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HabakkukThe Minor Prophets

God Answers Habakkuk

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

Habakkuk bared his soul before God. How long would this suffering go on? Why should not the wicked Babylonians suffer for their brutality? Then he waited expectantly for the answer. God answered, told him what was to come and anchored his soul.

The Answer

The Lord answered. Write it down, make it plain to read, “that he may run who reads it.” It won’t happen immediately, but the time will come just as I have spoken. Wait. Be patient. It will not take longer or be delayed. “Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him, but the just shall live by faith.”

What Was to Come

In the answer, the Lord showed Habakkuk what was to come. Though the greed of the Babylonians drove them on, like death, it was never satisfied. They would soon receive retribution from those they oppressed. Through murder and corruption, they built their expensive homes in mountains, thinking they could protect their families. Yet, they gave shameful counsel to their house and sinned against their own souls. It would come back to haunt them. Their brutality to neighbours, disregard of forests and animals, would soon cause them to experience being cut down and terrorized themselves. In his time or ours, wherever the stench of wickedness hangs in the air, the just live by faith. For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of God.

Anchored His Soul

After the vision, God anchored Habakkuk’s soul. The wicked create their own gods, gods without voices or knowledge, without heart or soul. But the eternal God is in His holy temple. From everlasting to everlasting, He lives, breathes, and reigns. All keep silent before Him. Faith and steadfast hope anchor the soul. God answers, shows us what was is to come and anchors the soul.

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HabakkukprayerThe Minor Prophets

A God Conversation

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

(Habakkuk)

After God responded to Habakkuk, you can almost see the wheels of his brain turning. How could he reconcile the information just received with his knowledge of God? First, he clarified what he had heard, then he questioned God on His actions, and finally positioned himself for a reply.

Clarification

First, he repeats what he has understood back to God. “You are the everlasting God. I see it now. We will not die. You have appointed the Chaldeans for judgement. You have established them to chastise and correct your people.”

Further Questions

But somehow it doesn’t sit right, so Habakkuk further questions the Lord. “You are of purer eyes than to behold evil and cannot look upon injustice. How then can you look on this plunderer? How can you watch and not say anything? Why do you make it so men cannot defend themselves? The Chaldeans are like fishermen; they gather and then rejoice over their catch. Then they sacrifice to their net because it allows him to live in luxury. Can this go on forever?”

Positioned For a Reply

Finally, Habakkuk positioned himself to hear from God. He had spoken plainly and considered himself to have been rash. He has, after all, been talking to Almighty God. But he will wait expectantly for His response and consider how to respond when God corrects him.

Like Habakkuk, as children of God, we too have the high privilege of conversation with God, to clarify what we believe He has spoken to us, to further probe Him with the unintelligible aspects of life, and to position ourselves expectantly for His loving response.

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HabakkukThe Minor Prophets

I am Doing Something

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

(Habakkuk)

To the prophet Habakkuk, it seemed he was doing a lot of praying while God was doing a bunch of nothing. God helped him to see that he was doing something. The something he was doing would be impossible to believe if he had heard it on the street. In Habakkuk’s day, he was raising an army with horses to take over the peoples, but they would make one big mistake.

An Army

The army God said he was raising up,was the Chaldeans. God told him they were a “nasty and hasty nation.” He further described them as “terrible and dreadful.” Their horses would be swifter than leopards and fiercer than evening wolves.

To Take Over

God further told him, they would come for violence. They would gather captives like sand and scoff at kings and princes. They would ridicule and criticize every stronghold. They would heap mounds of earth against the strongholds to overtake them.

A Big Mistake

But God says his mind would change, and he would sin. He would commit an offence by worshipping his own power, making it his god.

Like Habakkuk, unless the Lord reveals it to us, we carry on, blind to all that He is doing in our world. But when we take the time with Him, through the Holy Spirit He speaks with us. We learn to be confident that He hears and answers.

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HabakkukThe Minor Prophets

Habakkuk

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

 (The Questions)

One of the minor prophets, Habakkuk, is only three chapters long. This prophet lived before Israel’s fall, when the Babylonian threat grew. When he cried out to God with his complaints, God responded. The questions he asked could be asked today by Christians living in troubled cities or under persecution. They illustrate the emotion with which Habakkuk approached God and the depths of trouble around him. Habakkuk accused God of not listening. As he poured out his queries about violence, God was listening. Throughout the next few weeks, we will reflect on his questions, God’s response and its effect on Habakkuk. Habakkuk asked about the violence, ineffective laws and the lack of justice.

Violence

Habakkuk felt like he had been crying out to God for help – for a long time. Violence and destruction were everywhere. Before him, there was misery. There were evil deeds. The people loved to argue and fight. He yelled at God.

 “You do not listen.”

“You don’t come to save.”

Ineffective Laws

“The law has become paralyzed,” he said. As this righteous man observed the decline of his society, he couldn’t understand why God wasn’t stepping in. No one was being held accountable for their wrongdoings.

Lack of Justice

The amount of wickedness during this time inverted the legal system. The sheer number of evildoers changed what was wrong to be right while the right became wrong. There was no justice. Like at the end of the Book of Judges, everyone did what was right in their own eyes. Justice had been perverted.

Habakkuk took his concerns to God. He expressed his troubled heart. He asked his questions.

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Gratitudelove of Godmercy

A Thankful Heart

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

It is easy to sing when the sun shines. But the genuine test of the heart comes in times of adversity. A quick look at the Old Testament books of Lamentations or Job would cause most of us to have a thankful heart. As in their stories, times come when we must remember God’s goodness. He is pleased when we look to Him with thanksgiving, for it is His will for us. In the dark times we remember God’s mercy, compassion, and our salvation.

God’s Mercy

God’s mercy is from everlasting to everlasting. It is because of His mercy that we are not consumed. Instead of the wrath of God, in Him we find our hope.

God’s Compassion

God’s compassions never fail. They are new every morning. Our God is faithful. We call and He hears our voice and He says, “Do not fear, I have loved you with an everlasting love.”

God’s Salvation

It is good to wait and hope for the salvation of the Lord. He has pleaded the case for our souls. In overwhelming suffering, Job declared, “I know that my Redeemer lives, and He shall stand at last on the earth; and after my skin is destroyed, this I know, that in my flesh I shall see God.”

This Thanksgiving season we give thanks knowing that Jesus Christ has died, risen again and is coming soon to take us to our heavenly home. We remember God’s mercy, compassion, salvation and give thanks.

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Stories of David

A Life For God

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

Paul, in Galatians 5, contrasts a life filled with God’s Spirit and one that is not. A vivid picture of this type of contrast is depicted in the story of Saul and David, found in 1 Samuel 19. King Saul, because of refusing God’s counsel and relying on his own, lost God in his life. David, in contrast, had a heart for God. The contrast showed in their personal, relational and spiritual lives.

Personal

The evidence was in their personal lives. While David, in his humility worked to fight God’s battles, Saul became jealous and angry, consumed with one desire – to kill David.

Relational

It also showed up in their relationships. Saul had servants who out of fear, did his bidding. His own daughter chose deceit to deal with him. David, in contrast, gained allies who loved and protected him, even from their own father.

Spiritual

Above it all was the spiritual aspect. Saul’s continual lack of regard for God resulted in a life without God. David, under the shadow of God’s wings, knew to run to Samuel, God’s prophet, for help,

The contrast of a life lived for God shows up in the personal, relational and spiritual part of people’s lives.

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Stories of David

Saul Vs. David

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

When we come to the familiar biblical stories, it is necessary to invite the Holy Spirit to speak fresh truth. As we sit around the table of God’s Word today, I pray for fresh bread to nourish our spirits.

In 1 Samuel 18, we find David taking his place as the King’s servant, going wherever Saul sends him. David behaved wisely, and found favour wherever he went. When his victories showed up in the chants of the woman, on their way home, Saul realized David’s victories were greater than his own. Jealous anger burned in Saul’s heart. It became Saul versus David. He used, a weapon, a war, and a woman to eliminate David but, God was with him.

A Weapon

When the distressing spirit came upon Saul, as before, David brought his harp and played for him. Saul was holding a spear and thrust it, hoping to pin David to the wall. David escaped twice. Saul became afraid. He knew God had left him and now was with David. So he removed David from his presence.

A War

Saul considered a war. He put David as captain over a thousand. Again, David acted wisely and the Lord was with him. All of Israel and Judah loved him. Saul grew more afraid.

A Woman

Saul offered his eldest daughter to David for a wife on the condition that he fight the Lord’s battles. His commission was a sinister plot hoping the Philistines would kill him in battle. David, too humble to be the son-in-law to the king, watched as she was given to another. Then he offered his second daughter who loved David and Saul hoped would be a snare to him. But, when David again questioned being son-in-law to the king, Saul asked for 100 Philistine foreskins in hopes, the Philistines would rid him of the David problem. When David returned with 200, Michal became his wife. Saul knew the Lord was with David and that his daughter loved him. He became even more afraid. And David? He became more highly esteemed. Saul used, a weapon, a war, and a woman to eliminate David, but God was with him.

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JonathanStories of DavidUncategorized

Friends

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

David’s dramatic victory over Goliath and the Philistines catapulted him into his future. No longer just a young lad from the least of tribes with only stories of killing a lion and a bear on his resume. He was now in the presence of the king. This leap required an ally. God provided David a friend, knit them together, thereby illustrating the nature of the friend that sticks closer than a brother.

God’s Provision

Their friendship was God’s provision. David needed an ally in the palace. Saul’s unravelling made the palace a treacherous place.

Knit Together

In 1 Samuel 18:1 we read how the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. Both men knew the God who leads into victory.

Closer Than a Brother

Their relationship is indicative of the friendship believers have with Jesus. Jonathan, son of the king, made a covenant with one of the least of the tribes of Israel, just as Jesus, the Son of the living God, makes covenant with believers. He removed his coat and gave it to David, as Jesus gives to us robes of righteousness. Then he gave him his armour; his sword and his belt. As we live in Christ, we have weapons that are not carnal. In Jesus, the believer finds protection and much more. God provided David a friend, knit them together, thereby illustrating the nature of the friend that sticks closer than a brother.

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Christian armourStories of David

Perceived Weakness Meets Perceived Strength

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

David’s father, Jesse, now an old man, sent David to the ongoing battle with the Philistines. He wanted news, but he also wanted to send supplies. When David reached the army and greeted his brothers, he heard the words of Goliath and observed their terrifying effect on the Israelites. Among the chatter, David heard the king’s offered reward: wealth, the king’s daughter in marriage, and no taxes required of his father’s house. But to David, who was this who dared defy the armies of the living God? In this historical record, we learn how perceived weakness met perceived strength. David was perceived weak by his family, and in comparison to the enemy, but was strong in the Lord.

By His Family

David was the youngest. Even his brothers saw him as the little kid who showed up where he wasn’t wanted. Eliab accused him of shirking his responsibilities and being full of pride and insolence.

In Comparison to the Enemy

There was no comparison between the lad and the giant. The king told David he couldn’t fight because he was just a youth. Goliath had been a man of war since his youth

Strong In the Lord

But, David was strong in the Lord! Out in the fields, looking after the sheep, he learned a few things about God. With God’s help, he was able to kill a lion and a bear when they threatened the sheep. He also knew God as the source of Israel’s army, and their strength against the “uncircumcised Philistines”. David walked in absolute trust in God. Though he was the youngest in his family, considered just a lad against a trained warrior, and uncomfortable in the armour of Saul, he knew he could trust God and spoke it into existence on the battlefield. David was perceived weak by his family, and in comparison to the enemy, but was strong in the Lord.

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spiritual battleStories of David

Facing Goliath

by Esther Griggs
written by Esther Griggs

Ephesians 6:12 tells us we fight, not with mortal men, but with principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this age and the spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. The giant Goliath displayed in 1 Samuel 17:1-11 gives us a picture through which we can understand our enemy. Goliath had a reputation for victories, an intimidating appearance, a degrading rhetoric, and the backing of the Philistines.

Reputation/ Appearance

Goliath was a champion. He had a reputation for defeating his enemies. Several verses record his appearance. He was mammoth! Resources say that his six cubits and a span was 9 feet and 9 inches! His armour, the helmet alone, was bronze. The coat of mail he wore weighed 5,000 shekels of bronze, or between 110-125 lbs. More bronze covered his legs, and he carried a bronze javelin. The spearhead weighed six hundred shekels, or about 15 lbs. His strength was displayed in just what he wore.

A Degrading Rhetoric

What came from the giant’s mouth was set on fire by hell. It was full of deceit and arrogance spoken in defiance.

The Backing of the Philistines

If the giant wasn’t enough, the armies of the Philistines gathered for battle behind him. “Am I not a Philistine? Choose a man. … I defy the armies of Israel this day; give me a man, that we might fight together.” He spoke for the Philistines.

These relentless taunts left the Israelites dismayed and greatly afraid, like we often are when battling our spiritual foes. But Ephesians 6 also says to be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might. Next week we will reflect on how God deals with the enemy.

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