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by Sandy Shaw
We turn to Habakkuk Chapter 2verse 4 onwards, where we read that vital verse which was used to transform the life of the Church of God some 400 years ago. "He who through faith is righteous shall live." Habakkuk has had questions, and God encourages him to take the long-term view.
We can be advised – do not stand too near a painting or a tapestry or you will not see what you are supposed to see. And, when we look, we too at times must not look too closely - not be too near.
There is the sense in which we too have to be 'seers' - to see what Jesus is doing and to hear what Jesus is saying.
If we only look at this life, it appears unjust - it appears unfair - but everything is going to become fair and just. Now that either comforts a person or terrifies a man.
Paul calls it - this momentary light affliction - II Corinthians Chapter 4verse 17 - and have a look at verses 8 to 11 - and Chapter 6 verses 3to 5 . Do you think he is seeking to teach us something important?
And over in II Corinthians Chapter 11verses 21to 28 . "He who through faith is righteous shall live."
Habakkuk had this problem of God allowing the Babylonians to come and deal with Israel and take them away captive. I think this would have been a problem to me too.
Over 20 civilisations have risen and fallen, but the moral law of God still applies. Our civilisation is on the downward slope, and we are sliding fast. It is peculiar to be living in a time when we see what once was, dying. But we are on the way out as a nation, or even as a civilisation. And yet - as in all other situations where this has happened, Jesus has preserved his Church.
God's laws cannot be broken. God's Word cannot be thwarted.
God goes on to show Habakkuk what it will be like at the end of the day and there follows a series of woes or curses.
Verses 5 to 8 - Woe to the aggressive. Woe to the aggressor. Here we see that the aggressive person can never be satisfied. If you have a wrong desire, nothing in all the earth can satisfy it - and it can be a voracious debilitating and finally destructive appetite. God knew what the Babylonians were like and He would deal with them. Like soldiers in the army, we cannot see the blueprint for victory. We do not know how and when, but this Word tells us and teaches us that God will win on the final day.
God will judge all humanity - all unfairness - and people know what is fair and what is unfair - they have a conscience built in. Romans Chapter 1 teaches us that some men will be judged according to the conscience.
God is saying - Babylon - you are greedy - you are proud. You think you are self-sufficient - you love wine - alcoholism was a real problem at that time - wine puffed them up. Read of Belshazzar's Feast in Daniel. And read of plundering – getting was all they cared about.
Habakkuk - not only do you have problems with Babylon - so do I!
Verse 6 - One day there will be a taunt song about Babylon - and we read of this in Revelation Chapter 18 . Those who have been trodden down by Babylon will one day sing "Hallelujah".
God is still in control - and those who plunder will themselves be plundered.
Verses 9 to 11 - They thought they were impregnable. They cut others off - they themselves will one day be cut off. They were so self-centred. We are beginning to have to live with the consequences of the type of philosophy we have permitted to be taught - the thinking on education - on law and order - on morals - on marriage - on Capital Punishment.
Verses 12to 14 - Woe to the violent - when they took Israel away - they used them as slave labour. The beautiful Hanging Gardens were built - Daniel 4verse 30 . Woe to those who became rich by dishonest gain. God heard the prayers of His people and within months Nebuchadnezzar was like an animal.
They said to Israel - Sing to us - entertain us - and when we read from Psalm 137 , we read what they were asked to do. Babylon wanted to be known wherever men were. Well, she is known - but not in the way she wanted to be known.
“Lord God Almighty – we thank You that Habakkuk wrote all this down – to teach us and guide us and help us. Thank You for these various warnings, as we see the consequences of continuing in sin. Living God, we thank You for being a God who speaks and who continues to speak to His people – as we pray on in Jesus’ name, with a listening ear and an open heart.” Amen.
Alexander 'Sandy' Shaw is pastor of Nairn Christian Fellowship in Nairn, Scotland. Nairn is 17 miles east of Inverness - on the Moray Firth Coast - not far from the Loch Ness Monster!
Gifted as a Biblical teacher, Sandy is firmly committed to making sure that his teachings are firmly grounded in the Word.
Sandy has a weekly radio talk which can be heard via the Internet on Saturday at 11:40am, New Orleans time, at wsho.com.
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