Habakkuk was another of the Minor Prophets that we know little about. He likely lived about 600 years before the birth of Christ and at a time when Babylon was just becoming a world power. Chapter 1 reminds me of going to the doctor. They are used to people coming in and wanting a magic pill to make them feel better. Patients do not want explanations, and they don’t want to change their lifestyle. Habakkuk begins with the three tough questions posed by searchers and skeptics for millennia. “How long, Lord, must I call for help, but You do not listen? …Or cry out to You… but You do not save?” “Why do You tolerate wrongdoing?” It is likely that you have asked them yourself, but do you really want the answers? Most of us treat God’s written Word like an intimidating medical textbook. It is full of God’s Wisdom, Knowledge and Instruction, but we only open it when we are injured and in need of quick care. Too often we diagnose ourselves at home to avoid embarrassment. Friend, have you been blaming God for your own malpractice? Many today believe their situation is unique, no one understands. Listen to the observations of the prophet at his time, “Destruction and violence are before me; there is strife, and conflict… the law is paralyzed, and… justice is perverted“. We avoid going to the doctor because we fear the process of the cure. We know serious problems may require radical treatment. God answers Habakkuk, “Look at the nations and watch and be utterly amazed“. When was the last time you were amazed by God?
God continues His answer, “I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe… I am raising up the Babylonians… that ruthless and impetuous people“. At that time the nation was just developing a reputation, “They are a feared and dreaded people… They fly like an eagle swooping to devour; they all come intent on violence“. God’s remedy was to create a new instrument for major surgery on Israel. The cure is not to live at peace with sin, but to eliminate the source, “guilty people, whose own strength is their god“. But we say, whoa, that sounds painful! Our cry for help usually means that we want God to correct others. It is easier to just create our own standards. Justice for many means: for the benefit of just us.
The prophet acknowledges God, but he wants results right now. “My God, my Holy One… my Rock… you cannot tolerate wrongdoing… Why are you silent while the wicked swallow up those more righteous than themselves?” We frequently want wrongdoers punished, but those that demand judgment of evil always have someone else in mind. Habakkuk describes the treacherous as fishermen gathering up the righteous in nets and on hooks, “he lives in luxury and enjoys the choicest food“. The chapter ends with a final question to God, “Is he to keep on emptying his net, destroying nations without mercy?” Friend, are you ready to get well? The Good Book tells us, “There is no one righteous, not even one“. Not even you! Romans 3:23 adds “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God“. Do you still want the guilty punished quickly? I thank God for His patience with His patients. Romans 5:7-8 explains that we are healed when we understand that “Christ died for the ungodly.” He took on our ailment before we changed a thing, “God demonstrates His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us“. Is it time to stop treating yourself? There is long term care in the church.