's stage.

Let this bring you peace, Saints.  Let this bring you peace.  God knows all about the enemies at every turn, and while the enemy may think he is in control, God is actually using the enemy and his minions to bring about a greater good for God's faithful remnant.  God sees all and is over all.

Habakkuk - Not much is definitively known about this prophet, but I praise God that He permitted this man's short 3 chapters to be placed in the Holy Bible.  I tell you, time and again, God shows me that every single period and comma means something in His Word.  The Holy Spirit took nothing for granted when composing the Bible -- and neither should we when we read it.

When the Holy Spirit is guiding our study of God's Word, the Bible truly does become a Living Word.  It is truly made alive with the quickening of the Holy Spirit stirring our innermost being as we read it.

God is amazing.

Habakkuk appears to have been a prophet who lived during an agonizing time.  Click here to read the entire Book of Habakkuk - it is a very short book of the Bible.

Below are some key points from the Book of Habakkuk as outlined in the reference section of the Thompson Chain Bible:

• Main Theme:  The Mysteries of God's Ways in Dealing with Sin and Oppressors
• Synopsis:  The book begins with the prophet being heavily burdened by unpunished evil and questioning God as to why He is permitting such things to occur against His people.
• He receives a reply revealing the divine plan of using the Chaldeans as a swift and terrible instrument of judgment against evil nations.  Habakkuk 1:5-11
• Still the moral problem is unanswered in the mind of the prophet.  How can a holy God use these wicked heathen to waste and destroy people more righteous than they?  Are wrong and violence to continue forever? Habakkuk 1:12-17
• The prophet ascends his watch-tower to look over the world.
• He receives the reply of Jehovah, and is told the purpose of God is soon to be fulfilled, and is encouraged to wait for it, Habakkuk 2:1-3.  Then follows the sentence that has been a watchword in the Christian Church - Habakkuk 2:4.
• Content with the new light received, the prophet utters a series of five woes against the dishonesty, the covetousness, the bloody building enterprises, the debauchery, and the idolatry of the great world power.  Habakkuk 2:6, 9, 12, 15, 18-20
• Finally, he utters a sublime prayer (or psalm of praise), speaking of the majesty and glory of GOD and declaring his unwavering trust in His divine plans.  ~HALLELUJAH!~

Below is an outline of Habakkuk (Bible Study Tools):

I.  Title (1:1)
II. Habakkuk's First Complaint: Why does the evil in Judah go unpunished? (1:2-4)
III. God's Answer: The Babylonians will punish Judah (1:5-11)
IV. Habakkuk's Second Complaint: How can a just God use wicked Babylonia to punish a people more righteous than themselves? (1:12;2:1)
V. God's Answer: Babylonia will be punished, and faith will be rewarded (2:2-20)
VI. Habakkuk's Prayer: After asking for manifestations of God's wrath and mercy (as he has seen in the past), he closes with a confession of trust and joy in God (ch. 3)

___________________________________________

Saints, continue to live by Faith.  No matter the sights and sounds that are so vexing, always remember that the Lord is in control.  In due time, He will bring all things together for His Glory.  Let us be found faithful to Him.  The just shall live by his faith.  Live by faith.  

Faith. Faith.  

Let God turn your sadness and complaint into a song.  He did it for Habakkuk.  He will do it for all who genuinely seek Him.  Habakkuk forgot his lamentations of the evils of the world and instead, it was replaced with a joyful song of God's control of it all!  Oh, hallelujah to my King!

Habakkuk's Psalm at the End of the Book
17 Although the fig tree shall not blossom, neither shall fruit be in the vines; the labour of the olive shall fail, and the fields shall yield no meat; the flock shall be cut off from the fold, and there shall be no herd in the stalls:
18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
19 The Lord God is my strength, and he will make my feet like hinds' feet, and he will make me to walk upon mine high places. To the chief singer on my stringed instruments.